FUTURARC INTERVIEW
So that environment has to be cultivated. And we need to see that sort of role models, and women themselves have a role to play. There are women who hold leading positions in different fields; they need to acknowledge their influence as role models and act on it, so that would lead the way.
CL: Your advice, based on your own experience, is for women not to be held back by their own preconceived notions or lack of confidence, but rather, enter the field as like an equal playing member to the team. And that’s how individuals can overcome the process of stereotypes or bias. That’s very good advice.
As for a more dramatic systemic change, you’re saying that that would be difficult to happen, but over time it could happen. Meaning for changes in social structures or social norms to happen, the individuals that compose the family structures and social groups will first have to change and therefore, the macro-level change will come later. GR: Yes, actually it needs to happen at the grassroots level in the industry and at the social level; we can’t leave it to individuals to solve because it needs to be addressed as a social problem. Education is important because I’ve seen sometimes women themselves restrict their daughters from choosing their preferred career path or restricting their access to education. So, opportunities to choose the type and level of education are needed, because in our part of the country, women are experiencing this on a daily basis. But if you ask women in general, some of them might not realise that the discrimination is a gender bias. So, on a societal level, we need to address this.
CL: Yes, some women might not ever realise that they are perpetuating their own stereotypes. I agree that sometimes we can’t leave it to the individuals to change, but society, social groups and grassroots are made up of individuals, so maybe some kind of social action or movement might be helpful to push things forward? Do you have any insight on the social movement in Sri Lanka when it comes to women’s groups? Do you have any insight into this? GR: If we look at the industry level, I’m not sure if women are receiving that kind of support from such social movements. As a society, what we need to understand is that, at the end of the day, it’s not a women’s issue only; as a society we are limiting our collective capacities by having such narrow- minded views on gender. We need to have a better political debate, and we need to be part of that discussion. Only then can you come up with better, more creative responses. It has to happen on the state policymaking level.
CL: Yes, because what we don’t want to happen is to drive greater distinction between different social groups or gender groups; it just wouldn’t work. It’s not about an us versus them situation. Women are not the only ones that need to change certain mindsets that we’ve been conditioned to think, but men also have to be involved in the entire unlearning process. There are certain things that we all need to unlearn together so that we can take better steps forward for the next generation.
I have talked to a few women designers who think that when it comes to design, gender does not play an issue in terms of differentiation. When we look at say a building or architectural design, there’s no differentiation to say it’s done by a female or male architect? GR: As an architect, I’m more interested in the process of making. I concentrate more on the process. So, I see it as a communal act, like a problem-solving process, which involves our creative abilities—it’s an act that involves different actors, different expertise. The participation of women will bring different sensibilities to this process. In the design process, maybe we bring specific skills and traits. So, perhaps we have more expressive skills, so we are better negotiators? We may bring greater compassion and understanding among team members. What I’m trying to say is that the quality would be richer; the outcome could be a better-quality product if women were involved in the process.
But having said that, I don’t want her to be involved as a woman, or seen as a woman who has to represent certain part or a certain segment of the community, but she needs to be involved in that process as an integral member, regardless of her gender. So, she needs to bring her expertise and skills, her perspectives and sensibilities as a common individual, not specifically as a woman.
CL: Yes, the process itself is an important journey to take to reach the destination, and the quality of the journey determines the quality of the product. RAW has done some small-scale projects and I can see that you’re very involved with local communities—I think that’s the magic of your projects and I love that aspect of involvement.
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