Someone you may not even know exists.
We live in a world that is not equal for men and women.
For the majority of human history, men have designed our world.
And as a result, we live in a world designed for men.
In the healthcare sector, this man even has a name.
For many years, healthcare data and drug trials have relied on studies done on men as if they apply equally to women.
Specifically, a Caucasian man around 25 to 30.
He is known as Reference Man and his superpower is apparently being able to represent every person in the world.
If the patriarchy had a mascot, it would surely be Reference Man.
He'd probably get a catchy jingle, and certainly a generous pay packet.
Reference Man has been used to make assumptions about all of human experience, and he is everywhere.
What temperature are our office buildings?
Well, they are set at the perfect temperature for Reference Man.
Where are the handholds on our trains and trams?
They are the perfect height for Reference Man to hold.
How big are our smartphones?
They are the perfect size to fit in the palm of Reference Man's hand.
Reference Man's real superpower is his power of invisibility.
He hides in plain sight.
Things we don't even think about are designed with him in mind.
It's not always deliberate.
I'll give you an everyday example.
Let's look at our cars.
If I'm involved in a car crash, I'm more likely to be seriously injured and more likely to die than a man.
Because car safety features are all designed based on male anatomy.
The ultimate Reference Man.
The crash test dummy.
The first true crash test dummy based on the female body was invented in 2022.
2022!
Are you surprised?
If you're a woman, I bet you are not.
Everything has a gender consequence.
You might not see it, but it exists.
In your everyday life, you have the power to fight Reference Man.
You can use your purchasing power to demand that companies and governments who make decisions do so with the needs of all people in mind.
By looking for gender impacts in the decisions we make, we can change our world.
We can make our world truly equal.
Updated