Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez

24 reviews

kirtreads's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

4.5

Wow. While not an entirely uplifting read, it is an important one. This book considers so many ways that women are left out. From transportation, to medicine, to protection against violence this book lays out a clear thesis. Excluding women from the data is harming everyone. 

I thought all her points were good and well thought out. If anything there was sometimes too much supporting information and my eyes glazed over sometimes.

Despite a dense subject it is surprising easy to read. I didn’t feel lost at too many points, and if I did the acronyms were to blame, not the author. 

In the current political climate I think this message is more important now than ever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

whenindoubtturnleft's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Genocide, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

cicizzy's review against another edition

informative reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

I think books like that are really important. We need to know who is (un)intentionally getting discriminated against and in what way, to find ways to fix it. It also gives you a few more arguments for feminism and why it is still needed in 21st century industrial countries. And while the book doesn’t explicitly mentions it, it at least also makes you think about data about other groups like BIPOC people or people with disabilities or also children and elderly.

HOWEVER when I wanted to follow up on a few studies it turned out that some were criticized for being very fishy like the mentioned statistic from GapJumpers also about hiring women or weren’t even published in any way like the „alleged“ study of Speak with a Geek about hiring women. Apparently nobody has ever seen that study. This is a book about the lack correct data! A big message of the book is that we need to look more closely at the data we have and base our decisions on. And yet the data used to base this book on is also incorrect?! 

I can’t in good conscience give more than 3 stars for this book because of that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

hmtierra22's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

cassyopee's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

4.75

Info dump , very informative, dense, jaw-dropping, eye-opener.

I would use those words to describe this incredible book and research work. I learnt so much about how women are perceived (or more accuratly not perceived) in our world and the devastating consequences this has and could continue to have if things do not change. From health to natural disasters, to politics and transport infrastructures, the gender data gap is everywhere. 
I recommend this book to anyone who is curious about the gender based statistics (and lack thereoff).
It was also usefull for broader learning and understanding of society as Caroline Criado Perez, explained a few key psychological concepts that could be used to explain other discriminations and data gaps, aside from the invisibility of women. 
All the studies, books, statistics, reports and articles stated in the different chapters are referenced at the end of the book.

I noticed a few typos here and there but nothing too bothersome. The only thing that stood out to me in a negative way was the use of the term "asperger" in a paragraph which is seen as discriminatory in the autistic commuty. It's only a paragraph and a lot of people are not aware of the fact that this not a used term anymore, so although I mention it, I personall  don't think it is a reason to bypass such a great book.

Also, if you have trouble with numbers or very dense books that give a lot of informations, a bit like info dumps, I would warn you that it might be a difficult read. Not impossible, but not easy. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

catorureads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Some parts were a bit slower due to the many stats but very interesting, eye-opening and a mustread.


For my fellow Kindle people: the actual book ends at around 65%, all the rest is the bibliography and index of all the research that is mentioned. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Miscarriage, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Police brutality

savannahsshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

If I could pick 1 book to make mandatory reading for all people (especially people with any form of power) it would be this one. Perfection please everyone read it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

lonelyhyperion's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative medium-paced

3.0

Very informative and an easy read despite being so statistic-heavy. Interspersed with a good amount of humour to lighten the depressing nature of the topic. I think in some places it lost me because the "fixing the data gap" solution rang a bit hollow when you comprehend the vastness of the problem. And as other reviews point out, there was a lack of discussion of trans identities... 

PS -- interesting to read this in the run up to the 2024 American election, as Kamala Harris makes a quick appearance in the book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Medical trauma, and War

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

himpersonal's review against another edition

informative sad fast-paced

4.0

Lots of great points made, and I think it’s a book important for all genders, especially men, to read. There’s a one star review by someone named Carey who made some good critique of the book. So it’s also important to check sources and keep a balanced view. 

For my part, I was having to remind myself that there are lots of men in the world that I like and respect and who have had nothing to do with architecting any of these issues, even if some are guilty of perpetuating them unconsciously. Having grown up in a double patriarchy (Korean family in the US), I too am guilty of this and could’ve benefited from asking more questions.

This was highly relevant to me, for example, as a pianist. I had to give up at a certain point because my hand span was too small. Rather than asking why the pianos couldn’t be made smaller, I assumed the problem was me. Or every time I put on my seatbelt, I have to use an adjuster because the seats and belts are too big for my body. (I really think there’s a huge untapped market for car manufacturers of they’d design and sell cars just for women’s body!!!!, like in the billions!!!!). 

What’s frustrating about books like this - nothing gets done, even though we know better. 😢 Plus, women generally outlive men and in poorer health for all the reasons outlined and more. So we’re also having to live longer in these awful conditions. The unfairness never seems to end…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

maddramaqueen's review against another edition

challenging informative sad slow-paced

3.5

A bit gender essentialist and white feminist for me, but the actual information is interesting and inarguably worth knowing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Cancer, Genocide, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization