Who is Reference Man?
The world has been designed for a 'one-size-fits-only' Reference Man and there are big, gendered consequences to that.
We live in a world that’s not equal for men and women. For most of human history, men have designed our world. And as a result, we live in a world designed for men. Specifically, a Caucasian man aged between 25 and 30.
This man even has a name – Reference Man. And his superpower is apparently being able to represent every person in the world.
Getting to know Reference Man
Reference Man has had a profound impact on everything around us – technology, transport, health, building design and so much more.
Michele Clark, Director, Office for Women explains how Reference Man influences so many aspects of our lives and how eliminating Reference Man can help create a more gender equal world.
Watch the short video and Michele's TED talk to get informed.
Reference Man as a crash test dummy
Even car safety features are based on male anatomy. If you are a woman, you are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a car accident than a man. And that's because the crash test dummy is our ultimate Reference Man. The first true crash test dummy based on the female body was only invented in 2022. By contrast, the first male crash dummy used for testing in cars was created in 1968.
