ARCHITECTURE/WOMEN'S STUDIES 324
GENDER AND RACE IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
(3 hours or 3/4 unit)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to an aspect of architecture that has all too often been overlooked:  the role of women and people of color (i.e., African Americans, Latino/Latina Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and others).  As in many other fields, the work of white males has historically dominated architecture.  Furthermore, due to the persistence of the "star system," the valuable contributions of women architects and architects of color, for the most part, have not been recognized.  To a certain extent, this pattern can also be seen in the related environmental design professions of landscape architecture and urban design.  This class calls attention to the work of both women architects and architects of color as consumers, critics, and creators of the environment (i.e., as clients and users, writers and researchers, design practitioners, educators, and students).

 Through your participation in this course, you will supplement both the body of knowledge and educational perspective traditionally conveyed across the architectural curriculum, and gain an understanding of some key issues in this rapidly emerging field.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

 1)     better understand and analyze your own experiences as a student;

 2)     refer to useful professional networks that may help you in your future efforts to gain employment in the field;

 3)     introduce yourself and establish a professional relationship with a woman architect or an architect of color;

 4)     analyze and critique a wide variety of growing literature in the field;

 5)     understand some important historical contributions that women and people of color have made to architecture and environmental design;

 6)     identify some leading historical figures (i.e., women architects and architects of color) and become familiar with their work;

 7)     analyze how the built environment reflects social attitudes toward gender and race, especially in restrooms, housing, urban and suburban spaces, workspaces, birth settings, and elsewhere;

 8)    identify and analyze the work of contemporary women and people of color in architecture and related disciplines, and understand some of the major issues that face these practitioners, educators, critics, and students;

 9)     understand some efforts currently underway in our major professional organizations to help improve the status of women and people of color in environmental design; and

10)     analyze some complex issues surrounding gender and race in architecture, and help chart out some new avenues for future research.

FORMAT

The course will be run as a series of seminar discussions.  Since the course material is new and evolving, lectures will be at a minimum.  It is essential that you come to class prepared to discuss the assigned materials for each day.  While we will be drawing upon the literature as a key source of information, we will occasionally rely upon guest lectures and/or a field trip--as well as your own experiences.

Although at times the issues we discuss may prove controversial, a cooperative--rather than a confrontational--atmosphere in the class is encouraged.  Healthy discussion and debate are welcome; accusations are not.  Please do your share in creating a positive learning environment.  Any problems arising from the course should be discussed with the instructor after class or during office hours.

REQUIRED READINGS

RECOMMENDED READINGS

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

ASSIGNMENTS

GRADING

COURSE CALENDAR