When an anonymously sourced spreadsheet alleging inappropriate behavior by men in architecture went viral earlier this year, the national dialogue about sexual harassment had already reached a fever pitch. Gender bias, many argue, is particularly rampant in the profession—a problem illustrated by the archetype of the architect as a lone (white) male genius. It is underscored by the oft-cited statistic that although women and men graduate architecture programs at roughly the same rate in the United States, women represent just 20 percent of licensed professionals, according to a 2018 NCARB report—a figure that dwindles even more among the top leadership positions and when it comes to awards and recognition.
Underwhelmed by top-down initiatives—changes to the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and countless roundtable discussions—some people are proposing a drastic, intersectional rethinking of how architecture operates, beginning in the place where many make their first forays into the field.
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