Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men | Caroline Criado Perez

We live in a data-driven world. From trivial YouTube advertisements to important life-changing policies, decisions are based on data. However, we also live in a world of gender inequalities where males are often seen as the default human. This inequality also results in a gender data gap, which will only exacerbate the disadvantages women face unless we act to address this issue. “Invisible Women” is a book by Caroline Criado Perez that delves into this very issue, exploring the consequences of failing to account for half of humanity.

Introduction: The Default Male

If we look around, we see a world with a default male universality. Terms like “mankind” and “man” reflect a view of men as the default human beings, making women seem like an aberration or deviation from the norm. While this trend can be traced back to ancient history, much of our understanding of history has been written in recent times, often overlooking the significant contributions of women. The narrative of “man the hunter” begs the question: what were women doing during these ancient times? Only later did historians acknowledge “woman the gatherer,” thus shaping our understanding of our hunter-gatherer history. This underscores two things: First, the inequality between men and women. Second, the gap in…