My first foray into professional blogging was a website devoted to “young women in architecture” that I created as a college student. Throughout high school I had been the only girl in the various drafting and design courses that I took, and in college there were only a handful of us. It can be a bit daunting for women entering into a male-dominated career field, and I wanted to encourage as many of them as I could. The site was fairly successful, but I was surprised by some rather vocal detractors (I guess some people can’t let go of the critique once they leave college). I was crushed when one woman in particular authored an entire blog post about my website entitled “Like, Gag Me With a Condescending Spoon” in which she decried my “pandering” with the pop art style graphics and girly color scheme that I had created myself. How I managed to condescend and pander to a community that I myself was a part of is beyond me.
In any case, I came across this while flipping through the pages of Elle Decor, and couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined what my bitter critic would have to say about this latest development. May I present I Can Be an Architect Barbie:
She will be introduced to the buying public in August along with a contest in which American Institute of Architects members can compete to create her real-life dreamhouse (did I just hear someone vomit?). I love how they threw in a pair of serious “architecty” looking glasses, a crucial wardrobe item among my professors when they needed to look particularly threatening for a critique.
Though I know that any woman architect who showed up on a site visit looking like that would elicit all manner of catcalls and commentary, it’s fun to see the architectural profession presented by Barbie as a career option for women. I may need to get one of these to keep for the little girl I hope to have someday.
And to my old critic, wherever you are: girly girls who like to wear pink and play with Barbies shouldn’t be discouraged by people like you–great ideas come from all types of minds.
DISCLOSURE (what’s this?): I am not affiliated with Mattel, and this post does not contain affiliate links.
I dressed that way EVERY DAY when I went to work the 10+ years I spent as an architectural intern and finally an architect. SNORT
I got stared at on jobsites wearing jeans, I can’t even imagine….
LOL I know exactly what you mean.
lol love it!
Kas
That’s ridiculous that someone said those things about your blog. They must have thought very little of themselves to make those comments. The architect barbie is kind of neat. I can see how others might not get it, but I think it’s a better role model than barbie in a bikini.
Thanks Tésa!