Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez examines the pervasive gender data gap in various aspects of society. The book highlights how many systems and infrastructures are designed with men as the default, often overlooking women's needs and experiences. This oversight leads to significant consequences in areas such as healthcare, workplace environments, urban planning, and product design. Perez supports her arguments with extensive research and case studies, revealing the systemic biases that disadvantage women. The book has received critical acclaim, winning the 2019 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize and the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award.
Key Themes:
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Healthcare Disparities: The book discusses how medical research often neglects female-specific data, leading to misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments for women.
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Workplace Challenges: Perez explores how office temperatures, safety equipment, and other workplace standards are typically based on male norms, creating discomfort and hazards for female employees.
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Urban Planning: The author examines how public transportation and city planning frequently fail to consider women's travel patterns and safety concerns.
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Product Design: The book highlights how everyday products, from smartphones to personal protective equipment, are often designed without considering female ergonomics, resulting in usability issues and safety risks.
About the Author:
Caroline Criado Perez is a British feminist author, journalist, and activist known for her campaigns to increase female representation on British banknotes and to erect a statue of suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett in London's Parliament Square. Her work focuses on highlighting and addressing systemic gender biases in society.
Book Details:
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Title: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
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Author: Caroline Criado Perez
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Publisher: Chatto & Windus
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Publication Date: March 7, 2019
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Pages: 448
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ISBN: 978-1419729072
This book is recommended for readers interested in gender studies, sociology, and understanding the systemic biases that affect women's daily lives.
