Summary of Invisible Women

"Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez examines how systemic gender bias in data collection and analysis leads to the marginalization of women in various aspects of society. The book argues that the majority of data is collected with men as the default, which results in the needs, experiences, and perspectives of women being overlooked or ignored. Criado Perez highlights numerous examples across different sectors, including healthcare, urban planning, workplaces, and technology. She discusses how this data gap manifests in real-world consequences, such as medical misdiagnoses, inadequate safety measures in products and infrastructure, and imbalanced policies that do not consider the needs of women. The author emphasizes the importance of inclusive data and the need for a gendered approach in research and policymaking. Through compelling statistics and case studies, "Invisible Women" advocates for recognizing and addressing these biases to create a more equitable world for all genders. The book calls for conscious efforts to include women’s experiences and needs in data collection processes, with the ultimate goal of fostering a society that is truly inclusive and representative.