Margaret Hicks, does this name sound familiar? To me, it was unheard of before reading Despina Stratigakos’s book ‘Where are the Women Architects?’. Somehow, sadly, Margaret was the first US woman to obtain a degree in architecture, more than that, she was the first ever woman to have her work published in an architectural journal, yet, this name remains unheard of. I wish I could say this is an isolated case, but history tells me otherwise.

Where are the women architects? Is an ode to the patrimony we lost on our way to 2024. Some have been rediscovered, such as Denise Scott Brown, whose contributions were only recently recognized after being overshadowed by her partner. Others remain to be found, like Lilly Reich, whose work is now attributed to a well-known Mies van der Rohe. And then there are those who may never be found again. As the book introduction explains, the issues and obstacles faced by women professionals are not due to a lack of ambition or any other tired excuses, but rather a systemic cancellation of their efforts and talents for the benefit of a male-dominated field. Women are present in architecture, but their representation is strictly limited.

“Indeed, this perspective suggests less the question of why women leave architecture than of why they would pursue it at all.”

This quote has been following me closely throughout the whole reading of the book, bringing me to a Barbie architect accompanied conclusive text. As the last reported conversation on the last page of the book between a student and the author: “Things are not that bad anymore” but things are not great either; I emotionally and scientifically believe in the need to pursue truth and history.