Why the World Is Still Not Built for Women | Virginia Santy | TED

The speaker highlights that environments are primarily built for men, often leading women to accept discomfort as normal. This is evident in various aspects, from the lack of consideration for women's needs in physical spaces to their historical exclusion from medical trials and crash test dummy inclusion. The world, from architectural design to the "Vitruvian Man" and "Modular Man" concepts, has used men's bodies as the standard for what is considered normal, leaving women largely unmeasured and undervalued. This disparity is even more pronounced for women of color, women with disabilities, and those with intersectional identities. Driven by personal experiences of discomfort in offices and the challenges faced by mothers, the speaker began to envision and create workplaces designed with women in mind. Through conversations with women, she learned about specific pain points. For instance, narrow office parking spaces are problematic for those with car seats, leading to the design of wider spots. Doors, often designed to open more easily for men, were adjusted to require less force. Recognizing the difficulties mothers face in juggling work and childcare, the speaker incorporated on-site childcare rooms, allowing mothers to bring their children to play while they worked or utilize partner childcare services. Beyond physical adjustments, the approach also considered social dynamics, making professional development events social as women are more likely to attend with a friend. These changes yielded positive results, fostering a supportive environment where women collaborated, shared resources, and openly discussed ambition without judgment. The speaker emphasizes that valuing women is a sufficient argument for building inclusive spaces, but also presents an economic case. Women's workforce participation has stagnated, and the gap between men and women in the workforce is widening. Creating comfortable and valued workplaces for women could address this, potentially increasing the US GDP by five percent, or one trillion dollars. Globally, financially secure women are known to invest more in their families and communities. The discussion then expands to designing cities for women, inspired by the speaker's work for the Downtown Denver Partnership. A striking finding is that women are largely overlooked in city planning; only two percent of US city plans mention women. This oversight means women's distinct experiences, particularly in care work, are not considered. Women spend significantly more time on household chores and caregiving than men, and this extends to caring for older adults. The speaker proposes a vision for cities that better serve women, particularly in the context of care work. This includes addressing the lack of childcare in city centers and redesigning public transportation, which is often difficult to navigate with a stroller and doesn't facilitate the frequent, short trips women typically make for caregiving. She imagines a scenario where a mother can easily access transit, utilize on-site corporate daycare, network with colleagues who also use the daycare, and access services like healthcare clinics and banks with extended hours at transit hubs, all while feeling she has had quality time with her child and a productive day. While this vision might seem idealistic, the speaker asserts that it doesn't have to be. She views workplaces and cities as opportunities to question existing norms and make changes. She poses critical questions: why is it so difficult for working mothers when their contributions are vital to the economy's future? How can things be done differently, and how can these changes evolve with gender identities and norms? The simple answer, she concludes, is to value women. This means seeing them as human beings worthy of consideration, recognizing their significant contributions, and understanding that their experiences, while different from men's, are not deficiencies. Despite systems not designed for them, women have triumphed in various arenas. Imagine, she suggests, what women could achieve if things were made easier for them, leading to a better world for everyone.