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.
Themes
Gender bias in data and research
Impact of male-default thinking on women's lives
Discrimination in healthcare and medicine
Economic disparities and workplace inequality
Urban planning and design overlooking women's needs
Underrepresentation of women in politics and decision-making
Importance of gender-disaggregated data for equality
Setting
Set in the modern era, Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez explores the pervasive gender data bias across various sectors of society. The book's scope is global, drawing on hundreds of studies from the United States, the United Kingdom, and numerous other countries worldwide.
While not tied to specific geographical locations, the author investigates women's experiences in diverse settings. These include domestic environments, workplaces, public spaces, and healthcare facilities. Criado Perez's analysis spans both developed and developing nations, highlighting how gender-biased data collection and interpretation affect women's lives universally.
The book's setting is not confined to a single time period but rather examines historical trends and contemporary issues. It delves into how longstanding practices in data collection and analysis have led to a male-centric approach in fields ranging from urban planning to medical research. This broad temporal and spatial scope allows Criado Perez to illustrate the far-reaching consequences of overlooking women in data across different cultures and societies.
Key Figures
Caroline Criado Perez: The author of the book. She is a British feminist author, journalist and activist who investigates gender bias in various fields.
Women: The main focus group of the book. Criado Perez examines how the lack of sex-disaggregated data affects women in various aspects of life.
Researchers and Scientists: Various researchers and scientists are cited throughout the book, providing studies and data that support Criado Perez's arguments.
Policymakers: Government officials and policymakers are mentioned as both contributors to and potential solvers of the gender data gap problem.
Medical Professionals: Doctors and medical researchers are discussed in relation to gender bias in healthcare and medical research.
Quick facts
The book was published in 2019 and quickly became an international bestseller.
It won the Royal Society Science Book Prize in 2019.
Criado Perez spent three years researching and writing the book.
The book covers over 1,000 studies from around the world.
It examines gender data bias across various fields including medicine, technology, and urban planning.
The audiobook version is narrated by the author herself.
Bill Gates named it one of his top 5 books of 2019.
It has been translated into over 20 languages.
The book sparked discussions about gender bias in data collection and analysis in many industries.
Criado Perez was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2019, the same year the book was published.
About the Author
Caroline Criado Perez is a renowned British author, broadcaster, and feminist campaigner. She has gained recognition for her impactful activism, including successful campaigns to feature a female historical figure on Bank of England banknotes and to erect the first statue of a woman in Parliament Square. Her efforts have earned her several accolades, including the Liberty Human Rights Campaigner of the Year award in 2013 and an OBE in 2015.
Criado Perez's literary works have received widespread acclaim. Her debut book, Do it Like a Woman, was praised for its engaging and insightful exploration of women's experiences. However, it was her second book, Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, that catapulted her to international prominence. Published in 2019, this groundbreaking work became a #1 Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into nineteen languages.
Invisible Women has garnered numerous awards, including the Royal Society Science Book Prize, the Books Are My Bag Readers Choice Award, and the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award in 2019. The book's meticulous research and compelling arguments have been widely praised, with critics and public figures alike hailing it as a potential game-changer in addressing gender bias in data and design.
Beyond her writing, Criado Perez is an active commentator on various social and political issues. She frequently contributes to major national media outlets and appears in both print and broadcast discussions. With a background in English literature from Oxford University and studies in behavioral and feminist economics at the London School of Economics, Criado Perez brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, challenging systemic biases and advocating for gender equality across various sectors.
