Women Architects in Practice: Opportunities and Challenges in Algeria

Abstract

A significant imbalance exists between the number of female graduates from Algerian universities in different regions and registered women in the National Board of Accredited Architects. In this context, this paper examines the issue of the under-representation of accredited women architects in Algeria. The research employs an online survey as a methodology. Three hundred and one women architects were sent an online questionnaire. According to the survey, this discrepancy is attributable to the withdrawal of some women from the job market due to external factors and intrinsic constraints and the migration of another segment to other fields allied to architecture. Among the challenges facing women are the heavy duties of the architects, the stressful and time-consuming nature of their work, and the persistence of the male-dominance. However, besides the ever-narrowing gap between practicing male and female architects, other emerging factors in the field appear to have promising prospects for women. These include the gradual shift to remote work, flexible routines at local and global levels, and the flourishing of new innovative fields allied to architecture that favor women.