Constructing a Career: Women Architects at Work AbstractUsing data from 37 interviews carried out with female architects in Britain, this paper examines how they have constructed their careers in a male-dominated profession. The findings indicate that there is a significant rejection of the 'traditional' career within an organisation, instead there is diversity in the forms of work organisation adopted especially with regard to the desire for control over career and working life. KeywordsWomen's careers; self-employment; orientations to work; professional employment Total word count: 6102 (including references and table)

Choice, diversity and 'false consciousness' in women's careers Abstract The central theme of this paper is that contemporary literature concerning women's careers is based on assumptions held by researchers and not actually on views held by women themselves. Many feminist researchers are guilty of assuming 'false consciousness' on the part of their subjects by explaining these women as being victims of gender or patriarchal systems instead of making a mindful decision founded on choice. The empirical work draws on in-depth interviews with 39 women architects. Of the 39 women interviewed, 20 had adopted alternative ways of working, in the sense that they had rejected the conventional career within an organisation. Their reasons for this were diverse and ranged from wanting to combine childcare or elder care with work; involvement in local politics; wanting time for further study or sporting activities; as well just not wanting to work fulltime. In short, this research demonstrates that work is not always a central interest in the lives of individuals and supports Hakim's view of heterogeneity among women.