Although public services and spaces are designed with inclusivity in mind, many of them still exist with bias. Public transportation is an example of how exclusion of certain groups in research and development can be endangering. Safety handles and grip are often too tall or wide for an average size woman, making it difficult to safety stabilize during transit.
One of the most overlooked inequalities is the field of research, where most test subjects are male, leaving out a large percentage of the population. Along with the underfunding in research regarding women, this leaves their healthcare hugely marginalized.
Although women’s healthcare is underfunded and often dismissed, the system continues to seize control over women’s reproductive rights. Girls are constantly being told what to do regarding their sexual and reproductive rights while their male counterpart are not obligated to learn or take responsibilities.
This illustration depicts the male default design in technologies, voice recognition and even fitness devices often misinterpret data from female users. This image highlights the fitness app failing to recognize tasks done by women (in this case parental care) as labour intensive despite the comparable intensity. This is also to highlight the under recognized/unpaid labour done by women
The automobile industry is one of the industries that lack female-inclusive research. Cars are designed based on the male default as men were the only ones able/allowed to use them. However, the design gap becomes more obvious as more women pick up driving. Car safety and overall design are based on an average man, forcing women to compromise their safety to use one.
There is no doubt gender bias exists in the workplace, but when the very tools are designed to not be used by you, the bias becomes more prominent. Many tools and safety gears are designed based on male user prototype, making it challenging for women to use. This not only causes discomfort but can also create workplace risks.
Continuing with the theme of workplace environment, research has shown that office temperature is more often set to the comfort of male employees rather than their female colleagues. Women and men’s basal metabolic rate differ and this plays into their ability to control their body temperature. Many women find that offices are often too cold for their comfort.
Just Make It PINK
JUST MAKE IT PINK is a collection of real-life experiences shaped by the flaws in design that defaulted to male(cis-gendered) user, hence, leaving a gap for those outside of the demographic.
