Women (against) Architecture
In 1857, a group of American designers founded the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the first professional organisation for architects in the United States. Women were not exactly excluded, but they were simply never considered. From its earliest beginnings, the architectural profession was inherently closed to women, in large part because of the educational system that groomed future practitioners for its ranks. By the late 19th century, American firms, run by famous architects, had become the ultimate ‘old boys clubs’. A few extraordinary women were able to gain apprenticeships, but most were denied access to professional offices and the valuable networks they represented.
The hierarchy within the office, the arbitrary nature of promotion, and the necessity to attract clients were among many unspoken barriers that limited the success of women in the profession.
A few aspiring female practitioners did manage to infiltrate the studios of late 19th century architectural firms, but women did not enter the profession in any significant number until they were allowed
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