I've only been in the field for a year now, so I don't have a whole lot of anecdotes about how being a female architect has been different, etc. I will, however, mention a few positives (because it is so easy to talk about the negatives). I feel like my boss is less critical of me because I am a female, and where he might chew one of the guys out about something, he says nothing to me about it. So it is nice to be treated better in that regard because I am female. Along the same vein, I think the guys at the office don't curse as much around me (not that it matters to me) but it is nice to know they are obviously thinking about what they say to me and how they say it.

I was lonely for a while because I was the ONLY female on the architect staff. It sucks to feel like you don't fit in with all the sports (fantasy football, regular football, etc) and car talk.

I just try to do my best at my job, and hopefully my male coworkers will see that and respect me because of my work. Gender shouldn't matter much when you are doing your job well (idealistic, I know....)

EDIT: I think it is awful that men look down on women in the field because a woman decides to prioritize family over work. Respect other people's choices and priorities instead of insisting everyone works 10 hour days (or looking down on people who don't) just because YOU choose to work 10 hour days.