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A review by reading_rita
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
challenging
dark
informative
4.5
This was my work book club choice for June, but it had been on my radar for a very long time. In a nutshell, this book examines how data gaps disproportionately discriminate against women.
Invisible Women made me angry, disappointed, and frankly, incredibly sad. Some examples are more widely discussed and therefore I was aware of them already, such as the fact that "women are 47% more likely to be seriously injured and 17% more likely to die in a car crash than men because cars are designed and tested primarily with male bodies in mind." Similarly, women are 50% more likely than men to receive an incorrect initial diagnosis when having a heart attack, delaying critical treatment and increasing the risk of fatality, simply because they are likely to experience symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath, rather than the chest pain we often see in the media.
However, there were numerous other case studies and data highlighting violence against women that were even more upsetting as I think they are not given nearly as much attention in our society. For instance, "women are disproportionately affected by armed conflict" because "in modern warfare it is civilians, rather than combatants, who are most likely to be killed." To make matters worse, levels of rape and domestic violence are high when conflict breaks out and "remain extremely high in so-called post-conflict settings," with distressing examples from refugee camps and genocide zones. So relevant in our current world of various wars and conflicts!
There were a few cases where efforts were made to improve the ways of living for women, and I'm glad they're highlighted as well. A positive example that stood out to me was a project in Vienna called "Frauen-Werk-Stadt" (Women-Work-City), which involved the construction of a housing complex designed with the input of women. This complex featured wide walkways, social spaces, and easily accessible childcare facilities. The design aimed to create a community-oriented environment that supported the needs of women and families. These initiatives significantly improved the quality of life for women in Vienna, providing safer, more accessible, and better-connected public spaces. Imagine if this would always be considered while planning the new urban areas!
I think the author did her best to keep the tone as judgement-free and light as possible, but be prepared to question the world as you know it. On a closing note, I believe this book is essential reading for understanding the pervasive gender bias in data that affects everything from medical research to urban planning. I'd recommend this to readers interested in social justice and gender equality.
Invisible Women made me angry, disappointed, and frankly, incredibly sad. Some examples are more widely discussed and therefore I was aware of them already, such as the fact that "women are 47% more likely to be seriously injured and 17% more likely to die in a car crash than men because cars are designed and tested primarily with male bodies in mind." Similarly, women are 50% more likely than men to receive an incorrect initial diagnosis when having a heart attack, delaying critical treatment and increasing the risk of fatality, simply because they are likely to experience symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath, rather than the chest pain we often see in the media.
However, there were numerous other case studies and data highlighting violence against women that were even more upsetting as I think they are not given nearly as much attention in our society. For instance, "women are disproportionately affected by armed conflict" because "in modern warfare it is civilians, rather than combatants, who are most likely to be killed." To make matters worse, levels of rape and domestic violence are high when conflict breaks out and "remain extremely high in so-called post-conflict settings," with distressing examples from refugee camps and genocide zones. So relevant in our current world of various wars and conflicts!
There were a few cases where efforts were made to improve the ways of living for women, and I'm glad they're highlighted as well. A positive example that stood out to me was a project in Vienna called "Frauen-Werk-Stadt" (Women-Work-City), which involved the construction of a housing complex designed with the input of women. This complex featured wide walkways, social spaces, and easily accessible childcare facilities. The design aimed to create a community-oriented environment that supported the needs of women and families. These initiatives significantly improved the quality of life for women in Vienna, providing safer, more accessible, and better-connected public spaces. Imagine if this would always be considered while planning the new urban areas!
I think the author did her best to keep the tone as judgement-free and light as possible, but be prepared to question the world as you know it. On a closing note, I believe this book is essential reading for understanding the pervasive gender bias in data that affects everything from medical research to urban planning. I'd recommend this to readers interested in social justice and gender equality.