A world full of objects, technologies and situations based on the male standard
A bra for a woman’s breasts, a shaver to maintain a men’s beard. These are examples of products designed for a specific gender. Besides these examples, there is a vast majority of products that should be accessible to everyone. But are they? Or are they only for woMEN?
The example of a bulletproof vest may seem a bit random.
Scroll or click further to discover why this example is less random than it seems.
Interact with the information through these few examples, where the problem had or has disastrous consequences. The examples are categorized into three sections HEALTHCARE, APPAREL and ERGONOMICS.
You can ‘highlight’ a category by clicking or hovering over it. Per category, you can read quotes, interact with the graphs and surf to the sources.
This is an ongoing project. If you want to contribute with new information or other knowledge (articles, projects etc.) please contact us here.
Move the slider to the right to find out what a better world would look like.
Women are excluded from clinical trials > Medicines have different unexpected effects on women’s bodies
Armour and other apparel are designed for the standard male > Women feel uncomfortable, are excluded or even in danger
Safety measurements (in cars) are based on the ‘standard’ male > Women are at much higher risk (while driving)
And so on…
These are examples where safety is compromised. However, there are many more examples where men are used as the standard. For example, public restrooms that are designed the same for both genders, despite the physiological differences (resulting in long lines for women); temperature in the office that is adjusted for men, which often makes women feel (too) cold; and so on…
If you are familiar with an example (from your own experience) or know a source, you can share it here
Why are there so many urinals everywhere? Women have 1/3 the size of a bladder and we take up to 2.3 times longer as men. Stalls take up more space than urinals do, so a men’s bathroom can, on average, actually accommodate 20 to 30 percent more users than the same-sized women’s bathroom.
(quote from survey, 2021)
Most offices, we learn, are five degrees too cold for women, because the formula to determine their temperature was developed in the 1960s based on the metabolic resting rate of a 40-year-old, 70kg man; women’s metabolisms are slower.
(The Guardian, 2019)
This is an ongoing project. If you want to contribute with new information or other knowledge (articles, projects etc.) please contact us here.
Designers and researchers may believe they are making products for everyone, but in reality they are mainly making them for men. It’s time to start designing for both men and women.
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Contribute to this goal by getting in touch using the contact form on the right.
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Change starts with the woMEN in the mirror. Are you familiar with this problem in your everyday life? Stand up, because inclusive design is the future.
Part of the Cross Cultural Data Literacy 2021 | Graduation project Eva Janssen | www.evajanssen.nl