Thanks! I know what you mean… I’d just like to keep things friendly. 
2 Likes
And I guess that’s my thing. I’ve been friends with enough shorter-than-average men to know that making it a “women are tiny!” thing is not a good idea.
The marketing world is finally learning “shrink and pink” is not how you sell to women, nor does it fix accessibility issues. Tall women and short men (and taller than average men like @Cynical) still get left out – small percentages of the population who add up to a big percentage.
So back when car seats and steering wheels were non-adjustable, there were women the right height for the cars and men the wrong height. “Women drivers” is also about women’s supposed timidity on the road, a stereotype which continues to this day – and the one leveled at me the couple-three times I’ve been the target of road rage.
6 Likes
I’m 5’4", average height, and have to climb onto chairs to reach some shelves in the kitchen. I can screw up my tendons trying to reach others.
I can use a pillow to reduce seat depths in chairs. I can use adjustable tables instead of standard-sized desks.
It’s also hard to find pants in my size, and which won’t trigger my allergies.
4 Likes
Part of which came from not being able to see as well, while perched on an uncomfortable cushion while trying to reach pedals set up for someone with longer legs. The stereotype came about from non-optimized systems and has stuck.
Despite the reality that most accidents “caused” by “timid” drivers has been due to aggressive drivers not backing off and/or pressuring them into a move they had good reason (it turns out) not to make.
6 Likes
The point is that the men can hook their feet for stability and still look out the window. The women have to decide which is more important to them from one moment to the next, because they can’t do both simultaneously.
7 Likes
This, exactly.
5 Likes
She’s got her legs bent in the photo. I’m not convinced it shows what it’s supposed to be showing.
Not that there aren’t examples where that could be true.
And again, if you say “men can see out the windows with their feet hooked but women can’t” you’re calling me – and Roberta Bondar, among other actual women astronauts – men. And I’m on the short side for a woman of Dutch descent.
It’s kinda #notallmen except line I’ve been saying, making this all about “women are tiny!” cuts out tall women and short men and other demographics as well. Kind of the opposite of what’s intended.
2 Likes
No, it’s not calling you men. It’s saying you’re tall enough that you can work within that optimization. Not that it was optimized for you.[quote=“gadgetgirl, post:3638, topic:598”]
And I’m on the short side for a woman of Dutch descent.
[/quote]
And the ISS was not optimized for Dutch men who are probably taller. None of that negates the issue of things being optimized once for a dominant group and questioned never again.
Again, it’s not saying tall women are men, just that they may fond it easier to do things the “right” way and not be told they’re inefficient or can’t do a job right because they need to find a workaround or literally overreach themselves.
2 Likes
I was repeating what was the explanation in the original piece.
Don’t forget pregnancy, when it comes to non-adjustable steering wheels and women. Erma Bombeck wrote a touchingly hilarious story about being stuck in a car when pregnant due to it not having a tilting steering wheel. How long did it take ANY engineer to figure out that pregnant women want to drive, too?
7 Likes
Well, the world isn’t exactly made for us under the average either. As someone who is 5’ even I have plenty of access issues, including ones that regularly put my life at risk (cars not being accommodating for women my height, for example and being optimized for men of “average” height). It’s also far more expensive and harder to find petite clothing.
So, this can be more than an issue for elite people, it can be an issue of safety for “midgets” like me…
6 Likes
This hit me hard. I’m so glad I don’t feel the need for a romantic partner - I have enough problems dealing with myself.
7 Likes
5 Likes
Thread:
9 Likes
Truth
9 Likes
Thread:
9 Likes
At first, the article leads the reader along, WTFing about why these types of questions, but as one reads further, it becomes clear that there is a very good reason for the questions: to determine the level of benevolent sexism in the ranks of the military.
6 Likes
here’s a video of the space station. Note that there’s no real sense of up or down.
The russian modules are cozier.
It appears to be a tradeoff between having a large hatch that bulk equipment can be moved through.and having a hatch with radius small enough to be peered through by a shorter, still tethered astronaut. The context of what Jessica Meir’s trying to do is unclear,
Could be worse–
3 Likes
What I want to know is: Why does a video featuring Sunita Williams have a thumbnail of Karen Nyberg, when the two were never even on the ISS at the same time?
1 Like