Mothers in Architecture
Posted on Dec. 3, 2024 / Emerging Professionals / Subscribe 0
By Christie Melgar, Associate AIA
What is the role of a woman in the Architectural world? If you find yourself in a meeting for a project, no matter the phase of the project, take a look around and evaluate the ratio of male to female. How many female Architects can you count in the room?
As of 2022, AIA has more than 96,000 members, 26% percent of those are women, which is an increase. Two in five new architects are women according to NCARB by Numbers 2022. This is a 4% increase. The number of women in the Architecture industry appears to be on the rise, however there is still a steep drop-off over the course of a women’s career. Historically women leave the industry at higher rates than men. Why is this? Is this due to the pinch point in a woman’s career where she picks between becoming a mother or continuing her career path? The 2018 AIASF Equity by Design and Equity in Architecture notes that 44% of women are the primary caregivers after giving birth. Male architects tend to be parents at all points in their career which is not the case of females. Refer to Figure 1 below.
Source: 2018 AIASF Equity by Design and Equity in Architecture
How can we close this gap? Can reorganizing maternal leave be an answer?
The United States is the only wealthy country in the world that does not guarantee paid parental leave. Among 41 nations, the United States does not mandate any paid leave for new parents according to the 2018 data compiled by Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Over 72% of women are either full-time or part-time employees. All other 40 nations provide a minimum of two months’ paid leave. Refer to Figure 2. As of Today, a Maryland employee may be eligible for 6 weeks of unpaid parental leave during a 12-month period, which does not seem like ample time for a mother to recover and bond with her child.
Maternal leave is essential for women and should be restructured to keep our women in the industry. Women should not have to choose between the quality of care for their child and their career. Maternal leave should accommodate new parents and promote their return to the workforce.
After birth, a woman needs time to physically recover while mentally adjusting to motherhood. Women suffer from pain in various parts of the body—leaking milk, new stress, and the dilemma of having to choose between being a mother and returning to the work. After going through a natural birth, women can experience uncomfortable cramping and discharge, engorgement and pain, swelling in hands, feet and face, hemorrhoids, constipation, urinary problems, and other issues. These symptoms can occur for a few weeks to over a month, after giving birth. These are just symptoms to natural birth. Women can suffer more through complications in birth. The toll it takes physically and mentally is one that words cannot describe, but with this comes the joy of a new life.
Upon giving birth, the baby is dependent on the mother. By 16 weeks, babies are at a weight where they can metabolically sleep for 7-8 hours and can be on a 3-hour feeding schedule. At this stage, a feeding routine can be established. This is also a period before separation anxiety becomes too pronounced. By 16 weeks babies also physically develop to be able to hold their heads up without support. With that being said, 6 weeks of material leave does not seem like ample time. Firms need to restructure maternal leave to keep women in the Architectural industry and promote diversity in the industry. This could range from restructuring maternal leave, including work from home and additional flexibility for post maternal leave, and flexibility with paternal leave so that fathers can contribute more as caregivers.
With a growing number of women in the Architecture Industry, more consideration and attention should be given to the importance of Maternal leave. To provide equity, we must provide women with the opportunity to return to the workforce with a greater ease after giving birth.
Contact Information:
Name: Christie Melgar, Associate AIA
Email: [email protected]
Company: Leuterio Thomas LLC
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