A report commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), titled the RIBA Build It Together report, reveals widespread sexism and toxic workplace culture in the architecture industry. Based on a survey of 635 workers conducted by the Fawcett Society, it found that half of female respondents experienced bullying, one-third reported sexual harassment, and 83% said their careers were hindered by having children. The report describes environments where long hours are glorified, power imbalances are stark, and sexism is overt, with many victims fearing to report abuse.
The report matters because it exposes systemic, long-standing discrimination in a major creative profession, echoing findings from a similar 2003 study. RIBA CEO Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick acknowledged the findings were unsurprising, signaling institutional failure to address the issue over two decades. The accompanying one-year action plan and forthcoming policy guide aim to improve HR practices, support career breaks, and enforce diversity audits, but the report underscores how deeply entrenched sexism remains in architecture, with implications for equity in the broader art and design world.