What Russian feminists actually want

The world is often designed around men’s needs and bodies, forcing women to adapt. This manifests in unequal distribution of unpaid domestic labor, urban and product design that overlooks female users, and biases in medical research and car safety. Feminism’s true goal is to create a world that functions equitably for both genders, rather than proving women can do everything men can.

• Women perform approximately three-quarters of unpaid domestic work globally, impacting career progression.
• Cities and public spaces are often designed without considering women with baby carriages, highlighting a lack of female perspective in planning.
• Vehicle safety systems and crash test dummies have historically been based on male physiology, potentially increasing risks for women.
• Medical research and drug testing have often sidelined women due to hormonal complexities, leading to treatments not fully optimized for female bodies.
• Symptoms of conditions like heart attacks can differ between sexes, and medical education sometimes presents female physiology as a deviation from the norm.
• Workplace uniforms and protective gear are frequently made to men’s measurements, hindering women’s effectiveness and safety.
• The core of feminism is advocating for a world designed for both men and women, not just proving women’s capabilities.