The knowledge gap as a source of systemic inequalities and discrimination against women [Review of: C. Criado Perez (2019) Invisible Women: Exposing data bias in a world designed for men]

While most of us agree that there are systemic inequalities related to gender, the magnitude of these inequalities is rarely clear. We know that there is a gender pay gap, that women are more often subjected to sexual abuse, that they take care of most of the household and childcare responsibilities. Not many of us, however, realize to what extent gender bias has a profound, negative impact on women’s health and well-being. Perhaps because we are so used to the way things are and have always been? Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez is certainly an eye-opener when it comes to systemic gender inequalities and how data bias is a powerful underlying nuance. The book focuses on six main themes: daily life (issues such as clearing snow in cities or urban design), the workplace – the focus of this review, design of everyday objects (keyboards, stoves, phones, clothing), medical care (issues such diagnosis and treatment), public life, and finally, how these issues are magnified during war and natural disasters. Each chapter contains a comprehensive review of the existing data to show how a deeply rooted bias leads to a knowledge gap (i.e. focus on men’s perspective) and is a source of systemic inequalities and discrimination against women. The author refers to research across different disciplines (e.g. psychology, ergonomics, architecture, politics, design) and studies from different parts of the world, to show how prevalent these issues are. I will now focus on the work aspects and the lessons relevant to organizational research and practice.