must have been invented by a man

[Lottle]

AIBU to hate this phrase?

It wouldn't be acceptable to say "must have been invented by a woman" or "a [choose a different race to your own] person"

I'm sure lots of good stuff has been invented by men.

Re shoes , its probably the most popular sizes that are put at the most convenient height

But they still usually have them in size order. 'Popular' is when people could choose anything from the available range, but decide to make a particular selection that they like best; when it comes to shoe sizes, you instantly discount the possibility of buying anything that isn't in your size unless you're Jen from the IT Crowd

And that's kind of the whole point that we're making: the 'most convenient height' will almost certainly not be the same for somebody who takes a size 2 and somebody who is a size 9. Currently, the very tall people have to crouch right down to the bottom and the very short people have to jump and reach right up to the top! Nobody wins at the moment, but if they reversed them, almost everybody would be happy!

As for the mirrors, for somebody planning a public facility that might be used by anybody of any age or height, I genuinely cannot understand why it isn't Design 101 to put good long mirrors in as standard. Just why wouldn't you? And whilst we're at it, in places with multiple sinks, would it really hurt to put them at a range of different heights, to cater for all users?

If I could drive, I’d never buy an Audi. I heard in the States, there was a problem with their cars jumping forwards when they were parked. The problem, short women.

@TurquoiseDragon

Another one related to cars.

Pedal design is by default based on men. Men can easily press the clutch, etc, while keeping their heels on the floor for stability. Most people with smaller feet, in general women, have to lift their feet off the floor to press down the clutch and brake, and sometimes the accelerator. I can keep a heel on the floor for an accelerator, but have to lift my foot for clutch and brake.

It shold be better designed.

But smaller female feet are better for heel-toe driving (where one foot covers brake and gas simultaneously) which is very advantageous in racing. ;)

I've often thought unmotorised pushchairs wouldn't be tolerated in a man's world.

To be fair, dads push pushchairs too (granted in much smaller numbers). It's not like it's something that they'd never have cause to use or need.

@BalloonSlayer

The contraceptive pill having the week break for you to have a period was because the pill was invented by men and they thought women would want to have a period.

No, the week for a period is to reduce the risk of uterine cancer which increases if you don’t have a period and are taking hormonal contraception.

YABU Because that sentence usually refers to something that has been invented with no consideration of women.
Thsi is what it means in a very simple way. I thought anit what worked for me but forgot the other half of the population.

If a woman was doing the same, there would be outcry, let alone a snide comment.

I thought the 7 day pill bleed wasn't nessesary - certainly lots of new particles have suggested it wasn't necessary.

Contraception: The way you take the pill has more to do with the Pope than your health

Shortly before his death in 2015 I attended a lecture given by Carl Djerassi, the "father of the pill". He remarked that the seven-day break, and resultant withdrawal bleed, was designed into the pill in the late 50s in an attempt to persuade the Vatican to accept the new form of contraception, as an extension of the natural menstrual cycle.

www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/the-contraceptive-pill-is-the-one-week-break-a-relic-of-the-past-1.4066053

But Jane Dickson, vice-president of the UK Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, is at pains to point out that there were other reasons, historically, why the pill had a seven-day break: “So there were many reasons why there was a break when the pill was introduced,” she said earlier this year. “One of the most important reasons is that the pill that was used 60 years ago, some of the hormones that were in that pill were 100 times greater in dose than the pills we have now.

“Quite often, women actually felt quite dreadful when they took it. Part of the reason for the seven-day break was just a break from the massive amount of hormones.”

In addition, and because contraception was new at the time, there was a lot of anxiety about how it affected women’s bodies and so a simulated period (a withdrawal bleed) was thought (by whom?) to be reassuring. And one of the other reasons for the break was to reassure women that they weren’t pregnant.

Certainly both articles say it's common now not to have the break - which I have to admit I'd have prefered in my younger years though looking back I never really got on well with the pill anyway.

@TurquoiseDragon

Another one related to cars.

Pedal design is by default based on men. Men can easily press the clutch, etc, while keeping their heels on the floor for stability. Most people with smaller feet, in general women, have to lift their feet off the floor to press down the clutch and brake, and sometimes the accelerator. I can keep a heel on the floor for an accelerator, but have to lift my foot for clutch and brake.

It shold be better designed.

Yep, I'm 5' 4ish, size 5 feet and I can't keep my heel on the floor of my VW Polo. It means that my legs are aching after a long journey because I have to keep them lifted up and moving back and forth while driving.

new particles - fat finger - news articles over the years

To be fair, dads push pushchairs too (granted in much smaller numbers). It's not like it's something that they'd never have cause to use or need

True, but how often are the majority of them using a buggy while alone with the kids, from first thing in the morning to coming back to the (empty) house? Not that many I suspect, which I thinkmight explain my double buggy having a warning on it that you weren't to bump it up stairs. Oh OK, I'll just leave one baby parked up on the pavement while I carry the other into the house, in a sort of modern dox/fox/chicken puzzle then

Was it on here I read that the bloke who invented the smear test process never intended for it to be done without pain relief but basically when it went into practise it was quicker easier and cheaper just to ignore that. I don’t think I’ve made that up .

