PRAM

Dear Interns Architects,

There seems to be a high rate of attrition of women in the architectural profession.
With a copy of the 2008 AIBC Member Directory, a pencil and a calculator, I recently tallied some numbers.

In 2008…
51% of the population of Metro Vancouver was women.
45% of the graduating class at UBC SALA were women.
42% of the award recipients at UBC SALA were women
38% of the intern membership at the AIBC were women.
11% of the registered architects (MAIBC) at the AIBC were women.
2% of BC architecture firms greater than four people were owned by women.

I'm not an Ipsos Reid pollster - but I think these numbers indicate a problem.
For some reason, significant numbers of women are choosing to leave the profession during their internship.

Hmmm...I wonder why?

Low pay?
Long hours?
Laddish culture?
Family unfriendly work environment?

Pram In The Hall is a feature posted on the AIBC website which begins to address this issue. It consists of a series of interviews with women and men who practice while raising children.

There are some "resources" listed as well.
Be sure to have a look at the 2003 RIBA study titled "Why Women Leave Architecture" - it's surprisingly good reading. (The issue of "sidelining" really hit home for me).

And finally, please post a comment on the "feedback" page if you feel inclined.
The powers at be are aware that this is an important issue,
and every comment posted just adds more traction.

Thank You,

Stephanie Robb MAIBC
(Mother, Principal, Registration & Licensing Board Member, and 2010 Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Medal in Architecture recipient)