Invisibility

Are gender gaps hard to explain because they are “invisible”?

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the first issue of Unconforming.

With my focus on women over the last several months, I am having many difficult conversations about all kinds of gender gaps.

I find myself providing examples to exhibit the gap to many who argue — “But, I manage a mixed-gender team and everyone is paid equally” and “XYZ cooks more than his wife!” — only to be caught up in the specifics of the example and the whole point is missed.

It’s as if I am explaining an invisible phenomenon.

But I’m not alone.

Caroline Craido Perez’s book Invisible Women (thanks for the recc, Julia L), shows that the result of gender gap in data and research is a world designed for men. She describes the design of something as bland as snow clearing as sexist. Because men decided where snow is cleared first, men gained safety and women well, fell. Literally.

Among snow pedestrian injuries in Kalrskoga, Sweden, 69% were women. Once they designed snow clearing for women’s needs first, there was a decline in overall snow injuries, leading to reduced medical costs over the winter.

I’ve worked in enough female-focused projects to know that a women’s-centered design approach is evolving. The debate, however, is whether women’s-centered design is more inclusive in that it would automatically design for men too. This is something male-centered design has clearly not been able to do for women.**

Criado Perez explains why: “They didn’t deliberately set out to exclude women. They just didn’t think about them.” They being those in power, and quite possibly men.

This hit me hard: it is this unawareness & behavior that makes gender gap invisible to many. It is hard for some (often the decision makers) to even imagine the existence of gender gaps. It is invisible. So how will the change begin?

With awareness. Look around you, what is designed for men over women?

• In your home.
• In your city’s public transport: Criado Perez, for example, mentions bus stops in poorly lit areas as a security threat to women.
• In your workspace: A podcast discussing the pros and cons of female-only workspaces shows why women feel so much more comfortable in them. They talk everything from full-length mirrors to temperature & pumping rooms.

This post is an excerpt from Unconforming: a newsletter about Design for Women. Unconforming goes out every two weeks and also shares learnings from experts, job and other opportunities, examples and articles — all to make an impact in the women’s space. Sign up here to get it in your inbox!