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MATTHEWSON | "You have no idea ...": Women in Architecture in the Eighties | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2009) vol 6:51-57 "You have no idea ... ": Women in Architecture in the Eighties Gill Matthewson, School of Creative Technologies, Wetec, Wellington ABSTRACT: A number of moves in the seventies had meant that more women than ever before were in architecture schools and by the eighties they were flooding into the profession. Over the decade their numbers quadrupled (as measured by registration) as women moved from the exception to the norm. But their impact was variable. This paper will try to tease out that impact from women-only practices to support groups to what they published to moves away from the profession. I have written elsewhere about the huge In my previous writings I have speculated on strategies, perhaps the most important one increase of women into architecture schools in the reasons why the profession has been was safety in numbers. In May 1979 recent New Zealand1 and other countries during the resistant to women, Bronwyn Hanna points graduates Mandy Reynolds and Fiona 1970s; the result of a combination of economic, out a war analogy was always invoked when Christeller and current student, Janet educational, aspirational and societal changes. women started moving into architecture: Thomson, sent out a letter calling for As a consequence, women architecture "comments … describe early women interested Auckland-based women to meet on graduates began to flood into the profession architects as invaders or usurpers … The the 18th June. The plan was to meet and in the eighties. During the decade of the metaphor of invasion evokes an image of share: seventies just 15 women became registered rightful citizens of an established territory architects; during the eighties, the number being overrun by outsiders who will corrupt thoughts and experiences as women involved in the was 60 – a fourfold increase (during the the established culture."2 In this paper I want architectural world. We feel that for us there are certainly differences between the sexes which need to be nineties, it was 130). The first woman to be to look at the way women dealt with that war discussed and understood generally, rather than registered in the decade was Claire Chambers – by fighting or collaborating or counter- overcome individually; and that with the rapidly in 1980. The first for the nineties was Felicity resistance. increasing numbers of women graduating in Wallace. Between the two women is a gap far architecture, the need for some such interaction is now immediate.3 greater than ten years might imply. The It was to second wave feminism that many eighties were where it all changed, and women turned. Feminism explained in From the beginning there was a mix of aims changed fast, even from year to year. When multiple ways what we were experiencing and ambitions: some wanted technical help speaking with women who graduated only a and why. It also offered a number of with architectural problems, some wanted few years ahead of me, their common support, and some wanted to change the comment was: "you have no idea." 2 world. Regardless, within a month the Hanna, "Questioning the Absence" p 249. See also Ahrentzen & Anthony, "Sex, Stars, and Studios" p 17 for a discussion of the warrior mentality in architectural 1 Matthewson "Take it to the limit" pp 319-325. education. 3 Reynolds, Christeller & Thomson, letter. 51 MATTHEWSON | "You have no idea ...": Women in Architecture in the Eighties | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2009) vol 6:51-57 Women's Institute of Architecture was formed possible. The September 1979 WIA newsletter become a capable professional in architecture. Even and busying itself becoming incorporated details the lobbying already begun with an with intelligent and gifted females it appears to me that the pressures in our society discourage girls from with its aims and objectives, for legal application to the government Committee on developing initiative, independence and decision- purposes, of: Women for funding ($250 was granted in making capacity ... I think it unfortunate that the 1980), and the writing of submissions to the stereotype emotional classic female sex role is expected To actively encourage and support women in NZIA to suggest revisions to the Code of Staff to be so submissive.7 professional practice, particularly in the field of Employment on maternity and parental leave, architecture Later in 1980 the WIA exercised some To give direct support to women working, flexible working conditions and job sharing assertiveness by writing to Professor Allan learning, educating and researching in the field ("cordially received" notes the March 1981 of architecture newsletter). While the NZIA, like other Wild at the Auckland Architecture School To promote architecture as a career for women institutions at the time, might have thought expressing concern at the lack of women using all available channels of communication itself gender neutral, their documents and lecturers at the school, "not so cordially eg film, TV, magazines, lectures, etc received!" notes the March 1981 newsletter.8 To promote changes in the profession of processes revealed otherwise. It was architecture and society as a whole which laborious work pointing out that: yes, In 1981 Sarah Treadwell became the first would support the existence of women actually, words make a difference and woman on the permanent teaching staff and practising architecture eg setting up 24 hour suggesting alternatives. But it was also work remained the only one for much of the child care centres eighties. Notwithstanding the lack of female To comment publically on matters of concern to that at times brought ridicule and personal teaching staff, the WIA also set up a sub- the society4 attacks upon the women. group to produce brochures for secondary To call the group an "Institute" was both In June of 1980, the WIA organised a schools to encourage girls to study tongue in cheek and a very deliberate, straight Management seminar at the Auckland architecture. This included visits to schools out political challenge to the NZIA which Architecture School and it was attended by 32 by the women and general publicising of Christeller, Reynolds and Thomson believed women. There were workshops, including women working in architecture as a norm 9 "simply did not exist for women."5 "At the one on how to be assertive, which, while now rather than an exception. A strong time, a separate institute seemed like the only might seem clichéd, in the early eighties was a conception of the importance of role models option."6 Positioning the group as a parallel new idea and seemed necessary for those of underwrites this kind of lobbying, very much us born in the fifties. As the Head of an institute meant serious lobbying became architectural school in Tasmania put it: 7 quoted, WIA newsletter (13 October 1979). 4 WIA newsletter (9 August 1979). 8 WIA newsletter (1 March 1981). 5 Christeller, Pers Comm. In my experience it is often difficult for a woman to 9 See Malcolm "Career Check" p 70, and "Cause to 6 Thomson, Pers Comm. Celebrate" §4:4. 52 MATTHEWSON | "You have no idea ...": Women in Architecture in the Eighties | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2009) vol 6:51-57 a concern of the feminism of the time. It MBA student Beverley Gill. the challenges of economic and social attached itself primarily to an historical demands on the architecture profession."13 project, but live role models were equally The study notes some women unimpressed by The notion that the NZIA was outmoded was important. the WIA and refusing to join "a sexist reasonably prevalent at the time amongst group."11 Separatism was an important tactic younger architects – we wanted something The challenge to the NZIA eventually became of feminism resulting from an idea that different. When, in Professional Practice, a collaboration, as the WIA became a useful women needed to separate from men in order architects came in to tell us to join Rotary, the source for the NZIA. For instance, in mid to understand the dynamics of sexual politics golf club and other such associations in order 1981 the group was asked to comment on the and to become strong enough to not be to pick up work, we resisted. Architecture Recommended Conditions of Employment overwhelmed. But it was a tactic that was for us not "poncing about in Pierre Cardin pamphlet being produced by the NZIA produced strong reactions from men and shirts" but more about being community- Employed Architects Committee. The group women alike. Some women thought that they based, and helping people (perhaps a part was instrumental in adding clauses on were just as good as men and there was no product of the hippie movement). And so the parenthood – applicable to both men and difference between them; to insist that there late seventies early eighties produced a women.10 That a lot of this is so much part was, was dangerous and counterproductive. number of architectural collectives as an and parcel of the contemporary work alternative way of working in architecture.14 environment is a testament to the success of Other women considered that women who the WIA. The lobbying and liaising between had been socialised in one way and trained in However, it is difficult at times to tease out the two institutes continued with an NZIA another were uniquely able to bridge and how and why things happened the way they sponsored survey of women in the repair the gaps in architecture. A study in did. The same period was also a time of architectural profession. Claire Chambers Australia noted women not registering economic depression with few architectural from WIA joined the NZIA's Employed because they believe it would limit their opportunities and even fewer employment Architects Committee and argued for it to practice, of registration being conservative, opportunities for graduates.