Has anyone read this book?

[Dogstar78]

I really want to discuss it! I am listening to it on Spotify. I am fascinated and angered equally. It takes both a historical and current view on the lack of data collection on women and how this has and will impact our development, safety and economic independence. I am only on chapter 2. We know, this still a world designed for men, but this has really unpacked the degree to which this true. I just thought I would share for anyone interested.

Yes, read it a few years ago. Still remember many things that occur in daily life which reminds me how much of our world is built for men.

She has a blog you might like.

I'm half way through the audio book. Just got past the bit about women in India who have no toilet facilities and are getting raped when they try to find somewhere private to toilet. Really horrific.

Yes! Me too, honestly just horrific. I hate these 'gender neutral' toilets, but having to live the experience of this women, makes me very appreciative. We live our experience and forget about how come our bathroom habits sometimes need to be. I know I often get dehydrated on a day out because I worry about leaking or needing the loo.

Absolutely brilliant book! I recommend it to anyone who will listen.

I am still in the process of reading it. It’s very good and important and interesting, but I find it quite hard going as it’s very dense with information. So I’m having to break it up with other things.

Yes, excellent book.
Passed it on someone who is a civil servant in central government and she found it a useful resource, so I've spread the word a bit further 😃

Someone pointed out the other day that because of her various duties for Development as well as Women and Equalities, Dodds may well find herself passionately arguing support for single-sex toilets in countries like India while opposing and removing them for women in the UK.

Yes, I've read it - it's excellent.

Yep. That's the "Guardian" kind of "progressive" position.

I find it pretty fucking racist. Like western men are so thoroughly enlightened they are no longer a threat to women.

Yes. This book has been recommended a lot on MN. I have encouraged friends and family to read it.
My son volunteered with a small charity working in a Syrian refugee camp, building shelters. The main thing the women asked for was separate toilet and bathroom facilities because the level of rape was so high. They couldn't even go to get water/ wash clothes without the constant threat of rape, even towards their children.

I've read it, it was both enlightening and anger inducing in equal measure's, I didn't realise how much of everyday life irritations are due to the fact that everything is designed around men. Now every time I put my seatbelt on when I drive the car I think of this book, the damn thing digs into my neck, and other places, because car's are designed around men.

This is Amnesty's position too.

I got part way through and stopped. I just got too cross and wanted to throw it with frustration. Not the fault of the author or the book, which is really good, but what a world.

I think of this book every time I have to remove the battery from a power tool for recharging, by simultaneously squeezing two release areas on each side of the battery.
My hand span - fairly wide for a woman - is not wide enough to apply the pressure needed to release the battery. Cue all sorts of awkward techniques for removing the battery, plus a fair amount of muttered swearing, plus a mental salute to Caroline Criado Perez!

I should say in fairness that some brands have smaller batteries for some tools.
Maybe they've read her book

Exactly! I do not feel safe in public shared toilets and at best very awkward in offices etc. I know my partner feels like the toilet is a private space for both sexes but particularly women. Although I think what she argues is that the same floor space is given to men's and women's toilets. Women need more time and more space than men when going to the toilet. Therefore the space should be more proportionally based.

Omg, yes! It honestly makes you think about everything that you just 'put up with'. Don't get me started on being a left-handed woman.

An interesting point.

My god, what a horrendous insight, but thanks for sharing and educating me about some current situations this applies to.