Empowering women in architecture
Bethany Long, BA (Hons) Architecture graduate, is working to change the landscape for women in her industry
We need to see more women in positions of leadership. Across the industry as a whole we see so many more male directors than women and it makes me wonder, where am I? Where are my female role models to look up to?
Bethany Long, BA (Hons) Architecture
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BA (Hons) Architecture
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?Part 2 Architect Apprentice
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?Architectural Assistant at Associated Architects
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?Vice-President for the Birmingham Architectural Association
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?Lead for the Women in Architecture focus group
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?Role Model of the Year finalist, Building the Future Awards
I've always been interested in design. It’s the idea of very small bits that come together to deliver this amazing scheme. I especially wanted to get into architecture that was going to benefit people, so schools, hospitals, education facilities – that's always been the end goal for me really. I want to provide architecture that's going to have a community benefit.
I grew up in Shropshire, which is quite a rural area, so I wasn’t exposed to much in the way of inspiring or cutting-edge architecture. When I was younger, I went on a trip to Barcelona, that was the first time I remember seeing the work of architect Antoni Gaudí and I found it exciting and really intriguing, especially coming from a rural town with very limited contemporary buildings.
A change of plans
I didn't do very well on A level results day. I'd been predicted A B B, and had planned to go to the University of Liverpool. That's all I'd had my hopes set on and I think my second choice was the University of Reading and it was very similar grades. I had this whole idea that I was going to be living and studying in Liverpool and I'd picked out where I was going to live, I knew what the architecture department looked like, and I knew what the studios looked like. It got to A level results day and I had an inkling that things weren't going to go my way, but all of my family tried to reassure me that it was all going to be okay.
I got my results and obviously they weren't what I wanted. I was pretty distraught. It was a really horrible experience. I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do, and I spent a day just in limbo.
Before results day, I'd signed up for the University of Plymouth Clearing Hotline, so they had all of my details. Out of the blue, I got a call from Plymouth asking if I was still looking for a place. I was obviously looking for a place in architecture and they informed me that they still had places available. With my total UCAS points taken into consideration they were able to offer me a place, which was amazing!
I'd never been to Plymouth. I didn't know what the Architecture course was like. Initially I didn’t even know where it was on a map! I remember having lots of calls with one of the architecture academics,
Dr Nikolina Bobic , who spent time describing what the studio looked like to me over the phone because that was really important for me. I remember calling and emailing her quite a few times with little questions that I had, and she was always really great at answering them.
The University then guided me in choosing my accommodation. They were really helpful with putting me in touch with some private accommodation options close to the campus because I’d never been to Plymouth. They provided me with a very quick onboarding of what going to Plymouth would be like.
Not getting my grades at the time felt like the end of the world, but looking back it was probably one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I had such a great time during my studies at Plymouth – it really was the best three years; I learnt so much during my time there and I left with such a close group of friends from it. It was such an evolutionary period for me that I don’t think I would have had anywhere else.
Supported all the way
The support from Plymouth continued well into my studies. In my third year it was COVID-19 and I was struggling with the stresses of the pandemic. My tutor
Andy Humphreys knew what was going on and that I was having a difficult time. Andy said I could contact him whenever I needed. There was always that support there.
All of the tutors were really great. You could go to them with any problems. Academically they'd be able to talk you through it and they'd go above and beyond to help you through any problems. I think that's sort of the reason why I came out of it doing so well. The opportunity to work on live projects as a whole cohort also benefitted my development – working on a project delivering an outdoor learning space, made entirely from recycled materials, for a local primary school was really fulfilling.
Balancing the gender split in architecture
I was applying for jobs while I was in my third year, and I knew I wanted to move back up to the Midlands. I applied to multiple practices in Birmingham, securing an interview with Associated Architects and went on to successfully gain employment with them. I've been here three years this month. Six months after I joined, I got involved with the Birmingham Architectural Association’s (BAA) Women in Architecture (WIA) focus group, and in November 2022 was elected to the position of Vice President for the BAA alongside leading WIA.
There's a gender disparity in architecture and that's an issue that I've always known I wanted to be involved in changing. When I was studying at Plymouth, I know for a fact that there were more women than men studying on the course. We see a group of really strong women doing their degree and then when you come into practice you lose so many of those talented women that you don’t even see a 50% gender split anymore. Which raises the questions of where are they going and why are they not being supported in employment?
Part of my role as lead for the Women in Architecture Focus Group is to put a spotlight on the work of our female architects. We do this by organising an exhibition each year at Birmingham Symphony Hall for International Women's Day, which features practices from across the Midlands. They all put forward one of their female colleagues to submit a piece of work which gets exhibited. The event also includes a panel of trailblazing women from the industry. It's an amazing night where we bring all of these women together – to celebrate their work, ensure they are represented and have a voice.
I also run monthly networking sessions called ‘Mochas and Mentoring’ which offers mentoring over breakfast. We offer these regular networking opportunities with different themes including CV and portfolio workshops as well as activities to promote good mental health such as painting and yoga. The main point is to create a robust community of women and offer support to the younger females coming through the industry. This shows them that there are women in positions of leadership and those roles are accessible to them. It’s about allowing opportunities for connection, sharing ideas and pushing forward changes for women in the industry.
Nurturing female talent
We have found that due to the length of time it takes to become a qualified architect, many women are having to choose between starting a family and returning to work. This happens in every industry and is a recognised struggle across the world, but due to this long qualification period, it makes it difficult to maintain career progression in this industry and is amplified sometimes by the lack of support when returning to work. Some companies are offering support in the way of promoting flexible working and offering creche facilities to make things easier with childcare, but there are so many businesses who don't see that as a priority and as a result are shutting out half of the workforce.
We need to see more women in positions of leadership. Across the industry as a whole we see so many more male directors than women and it makes me wonder, where am I? Where are my female role models to look up to? Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely have incredible female role models who have mentored and inspired me on my career path, but they are few and far between. To see more women in positions of leadership, we have to nurture female talent.
Talk to people in education and industry
I would say to anyone that finds themselves in Clearing not to panic! The world isn't ending and there are so many options now. The Clearing teams are always super helpful at the universities, and they want to help you secure a place. Just have some belief in yourself – it's a real knock when you open those results and you haven't got what you wanted, but know that it will work out because there are people who want to support you and see you do well.
And for graduates new to the architecture industry wanting to make a positive impact, I would say talk to people, talk to as many people as you can. Make as many new connections as possible, and then you'll find out where people really want to see change in the industry. Your network can help you deliver those positive changes. You can create this network of people who all have the same goals as you, and you can all work together as a team to achieve something great for the industry and for the architects of the future.
Build a better space for all with a degree in architecture
We believe in diversity, intelligent questioning of norms and in a society of independent thinkers. We believe in architecture being available to all and a future beyond that currently known; we believe in creating history.
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