The History of Women in Interior Design: A Review of Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the development and current state of literature regarding the history of the interior design profession, particularly as it relates to the female decorators and interior designers of the 20th century. Currently, a masculine narrative of architects constitutes the identity of a field dominated by women in number, but by men in perceived significance. With the growth and development of the feminist movement over the past few decades, numerous scholars have re–examined the role of women within their individual disciplines. As a result, histories have been rewritten and professional identities have been redefined. However, the field of interior design–specifically the writing of its history—has not been affected by feminist scholarship to the same degree as many other fields. This has prevented a fully–developed history of the profession. The following literature review identifies three types of publications: 1) general surveys of women in design, 2) critiques of the current state of the history of interior design, and 3) specific case studies/biographies. A comparative content analysis of the texts is conducted with the intent of identifying major themes and issues. The presentation of materials in chronological order sets up an opportunity to analyze evolving attitudes and theories. The findings are twofold. First, a cyclical trend of survey–critique characterizes the last three decades of the 20th century with little advancement. Second, five major concepts dominate those poststructuralist case studies that demonstrate a 21st–century shift in methodological approaches regarding the evaluation of women and design. These concepts include: gender, taste, consumerism, identity, and modernism. The overall conclusion is encouraging. Scholarship has momentum in a positive direction, but there is still much to be done.