The "Agrigento case": women architects in the last places in Italy for assignments and income

Two Italies, two speeds and a gap that, in the heart of Sicily, becomes an abyss. While at the national level the architecture seems to have taken the path of equality – with women representing 45.5% of the members of the Orders – the province of Agrigento captures a diametrically opposite picture. Here, the profession still speaks a distinctly male language.

The numbers that emerged during the conference “Architecture & Woman”, promoted by the Order of Architects and the Foundation of Architects in the Mediterranean at Casa Sanfilippo, are ruthless. In the Agrigento area, out of 1,600 members, only 32% are women. The figure drops further when looking at pure freelance work: out of 508 members of Inarcassa, there are only 96 women. A percentage lower than 20% that relegates the territory to third to last place in Italy, followed only by Crotone and Caltanissetta.

Beyond the numbers: the invisible barrier

“These data are not just simple statistics, but tell a territorial specificity,” explained Angela Muratore, a councilor of the Order. According to the analysis that emerged, the gap is not only numerical but structural: it concerns the distribution of assignments, the presence in decision-making roles, and, not least, economic recognition.

“Talking about female profession – emphasized Muratore – is not a contradiction, but an exercise in awareness. Every perspective enriches the project; plurality is a resource for the quality of what we design for the community.”

The comparison between University and Profession

The conference, coordinated by journalist Giovanna Neri and opened by the president of the Order Rino La Mendola, compared the academic world and the professional order. In the first round table, representatives from the University of Palermo such as Tiziana Campisi, Renata Prescia, and Valeria Scavone analyzed the educational path, while the second part of the day featured representatives from the Sicilian and national professional orders.

The focus was not limited to gender, as highlighted by Melinda Drago, advisor of the Order: «Equal opportunities also means looking at the inclusion of young people and the difficulties that every professional may encounter. We compared academia and profession to identify concrete strategies».

A road still uphill

The final debate, enriched by the contributions of representatives from the Orders of Palermo, Catania, and Caltanissetta, confirmed a common thesis: the path towards equality is outlined, but the journey remains winding, especially in the deep South.

Before the conclusion of the proceedings, entrusted to La Mendola and the president of the Piero Fiaccabrino Foundation, a clear warning emerged: the "glass ceiling" for female architects in Agrigento cannot be broken only through conferences, but requires a change of pace in professional networks and in work-life balance policies.