Women in Architecture: Part II

We asked two of our architects, Ann Somers, AIA and Katie Lightsey, AIA, to share their thoughts in response to a Wall Street Journal article entitled “In Architecture, a Glass Ceiling.” The article is a look at how, despite the dramatically growing number of women in the field, firm leadership is still dominated by men. Below is Part II of the series.

Katie Lightsey, AIA, has been with CDFL since graduating from Mississippi State University in 2007.

When I thought about choosing a career path and in turn began studying architecture, I never really gave much consideration to the demographic makeup of the profession. As I entered the workforce, however, it became very clear there were many challenges and opportunities related to being a female architect.

I’ve learned a lot from working with female architects and the most impactful lesson I’ve learned is to stay calm when you perceive that you’re being treated unfairly because of your gender. It’s imperative that you act unruffled and continue to behave in a way that demands respect. Eventually, diligent and consistent hard work will force people to look past your gender and treat you as an equal. In my experience, I’ve found that most people who make derogatory comments aren’t being a chauvinist; rather, they are learning how to navigate the new face (and many faces) of the industry.

There is both good and bad associated with being a female in architecture, as there is in many professions – especially male-dominated ones. In a recent study conducted by the University of Montreal and reported on by Time Magazine, researchers reported that female doctors outperform men when judged on “compliance with practice” guidelines. According to their findings, women tend to be better listeners and use evidence-based diagnoses more often than their male counterparts. I think similar observations could be found in architecture. It’s been my experience that female architects listen more closely to their clients and have a more focused approach when determining clients’ needs and when managing their expectations. While those traits aren’t uniquely feminine, they certainly have allowed me to be maintain positive relationships with my clients and coworkers.

My experience is already vastly different than those women who came before me. People like Ann Somers, who wrote the first perspective for this dual part series, paved the way for future female architects. Ann is a principal here at CDFL and was one of the first female principals in a Mississippi firm. She is talented and intelligent, but her persistence and dedication are what made her a success. Those traits aren’t unlike the ones required for either gender’s success, but that hard work forced others to respect and acknowledge her talent. Ann and others like her made it much easier for other female architects, especially myself.