Breaking through Gender Barriers

By Grace Liew,

Medical Student at Monash University Malaysia.

Do you know that the world’s richest architect was a woman?

I was wowed by the strength and resilience of Dame Zaha Hadid who was a British female architect that became the pillar of motivation for my friend Teoh Jing Rou, 20 to pursue architecture

as a profession despite being universally perceived as a “male-dominated” industry. Nevertheless, even an all-rounder like her would face adversities in persuading her parents about her capability to take up this challenging career pathway.

Jing Rou, who looks as soft as a petal stood up for her dream to become an internationally renowned architect someday. Tears were shed when her mother reprimanded her for wasting her time and money on something that does not account for a stable future.

In reality, her parents were concerned about letting their soft-spoken daughter endure the hardships that architecture might pose. It would push her physical limits to accommodate this job which involved visits to construction sites. Hoping for a less strenuous future for her, they

discouraged her with facts including the financial aspects that architecture is not a lucrative career option. For instance, the job scope might comprise signing contracts to design a single window for an entire month. Besides, the responsibility of designing projects might deprive her of time to cater to relationships, family and personal time. Nonetheless, Jing Rou was determined to take on the challenge.

“I don’t mind if I’m not the wealthiest person on Earth, I choose to become the world’s most useful individual instead who contributes to the society,” said the first-year architecture student who aspired to design brilliant buildings to raise people’s living standards.

Pushing through the hurdles, Jing Rou communicated with her parents in a good manner. She struck the common ground by letting them know that she understood their protests were meant for her better future, but she would regret if she never even tried to realise her ambition. Knowing that her parents would prefer her to study accounting instead, she devised another backup plan. If she

eventually failed at becoming a successful architect, she would become a graphic designer instead.

Whatever curveballs that life threw at her, she would conquer them gracefully and live up to her choice, leaving no regrets behind.

Gradually, her determination convinced her parents to let her study architecture at Taylor’s University. During the first semester, she courageously reached out to her peers who had undertaken Foundation in Architecture to learn from them. When she researched building designs, she marvelled at the wonders of fascinating structures from which she could take inspiration and weave the ideas into her own. Although she suffered from late nights and missed meals just to complete her model projects on time, she enjoyed the process.

“Designing buildings which makes people stop and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of it became my driving force to endeavour in this journey of becoming an internationally-recognised architect someday,”

In this era where gender lines are increasingly blurred, I think that nothing is unachievable once you have the right kind of motivation. As a medical student myself, Jing Rou’s experience echoed my fortitude to study diligently and break through the social stigma surrounding female doctors. In a nutshell, the awareness of addressing gender inequality has become more salient in the 21st century.

Let us break through the gender barriers and create an equal society where men and women would cherish and work together.