CONVERGING GENDER STRUCTURES AS A PREMISE FOR A DIVERSIFIED ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSION IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

This study analyses the otherness of female and male architects and their distinct professional identities. The hypothesis suggests that the increasing presence of women is reshaping the traditionally masculine profession. It explores whether gender becomes irrelevant after achieving a quantitative balance in Lithuania's architectural community. The research is based on a sociological survey of 450 Lithuanian architects, conducted via an online questionnaire, exploring their attitudes toward architecture, professional preferences, career paths, and loyalty. Women and men in the Lithuanian architectural community share an almost identical understanding of architecture and similar involvement in the profession. Noticeable differences emerge in the perceived scope of architectural activities, motives for choosing the profession, and time allocation in their professional routines. The assumption of distinctly gendered professional identities is only partially supported, suggesting a shift toward a more nuanced mapping professional heterogeneity rather than adhering to a binary gender structure.