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.