How long ago did you notice that you were freezing in the office? Ever wondered why your phone is uncomfortable to hold in your hand? Probably, it is women, and not men, who pay attention to these inconveniences more often. Females are more capricious, you say. But in fact, the reason is hidden much deeper, literally penetrating the most mundane aspects of our lives. From urban planning to medicine, from technology to household items, many things are designed with the “average man” in mind, making women literally invisible in world statistics and research.
Did you know that car crash tests are conducted on “male” mannequins, making women more vulnerable in an accident? Or that most medical research simply ignores female physiology? And this is not just a statistic, but a matter of life and death.
It is obvious that the world we live in has been shaped by the “male standard”, and this inequality affects every aspect of our lives. But the biggest shock is that we don’t even realize it. It’s time to tear back that veil and face the truth: gender inequality runs deeper than meets the eye and affects every day of our lives.
Invisible barriers
Thanks to the active struggle of feminists, which has been going on for centuries, women have received the right to education and work, and in most countries, by law, they can choose any profession and hold various positions. It seems that gender equality has been achieved and justice has been established, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. And the real problems lie somewhere in the depths.
Although we no longer see overt discrimination where women are outright denied the vote or education, this does not mean that equality has been fully achieved. Today, the violation of women’s rights has taken more hidden, but no less dangerous forms. Have you noticed how often women have to work twice as hard to prove their competence in the same positions that men hold? Or when they receive a lower salary for the same work? It’s no longer loud words or outright prohibitions—it’s a quiet, systemic bias that subtly shapes our careers, relationships, and even our dreams.
Women still have to fight for their voices to be heard. Stereotypes about “female” and “male” professions leave millions of talented women in the shadows, forcing them to doubt their capabilities. And when it comes to career growth, women often face the so-called “glass ceiling”, which is invisible but impossible to break through. And this is not to mention reproductive rights, which in many countries are still under threat, when women do not have the right to control their own bodies.
We live in an era where discrimination is often disguised as customary norms and practices that appear neutral but are in fact deeply rooted in patriarchal values. It is a quiet but constant whisper of inequality that forces women to choose between family and career, or give up their ambitions for the sake of social peace.
Stereotypes that stand in the way of finding a job
Since childhood, we have been taught to perceive professions depending on gender:
- “men” – a policeman, a fireman, a soldier, a politician, etc.;
- “female” – nurse, teacher, cleaner, etc.
It seems that in modern society, attempts are being made to move away from such a division, even feminisms have been cleverly introduced into the language (doctor, reporter, colleague, wrestler, etc.). But has the attitude of society to the perception of various professions changed?
A striking example of the preservation of such a division in practice can still be considered the medical field. Here, a male doctor is perceived as a common phenomenon, while junior medical personnel seem to be created especially for women. And even among the doctors themselves, segregation can be observed, where more profitable specialties, such as surgery, are mainly the prerogative of men. But society entrusts all care work to women. And, therefore, women are forced to take a break in their career development, because they need to go on maternity leave. And when hiring, they come across a real manifestation of discrimination when potential employers ask about the presence of children. While such questions do not arise for men.
For data sociological study “The impact of a full-scale war on the choice of a profession”, 52% of respondents still divide professions into “male” and “female”. Moreover, men (55%) agree with this division more often than women (49%). Society still sees aviation and law enforcement as a “male” field, while cleaning and raising children is a “female” one.
There is a gender gap in the wages of women and men in the world. It is not caused by the fact that women earn less than men for the same work. Namely because women are subjected to the so-called “punishment for motherhood”. Thus, according to The Economist magazine, in Britain 70% of women have reduced their working hours or switched to lighter work in connection with motherhood. While only 11% of men did it. In Australia, 56% of mothers and 19% of fathers. While in France – 55% of women compared to 13% of men. Of course, the problem is not in motherhood itself, but in the disproportionate division of responsibilities. Let’s not forget that in addition to professional duties, a woman is also forced to perform household duties and take care of children. It is certain that in order to be successful and earn a lot, it is necessary not only to work, but also to have sufficient and quality rest and to have a resource for self-development and additional education. Do women and men equally possess this resource? Unlikely. After all, at the end of the working day, a woman has the so-called second shift at home in the form of cleaning, laundry, cooking dinners and raising children.
