Often overlooked or dismissed, gender inequality in architecture has consequences for both women and their careers, as well as for the spaces and products created. There is, however, a niche within the construction industry that contradicts this logic, proposing to create a more egalitarian workspace. This article reflects on this inequality and how it is challenged by self-managed practices.
In her article The Dead Fish on the Beach: The Problem of Women in Architecture, South African architect Khensani de Klerk recalls Dorte Mandrup’s quote on International Women’s Day: “Allow me to explain; I am not a female architect. I am an architect. When we talk about gender, we tend to talk about women. Men don’t really have a gender. They are just... neutral. Genderless. That is why you do not recognize the term 'male architect.' Despite all efforts to make female architects feel special, the result is exactly the opposite.” This assumed neutrality regarding male identity and knowledge is deeply embedded in the public imagination surrounding professional experiences in architecture and urbanism, masking white male hegemony and the vast inequalities inherent in professional practice.
