Filling the Gap

Data collection is rarely unbiased, especially if it covers topics of gender (Temin and Roca, 2016). Many societies

do not have enough representation of the needs and rights of women (Criado-Perez,

2019). Whether it is data on how to treat

heart attacks, car-crash dummy reactions or the way smartphones are used - the world is designed for men because the world sees men as the default human. A study done in Romania asked young school children in grades 3-5 to draw a scientist (Thomson et al., 2019). The results

concluded that no matter the gender of the child, they envisioned a white male scientist (Thomson et al.). This is a brief

example of how society depicts men as the default gender for many professions and human experiences. This male bias is built into our everyday lives. Experts need to gain perspectives of minority user groups to provide equitable lifestyles for everyone.

Some of the data needed to fill the gender data gap is already available. Unfortunately, most of the data that does exist is biased towards the experience of men. For example, Spain’s national

urban mobility survey of 2007 categorizes

care work and paid employment trips with a male bias (Madariaga, 2013, p.38).

The data of employment trips are in one category and care work trips into seven categories. To reiterate, men perform more

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Figure 2.2 A family riding the train with a pram (Transport NSW, n.d.).

paid employment trips and women perform more unpaid care work trips. The survey represents this data as a pie chart giving employment trips the visual hierarchy (Madariaga, p.38). If this bias did not exist

and care work was its own category, it would emphasize the importance since

it would be the larger portion of the chart (Figure 2.3). To provide unbiased

data collection, research must properly categorize care work based on published

data from a reliable survey. According to Madariaga (2013), no such survey has

been conducted.

Increasingly, researchers are trying to acknowledge the needs of women but there

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Figure 2.3 Spain’s national urban mobility survey

of 2007 (Ashgate, 2013).

is not enough unbiased published data. Women experience unique challenges,

different from men, in their everyday lives

because they are viewed as lesser than in many cultures and societies (Temin

and Roca, 2016). Researchers have to

start using available technology to collect gender data and females’ experiences

while also collecting data through in-person surveys to minimize technology-based

exclusion (Temin and Roca). Our societies

can do better to understand not only how men and women are different, but why they are different.

There are a few ways researchers can collect data to fill the gender data gap. Studies should be performed online and inperson. Collecting data through technology is much easier due to the internet. Most people have some way of accessing the internet; it could be through their mobile

phone, laptop or local public library (Turner

and Grieco, 2006, p.57). This allows

researchers to develop surveys that can efficiently reach a wide variety of subjects. Additionally, in-person surveys and focus groups are equally as important as online methods because not everyone has access to the internet. If researchers only collected online data, they would be missing part of the user group (Turner and Grieco). The

data would only be benefiting the wealthy;

creating a technology gap in perspective. Having in-person focus groups and doorto-door surveys would allow researchers to get an accurate representation of society (Temin and Roca, 2016). A combination

of these two methods would increase the chances of providing data that benefits everyone.

Either of these methods of collecting data can be used to gain perspective on the experiences of women. This can help experts create equitable transit systems. For example, new data is required to understand an individual’s movements and

needs while performing care work in transit settings (Turner and Grieco, 2006, p.54).

This data can encourage gender inclusivity in transportation and dictate the distribution of essential services (Temin and Roca,

2016).

This survey should contain specific and precise questions that accurately distinguish care work “ trips from leisure and employment trips (Madariaga, 2013, p.38).

It should also collect data on trips that are made on foot within fifteen minutes of walking and trips that are one kilometre or less (Madariaga). Lastly, the survey

should include questions that accurately depict trip-chaining patterns such as the mode of transportation for each segment, each destination and the time for each stop (Madariaga). If researchers can collect

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high-quality data within these guidelines, experts will be equipped to provide services that are inclusive of the needs of care workers. To reduce the male bias that exists in our communities, we have to acknowledge and gain the perspective of women. Researchers and specialists have to start considering the needs of women in all aspects of society.

In terms of public transit, a female’s

experience of childcare work needs to be understood to know how to designate local services. A woman’s perception of

safety needs to be acknowledged through equitable transit design. In general, the way women travel and inhabit cities must be represented through data collection and unbiased design choices. Ultimately, filling the gender data gap is one of the first steps to successfully achieving equitable transit systems.

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