The Gender-Responsive Standards Initiative: Redesigning Invisible Infrastructure
Exposing the Myth of Neutrality
For ten years, we’ve worked on transforming how standards are created worldwide, challenging the fundamental assumption that technical specifications are gender-neutral.
The Life-or-Death Consequences of Male Default Design
Standards built on male assumptions create a world that endangers women:
- Vehicle Safety: Women are 73% more likely to suffer serious injuries in frontal crashes because crash test dummies reflect male bodies
- Workplace Protection: Ill-fitting safety equipment compromises 51% of female workers’ safety
- Digital Exclusion: Facial recognition error rates run 34% higher for women of color
- Medical Diagnosis: Heart disease symptoms in women go unrecognized 50% more often due to male-calibrated protocols, (amongst many examples based on lack of research and date)
A Canadian study confirmed: safety standards reduced injuries for men but not women. These aren’t intentional exclusions—they reflect the unquestioned assumption of the male body as universal default.
Strategic Transformation
Building on our trade work, we targeted standards—the “invisible infrastructure” shaping our daily lives:
- Challenging False Neutrality: We exposed how “gender-neutral” standards privilege male bodies and experiences
- Building Powerful Coalitions: We co-drafted the 2018 UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Declaration on Gender-Responsive Standards
- Securing Global Commitment: By 2019, all major international standards bodies endorsed our approach with nearly 90 signatories including ISO, IEC, ITU and national standards bodies
- Driving Implementation: As longstanding members of the UNECE Team of Specialists on Gender Responsive Standards, we continue shaping policies and ensuring accountability
Measurable Global Impact
From concept to worldwide movement:
- Major organizations implementing concrete action plans
- Technical specifications now accounting for physiological differences
- Gender-impact assessments integrated into standards development
- Cultural shift from one-size-fits-all to inclusive design principles