For data According to Oxfam, on average, women spend about 12.5 billion hours on housework and childcare. Just imagine if this labor was paid according to the minimum wage, the amount would be about 11 trillion dollars a year.
And now let’s talk about equipping the workplace. Most office chairs, tables and even heating systems are adjusted for the “average” man – tall, with more muscle mass and other physiological features. Temperatures in offices, research shows, are often adjusted to a comfortable level for men, while women are often cold in the workplace. What about uniforms? The standards are designed for the male body, which makes the female version often impractical and uncomfortable.
For example, there are many military women in the ranks of our Armed Forces (40-70 thousand people according to various data), and they defend the state on the same level as men. But for some reason they do not have their own form, but wear clothes from a man’s shoulder. Military women complain that the uniform is too big, men’s underpants are included, and they have never heard of a bra in the military environment at all. The lack of comfortable women’s uniforms and armor endangers the health of our military women, who perform the same duties as men. Many military bases and field conditions do not take into account the needs of women: often there are no separate toilets or showers for women, tents and dugouts.
Obstacles in a woman’s everyday life
Gender inequality does not always manifest itself in the form of obvious discrimination. Much more often, it acts through invisible barriers that shape everything from our daily comfort to health and safety. Let’s consider what difficulties women face in a seemingly normal course of life.
It seems that medicine should be equally effective for everyone, but this is far from reality. Most medical research and drug trials are conducted on men, and their results automatically apply to women. However, women’s bodies function differently — their metabolism, hormonal background, and even their response to pain are different. As a result, women face incorrect diagnoses or incorrect treatment. For example, the symptoms of a heart attack in women are significantly different from men’s, but it is the male signs that are considered the standard.
Technologies that are supposed to make life easier actually often create additional barriers for women. For example, you can cite the design of smartphones. Most modern phones are designed with men’s hands in mind, which are on average larger than women’s hands. Women have to either manage an inconveniently large device, or buy smaller versions, which are often inferior in terms of functionality. Technology does not consider women’s needs because women’s experiences and needs are neglected when devices are designed and tested.
The automotive industry has also long been male-oriented. Most cars are crash tested using mannequins that fit the standard male body. This means that the safety of women during accidents is not properly considered. Women are more likely to be seriously injured in road accidents because standard seat belts and airbags are not adapted to their anatomy.
Urban infrastructure often ignores the everyday needs of women. A typical day for a woman can include trips to kindergarten, to work, shopping, and again to the children. Public transport systems are designed based on the linear route “home-work-home”, which is characteristic of the traditional male rhythm of life. This makes public transport less convenient for women, who are more likely to make several short trips throughout the day.
Even the seemingly neutral education system has hidden biases. As studies show, for the same fault in behavior, as a rule, more demands are made on girls than on boys. In addition, educational materials often use examples that relate to men, from famous scientists to literary characters, which subconsciously shakes the faith in women’s perception of their capabilities.
As we can see, the male standard in many aspects of our lives continues to shape the world in such a way that women are forced to adapt to rules that were not created for them. Perhaps it is time to change this paradigm and start considering the needs of all people – regardless of gender. And while achieving full equality can be a long process, the first step is to acknowledge the problem and its invisible manifestations.
We live in a world that is secretly against half of humanity. A world where standards of male convenience, safety and comfort dictate everything from how we are treated, to how we work, travel and even simply exist. This is not just an issue of equality, it is an issue of our safety, health and opportunities to live a full life. When cars are more dangerous for women, medicine doesn’t work, and technology is inconvenient, it’s no longer an invisible barrier—it’s a tacit agreement that women’s lives are less important. It’s not just a question of justice, it’s a question of quality of life for half of the planet’s population. Solving this problem requires systemic change, from inclusive research and data to rethinking everyday infrastructure. When we begin to see women and consider their needs as equal to men, it will change not only their lives, but society as a whole. It is shocking that in the 21st century we are still forced to conform to standards created for the other sex. A world in which we all have the same rights is actually unequal to the core. And the biggest problem is that we don’t even notice it. But we have the right to demand changes. Women deserve a world made for them just as much as it is for men. So it’s time to break this cycle of inequality, see the world as it is, and change it together.
