A stinging report commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) found that female architects face dire working conditions defined by sexist workplace dynamics and toxic office cultures that “left them feeling humiliated, objectified, undermined, ashamed, and in, some cases, traumatized.”
The survey of 635 people working in the architecture industry, titled the RIBA Build It Together report and covered in the Guardian, offers “uncomfortable reading for many,” according to RIBA CEO Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick.
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Half of all female respondents described having experienced bullying at work, one-third reported being a victim of sexual harassment, and 83 percent said their career had been hindered by having children. Other findings from the survey, conducted by the equality charity the Fawcett Society, include “long hours being glorified, an imbalance of power between employers and employees, lack of clear policies and proactive action, and stark displays of sexism within practices.”
Vaughan-Dick described finding it “unsurprising that this is still happening,” while referring back to a similarly damning 2003 report titled “Why Do Women Leave Architecture?” Among respondents, 35 percent made claims of experiencing sexual harassment including “groping, aggressive restraining, pushing and grabbing, stalking, and sexually explicit comments.” Thirty-eight percent said they did not report such harassment for fear of unwanted consequences, and only 11 percent of those who did report bad behavior said they were pleased with the results. As one participant in the survey said, “How do you report your male boss in a company led by male partners? You don’t.”
As noted in the RIBA Journal, a new one-year action plan issued alongside the report calls for improvements related to human-resources guidance, professional development programs for returning to work after breaks (including for maternity and paternity leave), training for DEI administrators, and an annual audit to measure diversity among RIBA speakers, contributors, and exhibitors. A fuller policy guide will be issued by late 2026, and an even fuller five-year plan will follow.