Dr Gill Matthewson
Gill practised full-time architecture in Britain and New Zealand for over 12 years and continues to design.
Throughout Gill’s career she has returned again and again to the issue of women and architecture. These issues precipitated her MA research which explored the issue of gender in architecture by investigating the professional and intellectual presence of three women involved the conception, realisation and interpretation of the Barcelona Pavilion. Gender was also the subject of her PhD thesis 'Dimensions of Gender: women's careers in the Australian architecture profession' at the University of Queensland, awarded in 2015. This received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses.
Gill is a member of the Faculty’s XYX Lab which investigates gender and space through collaborative research projects aimed at mitigating gender inequity in Australia’s urban environments. She is also a founding member of Parlour: women, equity, architecture, the advocacy and support website for increasing equity and diversity in the architecture profession and writes regularly for them. Through her work for Parlour and XYX, Gill has become skilled in working with both qualitative and quantitative data mining for patterns.
Recent news
What does the ‘new normal’ look like for women’s safety in cities?
Women’s safety in public space is very complex. Women’s perception of safety – as opposed to their risk of experiencing gendered violence or crime – very much determines how they interact with public space. This issue of perception makes measuring and evaluating women’s experiences difficult.
16 Jul 2020
Graduate research opportunities
We look favourably on applications to study a graduate research degree that align with our research labs, focus areas, and the expertise of our supervisors, and encourage you to explore the list of opportunities below.
Gender and crime in cities
Urban designers, architects and planners have key roles in making safe and inclusive places, with urban safety guidelines and crime prevention tactics foundational to safe environments. The XYX Lab are looking for projects that reduce the risks of spatial inequality in communities.
- Scholarship may be available
- Open call
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Nicole Kalms and Dr Gill Matthewson
- Undertaken within: XYX Lab – Gender + Place
Gender and night-time economies
The XYX Lab is seeking proposals that examine the confluence of factors that contribute to gendered experiences of the night-time economy – both in spatial design and visual communication design – and the role they play as a cultural and social practice that can contribute to challenging power relations within cities, and consequently to women’s feelings of safety within them.
- Scholarship may be available
- Open call
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Nicole Kalms, Dr Gill Matthewson, Associate Professor Gene Bawden and Jess Berry
- Undertaken within: XYX Lab – Gender + Place
Mapping gender in cities
Geolocative mapping has become a useful way to create and share content, and to shed light on hidden experiences in cities. While digital technologies are implicated in public surveillance, there are opportunities to use social media to shape the everyday practices of urban life. The capacity for geolocative to be deployed as a valid design research method has been underestimated. A strong PhD proposal will advance knowledge of the social inequity of women, gender-diverse and/or other marginalised groups using innovative methods.
- Scholarship may be available
- Open call
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Nicole Kalms and Dr Gill Matthewson
- Undertaken within: XYX Lab – Gender + Place
Women and housing
The XYX Lab seeks PhD proposal across the broad theme of 'Women and Housing' with the aim to expand the understanding of spaces for women, by women and the significance of gender in designing for women. The PhD proposal will focus on the crisis of accommodation for women in Australia and the scale of domestic abuse faced by women, and well as broad issues of women's safety and security.
- Scholarship may be available
- Open call
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Nicole Kalms and Dr Gill Matthewson
- Undertaken within: XYX Lab – Gender + Place
Current research projects
At Monash Art, Design and Architecture, we focus on the pursuit of research that addresses the social, economic and human issues facing Australia.
Preventing Sexual Harassment in Australian Public Transport Spaces
Uncovering how the safety of women and girls is challenged in public transport spaces.
Past research projects
Free to Be / Design Thinking
Prioritising thinking through concepts that could have real world impacts for women and girls.
Gender Equity in Landscape Architecture
The participation of women in Australian landscape architecture, mapping and strategies.
Girl Walk: Identity, Crowd-mapping and Safety in the City for Women and Girls
Creating a culturally vibrant city that is inclusive for women and girls.
Moreland City Council
Using gender-sensitive design thinking to support of Moreland City’s future growth.
The numbers in a nutshell: Women in Architecture, Australia
A data analysis of the shape of the profession and the participation of women within it.
Pride Thinking / Design Thinking
Celebrating, bolstering and protecting equality, diversity and inclusion.
Safe Access to Reproductive Health Care in Australia
Formulating proposals for changes in law and policy at both the federal level and State level to remove barriers to access.