Bias in a world by and for men

 

      Data bias in representation when it comes to gender is commonly misunderstood and uncared for. Data bias in gender representation is a widespread issue that has been occurring for a long time, and it has affected different aspects of society, culture, and history. For decades now, it has been shown that datasets, as well as collection and analysis, have been focused on men and have neglected women. Women in the modern day typically take on full-time jobs while also providing as caretakers for their families. This is just one of many examples of how women's labor has been overlooked. 

    In the book The Long Friday, the author Caroline Criado Perez brings up many different points on examples of women's labor. Chapter 3 talks about an event in Iceland in the late 1970s, where almost 90% of Icelandic women went on strike. This highlighted the role of women's labor in society, leading to substantial changes, such as legislative and social reforms in Iceland. This includes the passage of the Gender Equality Act in 176 and the world's first elect, where it was a democratically elected female head of state in 1980. The author discusses how this issue has expanded globally and that 75% of unpaid care work averages 6-3 hours daily. At the same time, men continue to do the bare minimum, contributing by only half an hour to 2 hours every day. The lack of recognition for unpaid care work shows that there are also further implications connecting economically. Estimates show that unpaid care work could account for almost 50% of GDP in countries with higher incomer and up to 80% in countries with lower income. 

    Perez advocates for a comprehensive reevaluation of how societies value and measure work, emphasizing the need to close the gender data gap. By collecting and analyzing accurate data that reflects women's contributions, policymakers can design more sustainable and suitable social systems for the economy. 

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