in-fringe /in ‘ frinj/ verb to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another
Foreword In-fringe seeks to provoke the reader about gender and race issues pertaining to the field of architecture/design through a series of poems. These poems and photos are created from information and observations gathered during the 2018 AIA Conference in New York, Design for Humanity Conference, and Architecture Lobby National Think-In.
Other 28%
Caucasian 72%
Race of registered architects through the American Institute of Architects1
We shall achieve victory in Athens and justice in Athens when those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are.2 -Whitney M. Young Jr. at the
race.
1968 AIA Convention
Laying the foundation so that future generations don’t have to worry about the collapse of a building. You want to make sure your measurements are right. You need to know how it’s made. The structure is erected. You’re a shitty architect if your building falls.3 So you make sure it doesn’t. But what about the ones who built the system to see you fail. Not held accountable for the injustices in the profession. Because being a white male is the norm. So how do you explain to the rest that their house wasn’t meant to be a home.
Sitting with the crowd Silent. Observant. Waiting. I surveyed the room and noticed the following: Plastic milk crates: What the professionals used to sit on #MeToo: The recoccuring phrase Emotion: The electrifying tension hanging in the air Race and gender: People of different ethnicities/gender surrounding the middle table White: The only race I see sitting in the middle table
A session at the Architectural Lobby Think-In4
“How do we become good white men?”5 “How do we become good glorified white men?” “How do we become good privileged white men?” “How do we become good white men with reputation?”
“Architects are made to care.”6 “Architects are made expected to care.” “Architects are made trained to care.” “Architects are made designed to care.” “Do architects are made to care?”
“Can design influence inclusion?” “Can design invite inclusion?” “Can design suggest inclusion?” “Can design explore inclusion?” “Can design compel inclusion?”7
AM I AN ARCHITECT?
“There was [one] encounter that I had when I was getting a cup of coffee. When I looked back, I saw an older white male that looked like he worked for a company that was a part of the AIA and he was giving me the elevator look with a straight face. I can only conclude that he was looking and interested in what I was wearing [what I was not wearing]. These are some of the people that attend these conferences, being what I think more materialistic and worried about the image of the profession are like.�8
An image at the 2018 NY AIA Conference9
Other (uknown)
Women 18 %
Men
Gender of registered architects through the American Institute of Architects.10
- Whitney Young Jr. at the 1968 AIA Convention
gender.
It took a great deal of skill and creativity and imagination to build the kind of situation we have, and it is going to take skill and imagination and creativity to change it. 11
“The gist of the [Shitty Architecture Men] list is true. I also know two people on the list who are falsely accused. I also know a couple on the list who are just men behaving badly but they don’t belong on the list.” 12
What is considered to be sexual harassment and assault? On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad was the situation? How do you determine if the man is proven guilty or falsely accused? Who is a victim of sexual harassment? Who can be a sexual harasser? Is sexual harassment only men harassing women? What is the best tool to combat this problem? Why is this such a taboo subject?
At the end of the day, boys will be boys. Okay, let’s move on?
“The gist of the [Shitty Architecture Men] list is true. I also know two people on the list who are falsely accused. I also know a couple on the list who are just men behaving badly but they don’t belong on the list
because it was just a friendly touch because they are friends
because it was only a mistake
but he’s married
What is considered to be sexual harassment and assault? but this is a work environment On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad was the situation? How do you determine if the man is proven guilty or falsely accused? Who is a victim of sexual harassment? Who can be a sexual harasser? Is sexual harassment only men harassing women? What is the best tool tobut combat thisno. problem? she said Why is this such a taboo subject?
At the end of the day, boys will be boys. Okay, let’s move on?
“Creativity and masculinity have also been conflated for too long... but gender bias is not the most dangerous consequence of the lone-wolf image: it is the unspoken permission to abuse that should worry us.”13
Men with the title/status of “creative genius” in the architectural profession and in many other professions as well are practically given license to misuse and abuse their power.11 Male aggression is culturally seen as proof of “genius” - thus perpetuating the cycle.14
It seems as though there is a correlation between creativity and abuse - a relationship that is too often romanticized or tolerated because there are no better options.15
We need to talk about the thing. We have to build power for ourselves. *Makes Shitty Architecture Men list*
We don’t know if that is the right tool for what you’re trying to do. What should we do that will have an impact?
Report anything to human resources, but accusers never accuse alone. If you experience any level of harassment you must tell someone, and that is a formal complaint. 16 What if they don’t do anything?
Well then they are liable.
*repeat*
You are most distinguished by your thunderous silence and your complete irrelevance...17
turmoil.