Drugs that are tested in males and not females that actually have totally different effects in women with interaction with hormones, different muscle density and stature.

Or even basic things like how Heart attacks present.
The whole chest pain and arm tingles are not actually how a lot of women feel during a heart attack.
Often in females it’s shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain

As far as cars go I love my 10 year old MX-5. Whether it's because it was designed for the Japanese market where the population (including the men) is generally physically smaller than in the UK, it fits me beautifully. I can reach all the controls and keep my heel on the floor.

My DH struggles though as he finds the pedals too close together for his feet

Agree with so many things on this thread.

DH is a hands on dad and he doesn’t consider anything women’s work. He tried to take our DDs to change their nappies but, unless there is a separate changing room or the changing facilities are in the accessible toilet, he couldn’t because there is rarely changing facilities in the men’s toilets. What if the child only had male parents or their female parent wasn’t with them?

We had our bathrooms done during the first lockdown. DH stayed in the house during the work and I went to stay with my parents because I was pregnant so didn’t want to risk catching CV. He had to tell the plumbers to move the mirror because there was no way I would be able see my whole face in it. I’m only slightly shorter than average but they had put the mirror at male height.

"No, the week for a period is to reduce the risk of uterine cancer which increases if you don’t have a period and are taking hormonal contraception."

Not sure about that (though, not saying you are wrong - if there's a paper on it please link it)

There is some thought that the break lowers the effectiveness of the pill for some women;

www.gponline.com/contraceptive-pill-seven-day-breaks-outdated-says-family-planning-expert/contraception/contraception/article/1447513

@WitchQueenofDarkness

As far as cars go I love my 10 year old MX-5. Whether it's because it was designed for the Japanese market where the population (including the men) is generally physically smaller than in the UK, it fits me beautifully. I can reach all the controls and keep my heel on the floor.

My DH struggles though as he finds the pedals too close together for his feet

Interesting - I've currently got a Kia and am finding it better than the last car (which was an Opal). Had a Fiat as my first car and it really was uncomfortable - after a long journey my leg was notably sore. Vowed never to get a Fiat again (well it was one of the reasons!)

Hadn't thought about the design stats being used being country-specific

True, but how often are the majority of them using a buggy while alone with the kids, from first thing in the morning to coming back to the (empty) house?

I did say in much smaller numbers, but there are plenty of SAHDs and some widowed dads out there, trying to do the best for their kids - the same as mums.

I do think the height of the average pushchair/stroller is designed with the expectation that women will be pushing them, thus making it more difficult for taller dads to play their part without getting backache and constantly kicking the back of the pushchair whilst walking (as their stride is longer), with the result being that even more of the burden falls on mums.

DH and I sing a little song when we discover something that was designed by the opposite sex that doesn't suit the users needs. It's to a well known tune but I can only think of the tune in terms of our song now! I can't think what the real words are "Made by men for men, made by men for men, made by men, made by men, made by men for men" exchange men for women when DH sings it!!

Hadn't thought about the design stats being used being country-specific

I'd wondered about this and have seen it mentioned in studies and reviews online. Apparently, Japanese and South Korean cars are designed with the average size of their home population in mind (they are generally shorter and slighter of build than people in Europe), and the dimensions are increased for their cars sold in North America but not for those destined for the European market.

[quote QueenArseClangers]www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1113605/invisible-women/9781784706289.html[/quote]
God this book is so good but I can only read it a chapter at a time because of the global injustice that many women experience at the hand of male (blinkered) design

It does sometimes work the other way, with a lot of cars not designed for the headroom requirements of taller drivers - can be very unpleasant bashing your head when going over speed bumps, even very slowly, and having to remember to lean awkwardly to anticipate this.

@chickenyhead

Men did invent the toilet I believe, glad of that

No a woman invented the toilet, but it was a man who put the hole in the seat

I agree with a prior poster you need to read "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado Perez and you'll come to understand how women, and particularly women of colour, have not factored into "design" decisions for decades/centuries.

I typically wouldn't use the type of generalisation you mention in conversation, until 2 years ago when I bought my new build house which has no windows in all bar 1 bathroom, and the 1 bathroom with a window has a circular window that doesn't open. I did say at that point that these houses must have been designed by a load of blokes...... Lo and behold, 2 months later I started to work at the HO of the builder and the houses were literally designed by a bunch of men sat in a room together. I felt very validated!

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Hadn't thought about the design stats being used being country-specific

I'd wondered about this and have seen it mentioned in studies and reviews online. Apparently, Japanese and South Korean cars are designed with the average size of their home population in mind (they are generally shorter and slighter of build than people in Europe), and the dimensions are increased for their cars sold in North America but not for those destined for the European market.

Oh good! Further to my last post about my VW Polo killing me, I'm switching to a Suzuki next week so hopefully my little womble legs will be more comfortable with Japanese dimensions