Women in Architecture: Living on the Margin - Essay Example

There are times when women feel wholly dissatisfied with the structure that they have to occupy, even though they have no actual control over it.  In this regard, they are viewed as outsiders occupying space built to suit someone else’s tastes but there are ways that they can change their personal dwelling. 

Women did have the ability to be able to remodel their homes, whether they had to hire an interior decorator or not.  Friedan (1963) explains that women could transport themselves by simply moving items around in the home or having a different kitchen design done, such as ones with murals and pleasing color blends for the walls and cabinets.  This alone could make an outsider feel like someone who designed their very own home because they devised the ideas and plans regardless of whether or not someone else did the work.  Rendell, (1996)

states that women have different creative designs from men, so this could very well be a reason why some women do not feel comfortable in a home that does not appear feminine enough to them or lacks certain feministic qualities as well.  This can’t be denied as throughout the period of time that women initially began entering into architecture there have been noticeable differences between the genders in the skills and qualities that develop in the design phase.  It has been realized that many women are more satisfied with a home that has been designed by a woman instead of a man.  This is stated to be the case because women are more in tune with each other's needs and women architects build based on these very aspects of female life in society.  Even Susan Torre (1996) points out that women are fast becoming economic consumers therefore architects have to build to the needs and desires of these women if they are going to bring in any revenue at all.  Therefore, if women aren’t content with a house that they live in then they can have it changed themselves, they don’t have to go solely by what an architect says, especially a male architect. 

This scenario is not so variant from how women really feel about their personal homes or offices.  They want to change it yet at times don’t know-how.  The point is, it doesn’t matter if an individual is viewed as an outsider or not, a living space can be faceted to fit any person’s individual tastes even after it is already built.  For instance, walls can be knocked down to add a window cubicle for a female to sit and read and enjoy the warm rays of the sun.  Another wall can be compressed back to allow for an entryway to develop from a foyer into a living room if that is a preference.  The architecture was meant to be flexible so there could always be changes made to a structure later on. 

            In conclusion, women have often been viewed as outsiders in a social context and even in a professional one as well. However, this does not have to be the case within their personal space.  As has been stated, interior design can be changed and even the architectural theme can be adjusted to provide what the consumer really wants and feels comfortable with.  Therefore, just a slight few changes can make all the difference in being satisfied and dissatisfied with an architectural building design.