ABSTRACT
Research undertaken as part of a three-year project investigating women in Australian architecture provides an opportunity to pin down the myths about women and architecture, and to shine some light on the assumptions contained within. The project sought to map women’s participation in the profession and to understand why women are under represented, particularly at senior levels. Many younger women see it all as a thing of the past – for them, ‘women in architecture’ is a cause mostly pursued by slightly batty older women. These young women have done well so far and see no reason why that won’t continue; the battles have already been fought, and they will reap the rewards. The attrition of highly educated and skilled architects, who happen to be women, diminishes architecture’s potential for change and renewal. Addressing the myths that impede women’s careers is essential to the viability and sustainability of the profession as a whole.
