A brilliant, scathing, and justified scalping of men’s failure to acknowledge women’s uniqueness, power, and needs in medical, technological, sociological, architectural, and overall life innovations and breakthroughs. This book catalogs the shameful data gaps that kill, marginalize, and ignore women, and ultimately hurt humanity. Caroline Criado Perez has revealed gaps to inspire every father, son, and husband to act.
The author’s broad, sweeping, and in-depth examination of the societal treatment of women through the lens of missing data is nothing short of a prize-worthy Herculean effort. The facts are devastatingly real and they are damaging to women on the surface but damaging to sum total of global wellbeing.
This is a book worthy of being made required-reading for political leaders who parcel out money for research, champions of industry and innovation, both men and women, who turn research into tools and solutions, across the globe. Excerpts of this book should be taught in schools at early ages so that the young boys and girls can work together from start to close the gaps highlighted in the book.
The book drills down on the differences among men and women in cell biology, skin thickness, tissue density, bone structure, body mass, physiology, and psychology to percolate the evil result that is not developing medicine and technology that addresses the needs of women. It points out in one example after another that women’s needs are unique and are routinely cast aside in favor of convenience, cost-effectiveness, or simplicity.
The author toggles back and forth between screaming for help and crying in pain and skillfully excoriates the whole establishment that sponsors research across the globe, and also specifically lights up the US National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, grant sponsors, and researchers who lump a token women’s participation in drug and treatment development and apply it to women and men. The data and narrative are a disgrace to the society that has abundance oozing out of every pore in developed nations and unimaginable wealth in the coffers of wealthy men and women all over the planet.
The cure to many-many ills can simply begin with soliciting women’s participation and giving it the legitimate weight and support their voices deserve; no less than men’s voices which have driven women’s lives into the hell hole that is today’s reality: no data on illnesses, administrating drugs to women that are developed for men’s cellular biology and size; and lack of male doctors’ training to listen to female patients with the intention to chase the cure.
There are a couple of points where I believe the author sold herself short. First, she did not exhaust her legitimate right to challenge leaders, shame them, and slap guilt enough for their irresponsible behaviors. Second, she capitulated to the GDP measurement as a yardstick of economic progress. In doing so she surrenders the precious god-like work that mothers, grandmothers do in delivering unconditional love to children. This work has no price tag. The value of creating and maintaining harmony and culture in the house cannot be sold. And indeed, if the author wants to put a price, she should consider the contract-marriages that are prevalent in the middle eastern and far eastern cultures, where men and women engage in marriages of convenience for both sexes.
To sum up this work, this book’s factual analysis of research into women’s lives is an ingenious start of a much-needed dialog that is already too late in the coming. We will live better lives by removing the blinders that hide women’s needs. Every one of us must invite women to our missions and listen to them to fill the gaps in our respectful understanding of their perspectives.
To start, I will ensure that women are a part of my decisions, that I have solicited and incorporated their (1) needs, (2) priorities, and (3) perspectives in my work. Women should not just have a chair at the table, they need to be respected and allowed to speak with full empowerment.
All in all, this is a great book by Caroline Criado Perez. Bravo!