In answer to this question, this book highlights contemporary architectural projects designed by leading women architects from diverse regions around the world. The introduction explores both the past and present by considering early women architects who expanded the field for other women as well as diverse forms of practice. The main section of the book includes beautifully illustrated case studies of the projects, examining each design within its context. Projects and practices are distributed across the globe and organized by geographic region. Selected works encompass a range of scales, locations and contexts, and a variety of building types. All are significant and outstanding works of design. The projects include works by architects Brit Andresen, Sandra Barclay, Tatiana Bilbao, Shirley Blumberg, Eliana Bormida, Fernanda Canales, Gabriela Carrillo, Elizabeth Diller, Carmen Espegel, Yvonne Farrell, Doriana Fuksas, Lina Ghotmeh, Melkan Gursel, Itsuko Hasegawa, Anna Heringer, Francine M. J. Houben, Carla Juacaba, Antonia Lehmann, Ines Lobo, Nina Maritz, Shelley McNamara, Valerie Mulvin, Sheila ODonnell, Patricia Patkau, Carme Pinos, Samira Rathod, Maria Samaniego, Kazuyo Sejima, Brigitte Shim, Sonja Spamer, Marina Tabassum, Lene Tranberg, Billie Tsien, Claire Weisz, Lu Wenyu, Sarah Wigglesworth, Xu Tiantian, Cazu Zegers, and Marusa Zorek. The afterword documents historical challenges and current trends that demonstrate an increase in female practices despite the challenging professional climate that continues to deny women opportunities to design and build. An index includes the architects and their practices.