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A review by anil
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
informative
medium-paced
3.75
First of this is a super interesting book with some good points. Absolutely worth the read. BUT.
I have some serious issues with its very binary and cis centered language as well as the way it brushes over a lot of the differences within the groups of both (cis) men and women in a way that I don't think is helpful.
In some parts that distinction may be more superficial but in some parts it REALLY isn't because there is a huge difference for example between a medical issue going underdiagnosed because of the way people are socialized and biological differences in presentation. Even within biological differences there is the question of hormone levels vs average physical presentation for example.
All of these are massively affected by being a cis woman of course! I'm not claiming that the root cause of the issues named here is not sexism. But its also affected by certain disabilities, medical treatments (not just medical transition), ethnicity and probably a host of other factors I can't think of spontaneously. And sometimes they happen to apply to cis men even.
And of course part of the point is that some of this information is lacking because we're not doing the scientific studies but then say that! And in some instances we do know or have information that suggests directions and those are ignored by the author.
These are not just superficial concerns there are specific suggestions for solutions targeted towards women in this book that could be targeted more precisely and more helpfully by looking at who precisely is the group affected.
I have some serious issues with its very binary and cis centered language as well as the way it brushes over a lot of the differences within the groups of both (cis) men and women in a way that I don't think is helpful.
In some parts that distinction may be more superficial but in some parts it REALLY isn't because there is a huge difference for example between a medical issue going underdiagnosed because of the way people are socialized and biological differences in presentation. Even within biological differences there is the question of hormone levels vs average physical presentation for example.
All of these are massively affected by being a cis woman of course! I'm not claiming that the root cause of the issues named here is not sexism. But its also affected by certain disabilities, medical treatments (not just medical transition), ethnicity and probably a host of other factors I can't think of spontaneously. And sometimes they happen to apply to cis men even.
And of course part of the point is that some of this information is lacking because we're not doing the scientific studies but then say that! And in some instances we do know or have information that suggests directions and those are ignored by the author.
These are not just superficial concerns there are specific suggestions for solutions targeted towards women in this book that could be targeted more precisely and more helpfully by looking at who precisely is the group affected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, and War