- Whitney Young Jr. at the 1968 AIA Convention
militarization.” 20
and parents in distress to justify increased funding for border
“We are appalled that the current administration is putting children
“The AIA and its 89,000 members are committed to working with President-elect Trump to address
the issues our country faces, particularly strengthening the nation’s aging infrastructure.” 19 dehumanizing infrastructures.” 18
work to divest the profession from the production of
“If the AIA is committed to this goal then it must actively
and oppression.” 21
that use the built environment as an instrument of torture
“The Architecture Lobby and ADPSR condemn all policies
“We also congratulate members of the new 115th Congress on their election. We urge both the
incoming Trump Administration and the new Congress to work toward enhancing the design and
construction sector’s role as a major catalyst for job creation throughout the American economy.” 23 healthy places for all people.“ 22
commitment to making more diverse, equitable, inclusive, resilient, and
“The Architecture Lobby and ADPSR call on the AIA to prove its
If you don’t speak out If you don’t speak out for college affordability If you don’t speak out for better education If you don’t speak out for living conditions If you don’t speak out for diversity If you don’t speak out for representation If you don’t speak out for inclusion If you don’t speak out for marginalized groups If you don’t speak out for gender equity If you don’t speak out for racial equity If you don’t speak up If you don’t speak up for those not being heard If you don’t speak up for those being silenced If you don’t speak up when it matters the most Then you will be remembered Not for what you’ve done But for what you didn’t do
to their credit, the AIA has slowly begun to realize that there is a crisis in architectural work. In their conferences and workshops, they often discuss “the live-work equation” and “finding the right fit” of values between employees and employers. Their solutions however, are colored by their privilege. They emphasize attitudinal shifts and making the right personal choices as an employee. While it would certainly be nice if architectural work were a consensual relationship, the immediate power dynamic of the employee-manager relationship, and the need to have a job in the first place (especially given massive student loans) limit and obviate the ability of most of us to make a choice at all. 24
to their credit, the AIA has slowly begun to realize that there is a crisis in architectural work. In their conferences and workshops, they often discuss “the live-work equation”and “finding the right fit ” of values between employees and employers. Their solutions however, are colored by their privilege. They emphasize attitudinal shifts and making the right personal choices as an employee. While it would certainly be nice if architectural work were a consensual relationship, the immediate power dynamic of the employee-manager relationship,and the need to have a job in the first place (especially given massive student loans) limit and obviate the ability of most of us to make a choice at all.24
SOURCES Jacobus, Frank. Archi-Graphic an Infographic Look at Architecture. Laurence King Publishing, 2015.
1
AIA. “Full Remarks of Whitney M. Young Jr. AIA Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon June 1968.” AIA,
2
http://aiad8.prod.acquia-sites.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/WhitneyYoungJr_1968AIAContention_ FulLSpeech.pdf As quoted during a session at the 2018 NY AIA Conference
3
4
Photographed by Ann Dang
5
Quote captured during a session at the Design for Humanity Conference
6
Quote captured during a session at the Design for Humanity Conference
7
Quote captured during a session at the Design for Humanity Conference Quoted by Fernando Martinez
8
9
Photographed by Ann Dang
10
AIA. “ Diversity in the Profession of Architecture.” AIA, https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/
resources/news/2016/03-Mar/AIA-Diversity-Survey/AIA-Diversity-Architecture-Survey-02.pdf 11
As quoted by Whitney M. Young Jr. at the 1968 AIA Conference
AIA. “Full Remarks of Whitney M. Young Jr. AIA Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon June 1968.” AIA, http://aiad8.prod.acquia-sites.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/WhitneyYoungJr_1968AIAContention_ FulLSpeech.pdf 12
Quoted at the Architecture Lobby Think-In
13
@arch_lobby. “Creativity and masculinity have also been conflated for too long....
But gender bias is not the most dangerous consequence of the lone-wolf image: It is the unspoken permission to abuse that should worry us.” Twitter, 6 Aug. 2018, 4:15p.m.,https://twitter.com/Arch_Lobby/ status/1026592567339696133
@arch_lobby. “Men with the title/status of “creative genius” in the architectural profession - and in many
14
other professions as well - are practically given license to misuse and abuse their power. Male aggression is culturally seen as proof of “genius” - thus perpetuating the cycle.” Twitter, 6 Aug. 2018, 4:17p.m.,https://twitter. com/Arch_Lobby/status/1026593126927003648 @arch_lobby. “It seems as though there is a correlation between creativity and abuse - a relationship that is
15
too often romanticized, or tolerated because there are no better options.” Twitter, 6 Aug. 2018, 4:17p.m.,https:// twitter.com/Arch_Lobby/status/1026593434667237378 16
Quoted at the Architecture Lobby Think-In
17
As quoted by Whitney M. Young Jr. at the 1968 AIA Conference
AIA. “Full Remarks of Whitney M. Young Jr. AIA Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon June 1968.” AIA, http:// aiad8.prod.acquia-sites.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/WhitneyYoungJr_1968AIAContention_FulLSpeech.pdf 18
Architecture Lobby. “Re: T-A-L and ADPSR statement on immigration enforcement in the US.” Jun 20, 2018
19
The Editors. “UPDATED: AIA pledges to work with Donald Trump, membership recoils.” The Architects
Newspaper, 11 Nov. 2016, https://archpaper.com/2016/11/aia-pledges-work-donald-trump-membershiprecoils/ 20
Architecture Lobby. “Re: T-A-L and ADPSR statement on immigration enforcement in the US.” Jun 20, 2018
21
Architecture Lobby. “Re: T-A-L and ADPSR statement on immigration enforcement in the US.” Jun 20, 2018
22
Architecture Lobby. “Re: T-A-L and ADPSR statement on immigration enforcement in the US.” Jun 20, 2018
23
The Editors. “UPDATED: AIA pledges to work with Donald Trump, membership recoils.” The Architects
Newspaper, 11 Nov. 2016, https://archpaper.com/2016/11/aia-pledges-work-donald-trump-membershiprecoils/ 24
Dunn, Keefer. “Radical Praxis: Activism Within and Beyond Architecture.” Medium, 13 Nov. 2016, www.
medium.com/@KeeferDunn/radical-praxis-activism-within-and-beyond-architecture-a91f9f2f8e2a.