How Identity Has Influenced an Architect's Career at AIA Architect
Laurie's career as an architect reflects the challenges women face in a male-dominated field; they describe having to "put forth like 125% effort" to prove themselves, a sentiment still relevant despite a shift towards more family-friendly firm cultures and increased female representation within the profession. The evolution of the industry, however, offers hope, as evidenced by the increased opportunities and improved work-life balance observed by Laurie.
Overcoming Challenges, Gender Inequality, Resilience, Work-Life Balance, Professional Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Laurie Friedman
Architect
AIA Architect
University of California, Los Angeles and University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Master of Architecture
Architecture, Interior Design, Fine Arts, Music
Architecture, Construction & Design, Consulting & Related Professional Services
Creative
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. In a male-dominated field, Laurie emphasizes the necessity of exceeding expectations to prove oneself, highlighting the persistent pressure to perform at a higher level than male counterparts.
2. Laurie's experience shows a positive shift in the architecture industry, with increased opportunities and a more family-friendly environment enabling more women to pursue and succeed in the profession.
3. Despite progress, Laurie points out that women architects still face the expectation of consistently proving their capabilities, suggesting ongoing challenges for women in the field.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a woman in a male-dominated industry, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
That's a really interesting and poignant question. When I started architecture school, only about 7% of licensed architects were women. After I graduated, I always felt like there weren't as many opportunities open for me, especially if I had continued to work in male-dominated firms.
I felt like I've always had to put forth 125% effort, whereas men could do 75%. I had to be better; I had to really prove myself, and I still feel that way.
I feel I had to become much more thorough and mindful of my work because, heaven forbid I made a mistake, it would be more outstanding and noticed because I was a woman. You know, the perception was that women couldn't really be doing this. I've always had to be at the top of my game, even more so than a contractor. I felt that was important so I could best represent my client.
When I went to architecture school, there was no doubt I was going to go for the license because of the credibility it imparted and the requirements to become a licensed architect. It's been a difficult journey, but also interesting.
Before the pandemic, I went back to a women's symposium at the school where I got my bachelor's degree. It was for all the women who had graduated and were still alive. There were a few takeaways: more women are in the profession and are being given more roles of responsibility. The lifestyle of a firm has changed and is much more amenable to becoming a parent, which helps men as well.
Before, a lot of women weren't getting licensed because having children would happen at the same time, and women didn't go any further. Another key takeaway from that event was a gallery with a three-dimensional timeline. At the beginning was the first woman to graduate in around 1870. It went around the room to the most recent graduates; I was somewhere in the first quarter. After that, more and more women clearly went to architecture school, so it became much more common.
The culture of architectural firms has become much more family-friendly, benefiting both men and women. I think that's why more women are sticking with the profession, although we still feel like we have to prove ourselves a little more. It's expected that we do that.