The ArSHEtect Perspective: Featuring Santha Gour

I have always been asked, how it feels to be the Woman in the design profession and have I seen any changes in the way the world perceives Women Designers. Well, for me, I am just the same as I was 25 years ago, the only thing that has changed is the age.  I also don’t think that my challenges in the professional field are any different from what women in other professions must be facing. Of course, there are challenges in being a woman, but that’s true for every trade. To make things more complicated for myself, I, like many other Women Designers, chose to start a practice with my then Husband. Given that the world, in general, perceives the men to be decision-makers, I also faced my share of preconceived notions from everyone around who presume that the man is the final decision-maker.

Earlier when I was much younger and working with Husband, I used to feel I was not taken that seriously, which made me put in more effort. But gradually I realized that whatever the age, people generally respect the person when he or she knows their subject well.

In the design profession, we deal with the contract labour who is mostly uneducated, on the one hand, and the educated elite who are the clients on the other hand. For the perspective of the workers, the Architect Lady Boss, happens to be from a different socio-economic platform; hence there is always inherent respect. On the other hand, it is the educated elite which takes time in accepting a lady at the helm of what is perceived to be a male-oriented job. But like I mentioned earlier once they understand that you know your job well, barriers generally collapse. Which brings me to the present after nearly 25 years where I feel that some while perceptions against women are true, some are created by us in our minds. Finally, what really matters is how good you are at what you do.

I sincerely believe that all of us owe a debt to the women who had come before us and made the path slightly smoother than what it must have been.

The debt has to be returned by us to the generation coming up behind us. In whatever way I can, I see to it that I do my two bits to help the large number of highly intelligent, dedicated and passionate women who have worked with me for the past so many years. Over the years, I have realized that there exist stereotypes in the minds of people in accepting women in a decision-making position. I generally see to it that I share my experiences in breaking these barriers with the younger women in the office to help them forge ahead not only in their struggles in the professional front but also in the personal front. I have believed in living a life, of example. I have not taken the lenient route ever for myself although I headed the organization. When I was expecting my child, I continued working and living in the same fashion that I did earlier. No breaks no holidays.

After my child was born, I was back at work in 2 months, getting him to the office with me. By doing all of these above, I was setting an example to all the women in my office that if they wish they could have a work-life balance.

Women who were expecting babies, we created a makeshift crèche in the office to keep them comfortable. Flexible working hours were created. Knowing that women do have a tough time in managing work and home, my struggle throughout has been to make their life easier in whatever small way I could help. Women by nature are excellent time managers and multi-taskers, all that the world needs to do is see them with a different view rather than comparing them to the same standards that are applicable to men.

I have been one of those few lucky ones who never was asked to choose between work and home. I personally feel that women should work after marriage, after babies or whatever changes are happening in their lives. Other than the financial independence you enjoy due to professional life, it is very important for an individual to be engaged in activities that increase their self-esteem and provide the satisfaction of having done something for the larger society. Working also takes your mind away from some inane problems that we occupy ourselves with when we are sitting at home and doing nothing. I am not too hell-bent on a professional career for some women if she does not wish to have one; however, I definitely advocate a parallel life outside of home duties. Balancing work and home life is never easy, and for that, I feel the first step of support should be from the women who are in your immediate vicinity, whether it is your mother, Mother in law, boss, sister, friend etc.