Summary
Caroline Criado Perez's groundbreaking book Invisible Women exposes the pervasive gender data gap in our world. Published in 2019, this eye-opening work delves into how the lack of sex-disaggregated data leads to discrimination against women in various aspects of life, from healthcare to urban planning.
Drawing on hundreds of studies from across the globe, Perez meticulously documents the myriad ways in which treating men as the default and women as atypical has real-world consequences. The book has garnered widespread acclaim, winning the Royal Society Science Book Prize and sparking important conversations about gender bias in data collection and analysis.
Invisible Women has become a touchstone in discussions about gender equality, influencing policy makers and researchers alike. While there have been no major adaptations of the book to date, its impact continues to reverberate through academia, industry, and government, challenging institutions to reconsider their approach to data and design with a more inclusive lens.
Plot
In “Invisible Women", Caroline Criado Perez explores the pervasive gender data gap that exists in various aspects of modern society. The book delves into how this gap leads to systemic bias against women, affecting their daily lives in numerous ways. Perez examines a wide range of areas, including urban planning, healthcare, workplace policies, and technology design, to illustrate how the lack of gender-specific data results in a world built primarily for men.
The author presents a compelling case for how this data bias impacts women's safety, health, and economic opportunities. For instance, she discusses how car safety features are designed based on male body types, potentially putting women at greater risk during accidents. In healthcare, Perez highlights how medical research often fails to account for gender differences, leading to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for women.
Perez also investigates the economic implications of this data gap, exploring how it contributes to the gender pay gap and affects women's career progression. She examines how seemingly gender-neutral policies in the workplace can disproportionately disadvantage women due to a lack of consideration for their specific needs and circumstances.
Throughout the book, the author draws on hundreds of studies and real-world examples from across the globe to support her arguments. Perez's work not only exposes the extent of the problem but also emphasizes the urgent need for change in how data is collected, analyzed, and applied in various fields. By bringing these issues to light, “Invisible Women” aims to spark a conversation about the importance of gender-inclusive data in creating a more equitable world.
