Reading Invisible Women has made me furious - what can I do?

[squashyhat]

I don't usually get worked up about much, but the shocking inequalities caused by the male gender being considered the norm and women as 'deviants' from this in all areas of research and development has opened my eyes and made me really angry. I feel helpless in the face of such bias. What can individuals do to start highlighting and redressing this? Any ideas?

Having read the book you’ll grasp how important it is that we keep the definition of women to biological women so protest (anonymously if necessary) all attempts to change the definition. It’s tedious but write/email the different companies (like Boots) that think listing a TW as an inspirational women is harmless because it isn’t.

Point out to organisations their equality policy is wrong if it lists gender instead of sex.

Contribute to the various legal challenges pushing back

We’re battling to stand still right now

Thanks @StillFemale. I'm going to have to educate myself a lot on the whole TW 'debate' and get writing.

you can ask everytime you need some significant purchase, is this designed for tested on women? The more it is brought into people's conciousness the more likely it might make it through a designers brain when they come to design a new thing.

It made me annoyed too, now instead of me thinking something wrong with me when unisex things don’t fit like headphones, masks I go out of my way to search things designed for women. Or ask questions before buying.

If I notice things are going effect women in a more negative way I try and bring it to someone’s attention. Not saying they always listen but have to start somewhere.

@squashyhat

Thanks *@StillFemale*. I'm going to have to educate myself a lot on the whole TW 'debate' and get writing.

The author gets a lot of abuse from Trans people and called a TERF for writing a book focusing on women

@squashyhat

Thanks *@StillFemale*. I'm going to have to educate myself a lot on the whole TW 'debate' and get writing.

squashyhat sorry for the delay in fully replying. There’s a thread called ‘break it down for me’ which is a good place to start. I was struggling to find the thread earlier so gave up but I’ve found it now.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3145470-Break-it-down-for-me

Point things out when you can, whether it's to your friends or to institutions. You'll spot lots of not counting, or accounting for, women.

I havent read this book but eugh the headphones thing. Drives me fucking mad! I work a manual job. I have the choice of adequately waterproofed shoes or adequately protected shoes. Goodluck finding steel capped and plated waterproof shoes in size 5.

Its ridiculous

Where can we find a list of companies/manufacturers that have designed for women or by women? I would CERTAINLY buy from them. Yesterday I was doing a bit of gardening, and it was SO HARD becase nothing was comfortable to use. DH `on the other hand was crusing because most of the implements are made for his height, weight and hand size.
I feel like I do twice the work if you see what I mean? If I say that at home I am "moaning"! grr

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4184618-Government-launches-call-for-evidence-to-improve-health-and-wellbeing-of-women-in-England

Have you seen this thread OP? A practical action to take!

@Harriedharriet
I am a gardener so funny you posted after me and my complaints. I have had similar issues but muddled my way through.. I recommend searching for 'border' forks and spades as opposed to digging or garden forks/spades.

Also I always buy japanese for cutting equipment. I am assuming the japanese men have smaller hands because their secateurs are perfect. Likewise the loopers and shears - perfectly light and balanced with Japanese PaperSteel. They really have made an art form out of garden equipment-ing.

www.niwaki.com/ ... I warn you - hide the credit card lol

Blood brilliant - can't thank you enough!

*bloody - for Lemon Swan

It made me annoyed too, now instead of me thinking something wrong with me when unisex things don’t fit like headphones, masks I go out of my way to search things designed for women. Or ask questions before buying

Whats to say headphones are designed for men? Do men have different skull geometry?

Perhaps you have a silly shaped head.

[quote LemonSwan]@Harriedharriet
I am a gardener so funny you posted after me and my complaints. I have had similar issues but muddled my way through.. I recommend searching for 'border' forks and spades as opposed to digging or garden forks/spades.

Also I always buy japanese for cutting equipment. I am assuming the japanese men have smaller hands because their secateurs are perfect. Likewise the loopers and shears - perfectly light and balanced with Japanese PaperSteel. They really have made an art form out of garden equipment-ing.

www.niwaki.com/ ... I warn you - hide the credit card lol[/quote]
Seriously wondering whether I can do a weekend away in the area to visit the store when they can reopen

I’d still prefer to try tools for size in person but they look great. Thank-you

@JellyBabiesFan

It made me annoyed too, now instead of me thinking something wrong with me when unisex things don’t fit like headphones, masks I go out of my way to search things designed for women. Or ask questions before buying

Whats to say headphones are designed for men? Do men have different skull geometry?

Perhaps you have a silly shaped head.

Lol you so need to read the book. It’s not women’s bodies that ARE THE PROBLEM.

[quote LemonSwan]@Harriedharriet
I am a gardener so funny you posted after me and my complaints. I have had similar issues but muddled my way through.. I recommend searching for 'border' forks and spades as opposed to digging or garden forks/spades.

Also I always buy japanese for cutting equipment. I am assuming the japanese men have smaller hands because their secateurs are perfect. Likewise the loopers and shears - perfectly light and balanced with Japanese PaperSteel. They really have made an art form out of garden equipment-ing.

www.niwaki.com/ ... I warn you - hide the credit card lol[/quote]
That site is great - thank you so much. I have ordered 1 thing to see how that goes. I LOVE the tripod ladder, and it looks like something a woman could move about easily.
Good point about Asian men, and therefore Asian products being better fit for women here. I hav my thinking hat on!

Ooo harriet haha. You will really have to hide the cards. It can become a dangerous addiction!

But I will say the tripod ladders a must have really for a garden ladder. Much safer and I refuse to do work at height without one nowadays.

Let me know how it goes and if you start buying more we might need to start a 'garden equipment shopaholics anonymous' thread.

Just had this week's newsletter about Sarah E and VAWG - it's very powerful if you haven't seen it.

Filling out Jessica Eaton-Taylor's survey and the govt. one has made me very aware of what's been normalised for me and that I've never reported anything as a crime (I have reported some stuff as an FYI in case there's a pattern of reports in the area).

We don’t have the data, because women don’t report. And women don’t report because they don’t think they will be taken seriously. The onus, therefore, is on authorities around the world to change that. All transport workers and police officers must be given training in how to handle allegations of sexual assault. Every. Single. One. I don’t want to see another story of a woman, rather than the man harassing her, being told to get off the bus.

pmk