Besides Zaha or Adenowo: Investigating the Visibility Status of Female Architects as Role Models for Students of Architecture

Abstract

Recent glimpses and revelations from the education and practice of architectural profession suggested that the visibility status of Female Architects as role models for students under tutelage is still hazy [1]. Highly worthy of note is that increasing numbers of female students are enrolled into architecture programs on a yearly basis but when juxtaposed with the high rate of attrition recorded at the point of exit from Nigerian universities, it significantly varies. As stated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations, the fifth objective is to ensure the attainment of gender equality among people in the societies of the world [2]. This paper investigated and reported the findings of a study on the visibility status of female architects as role models for architecture students. Using a sample of 378 (101 females and 277 males) students drawn from 3 private universities in South-west Nigeria, a survey was carried out to find out how visible female architects were as role models to students of architecture. The data were analysed using univariate analysis like proportions and percentages and results were presented in tables. Findings indicated that only 2 female architects popularised by media were cited as role models by more than half of the respondents indicating poor or hazy visibility of other successful women in the field. This paper recommended that pragmatic steps should be taken by stakeholders of the architecture profession at different levels using the more effective visibility windows of media to showcase the high-stake achievements and personalities of successful female architects as role models to inspire both the female architects in practice and same categories under tutelage.