Society made her quit. Practices that systematically influence the career path of women architects.

The participation of women in architecture has always been defined and determined by the basic constituent of all societies around the word: the patriarchy. The barrier between women and the possibility of designing the built environment has been not only a systematic impediment, but also a physical one; in fact, even up until 1972 many schools did not admit women to pursue degrees in architecture in the USA. In Italy, education was opened only to men until the XVIII century. When the physical barrier was finally completely lifted, meaning that women could study architecture, as well as actually practice it once they earned their degree, other everyday obstacles presented in the way of women architects. Just like in the past, architecture and architects never stopped being sexists, and a simple law was not going to stop a life long idea of prejudice and active discrimination. What are the limitations that today stop equality in the architectural field? Why are the biggest firms almost completely man-only composed? There have been numerous research on the aggravates that influence women’s career and this thesis aims at underlying what are the recurrent practices found in the different work places, especially in architecture, and specifically in Italy. This is done throughout research in our territory, and eventually by acquiring data directly from the women architects that work and experience work life as women in the region of Piedmont, through a questionnaire.