Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez: A rapid-fire recap

Caroline Criado Perez's book Invisible Women is an eye-opening account of how our world is effectively designed with men in mind. 

By failing to take into account the needs and preferences of an entire gender, the current system only perpetuates inequality.

So what does that data bias look like?

Firstly, Criado Perez argues that the lack of data collected on women and girls has led to a world designed to accommodate men almost exclusively.

This leads to a range of negative consequences for women, from safety to economic exclusion.

The healthcare gender gap is one of the most significant consequences of all. Criado Perez highlights how women are often misdiagnosed, or their symptoms are dismissed, leading to a delay in treatment.

Gender data bias also has a significant impact on the workplace. Assumptions about the needs and preferences of men have led to a range of workplace policies and practices that disadvantage women.

Politics is another area where the gender data gap is particularly evident. Women are underrepresented in politics and policy-making, which means that their voices are often not heard.

Caroline Criado Perez also explores how gender data bias affects design. This includes everything from urban planning to product ideation, where women's needs are often overlooked.

"Men picture a man 80% of the time when they think of a 'person'" - Caroline Criado Perez

In technology, where algorithms and AI are often based on data sets that exclude women. This can range from biased hiring practices to vehicles that are more likely to crash with women drivers.

Criado Perez argues that the only way to address these gaps is through greater diversity. This means including women and other underrepresented groups in all aspects of decision-making.

Bottom line: Data is a powerful tool – if it’s used correctly. Criado Perez shows how data can be used to perpetuate inequality, but also how it can be used to address it – and we all have a role to play in making that happen.

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