Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/ en-us Design Observer Group 2012-10-06T05:43:40-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0
This seems a rather astonishing point of criticism, akin to criticizing Bluestockings in the nineteenth century. Where should female architects meet? Why not in bookstores? Or anywhere else for that matter?

Implicit in the criticism is the idea that, if you're talking about practice, you're not out there doing it - a kind of resistance to actually questioning the methods and modes under which architects work. But surely such questioning is only a positive thing - for all architects, not only women?

Moreover, talking about the reality of discrimination doesn’t exclude talking about the work, which the article does—and that’s why the discussions happened in the bookstore in the first place—to celebrate a book that discusses the work of women architects. Peter Safe's use of a quote from Deborah Berke is misleading, because she has spoken out against the hurdles women and other minorities face and has argued for a level playing field for everyone: “Anyone who has the ability and desire to be an architect should be offered the opportunity to pursue the possibility of becoming one.” As ever, the issue is how we get there.]]> http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-10-06T05:43:40-05:00 http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-20T12:37:13-05:00 The problem with this article is it shows a group of women meeting in bookstores. The focus should be on their architectural work, first and foremost. There is a great diversity in the types of projects women (and men) do for that matter, it probably shouldn't be defined in terms of a few avant-garde practitioners. And implying that feminist thought has introduced "building is a political and social act" surely doesn't understand architectural history. ]]> http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-18T13:53:11-05:00 www.archiparlour.org
]]> http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-16T18:26:13-05:00 http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-13T22:44:13-05:00 http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-13T15:56:51-05:00 a couple of years ago, pre children, I was aware of and participated in a couple of evening discussions on the broad theme of feminism and architecture in London, where I live and work. Has it all got a bit quiet and mainstream (not necessarily a bad thing) recently? Maybe a sister library in London should think of organising something similar. And provide a crèche.
]]> http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-12T16:45:49-05:00 John Kellett http://places.designobserver.com/feature/why-architects-need-feminism/35448/#comments 2012-09-12T13:49:33-05:00