Sexism in Design
The “default” for the human race is male. This has the unfortunate effect of the male perspective being deemed universal and causing data bias. This has serious consequences for anyone who does not identify as a cis male.
Many things considered “unisex” (clothing, transportation routes, work hours, etc.) are designed around the male perspective of convenience.
Men are more likely to get in a car crash than women, yet due to standardized safety features in vehicles, women are 47% more likely to be seriously injured, and 17% more likely to die.
Can you think of anything else that you feel like isn't designed with them in mind? For me it's wide mouth jars. This is almost a stereotype in itself.
Even standard safety equipment and tools aren’t designed to accommodate females.
Men are the primary figures in ads and are shown as strong, athletic, drinking beer, doing man stuff, etc, while women tend to be sexualized, submissive, skinny, made-up, nurturing homemakers.
Reclaiming Body Image
By showing heavily edited, airbrushed versions of “beauty”, typically someone stick-thin with perfect teeth and skin, women are pressured to buy beauty and lifestyle products and held to an impossible standard. These ideas harm women’s body-image and self-esteem.
Some companies are fighting this, but a surprising ally has been social media, where consumers and celebrities are given the tools to publicly and directly call out companies for advertising they deem sexist or harmful
The “Pink Tax” or Gendered Pricing
Women tend to pay extra for specific products/services such as clothing and personal care items like razors and deodorant with virtually no differences aside from color or scent
This study found women were paying more than men 42% of the time. Costs were on average 7% higher, yet they can’t even throw in pockets for us.
Women also tend to require products that men don’t need, such as menstrual care products, and spend on average $3000 on them in their lifetime, taxes included of course. Then we are taught to be embarrassed about it. That’s IF they can even access or afford such “luxury” hygiene products that are actually a medical necessity.