by Carmen Oleksinski
“I hadn’t realised the breadth of the gender data gap!”
“There was so much well-researched information to digest!”
“I feel much more informed and want to take action to address the imbalance!’”
These were just a few sentiments that were expressed at the very first meeting of the Women in Transport book club. What began as a spark of an idea last autumn was successfully adapted to a virtual platform this spring. Towards the end of April, twenty four Women in Transport members gathered to discuss the very thought-provoking work, Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez.
Light bulb moments
This best-selling book proved popular among members – 76% said they would definitely recommend it to others. Many were awed with the level of research Criado-Perez put into it, citing examples from close to home (invariably long queues for the women’s toilet at the Barbican!) and around the world (lack of access to basic hygiene facilities in India). The effect of all these examples was to raise awareness about the ‘female-shaped absence’ within data that is eventually used to inform decisions affecting the population as a whole.
Initially, many expressed a sense of frustration and surprise about their own lack of awareness or even biases that ultimately disadvantage women. And it is not just a problem from the past. Criado-Perez’s use of many recent examples demonstrates that in many instances (medical research, workplace design, transport policy, etc.) the male experience of the world is viewed as the natural default.
Ultimately, the book provoked self-reflection and provided a framework for understanding our own experiences which we might previously have dismissed even though they had made us uncomfortable. The collective impact of these experiences can be to internalise shortcomings as a failure of the person rather than failure of the product or system. Gathering to discuss this book certainly helped me to remember that I am not alone. Together we are better equipped to recognise inequality and create a better future.
Where do we go from here?
So now that we are aware, what can be done? There was some apprehension over the sheer scale of the issue and the deep-rooted nature of the bias and data gaps highlighted by the book. But awareness is the first step towards a solution. While we all have different roles and levels of influence, there was a general sense of responsibility in making changes were we can, even if small. Examples included pushing for sex disaggregated data in transport planning, ensuring women are part of panels, teams and consultation, championing gender audits of schemes alongside accessibility audits, focusing on safety and security to enable women to fully participate in the transport workforce and use transport.
Overall, the book opened readers’ eyes to the opportunity for change. And in the end, women’s rights are human rights. We can apply these same concepts to other disadvantaged groups to make progress towards a truly inclusive future in transport.
What’s next for the book club?
Based on attendee feedback, we plan to move forward with the book club on a quarterly basis. Any book suggestions are more than welcome! Thanks to everyone for joining me and Women in Transport on this path of learning, idea sharing, and, importantly, togetherness that is so needed in these times. See you at the next one!
Save the date
The next book club will be on Thursday 23 July 2020 at 18:30 - 19:30 and will hosted via Zoom. The book will be The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Attwood which was suggested by members in the feedback survey from the first session. Registration will open soon.
You can learn more about Caroline Criado-Perez and sign up to her newsletter here and you can share how Invisible Women has impacted you here.
Annual membership of Women in Transport is £60 per year providing access to professional development and networking opportunities. We very much welcome guest blogs from our members - a great way to share the incredible diversity of opportunity in transport, raise your profile and connect with our community.
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