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.

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This paper seeks to determine whether or not current history of interior design publications are flawed by embedded gender discrimination, thus devaluing the role of women in the develop ment of the interior design profession. In order to reveal the extent to which women's achievements are marginalized, devalued or ignored, five texts that incorporate information on the history of the interior design profession will be analyzed using methods structured in feminist scholarship. According to DuBois et al. (1985), the most common methods by which an author reveals gender discrimination include (1) the omission of women from the narrative, (2) the different value assigned to women's accomplishments as a result of being viewed under masculine criteria, (3) the perpetuation of gender stereotyping, and (4) the language by which the subjects are described. The current literature on the history of the interior design profession is replete with evidence of gender discrimination. Women in the discipline of interior design are presented as being insignificant in the development of the profession. Instead, a masculine narrative of architects identifies a field dominated by women in number, but by men in perceived significance. In order to establish and understand the roots of interior design, the profession must add a feminine perspective on research. This in turn should assist interior design scholars in the development of a theoretical framework that acknowledges and disseminates the contributions of the early decorators. Otherwise, female interior design pioneers will continue to fall into anonymity.

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