Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • The European Super League is announced
    • REVIEW: An Evening with Sally Wainwright
    • Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature
    • REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford
    • Podcasts Prevail During Lockdown
    • 10 Ways to Improve Your Revision
    • REVIEW: Beauty Subscription Boxes
    • Managing Your Mental Health in Lockdown
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021

      FCA warning : Young Investors at Risk

      April 5, 2021

      What?! Bangor University burned down two weeks ago?!

      April 1, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      REVIEW: An Evening with Sally Wainwright

      April 18, 2021

      Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature

      April 17, 2021

      REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford

      April 17, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      10 Ways to Improve Your Revision

      April 16, 2021

      REVIEW: Beauty Subscription Boxes

      April 16, 2021

      Managing Your Mental Health in Lockdown

      April 16, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

      April 15, 2021

      #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance

      April 8, 2021

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      March 23, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Discovery»Science»Dangerous by design: when the ‘average man’ isn’t good enough
    Science

    Dangerous by design: when the ‘average man’ isn’t good enough

    Fergus ElliottBy Fergus ElliottDecember 10, 2019Updated:December 6, 2019No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Seatbelts, body armour, crash test dummies and even spacesuits; recently it has been realised just how dangerous these things can be to many people. Why? They’re designed around traditionally male bodies, leaving women’s health at risk.

    For example, a recent paper focusing on body armour for female troops in the US army found that the ill-fitting protection encumbers movement, is uncomfortable to wear, and even leaves gaps which enemies can grab onto in hand-to-hand combat. The issue in designing new armour lies in the curves in the plates needed to better fit female troops. Lt. Col. Fran Lozano explained to the Christian Science Monitor that the more curves there are in the plates, the heavier they must be, as well as decreasing their protective qualities. Work is apparently being carried out to investigate new compounds which would offer the right mix of properties.

    NASA has similarly announced new spacesuit designs that overcome the problem they were having with size. In the past, spacewalks from the ISS had to be cancelled due to there not being enough small size spacesuits for the female astronauts. The new suits are intended to be universal, with just some modification of padding needed to adapt them to astronauts of all sizes. This will be invaluable as NASA begins its push for more manned missions, first to the Moon and then to Mars. As well as offering a better fit, the suits come with other improvements such as improved mobility, allowing astronauts to lift objects (quite useful), and easier embarking/disembarking.

    These issues extend into everyday lives. With many safety products relying on data gathered from years ago, a gender data-gap has opened up. Even things like standards for office temperatures have been based on the average temperature of males, leaving young women (with a lower metabolic rate) in offices up to 5°C too cold. Crash test dummies based on the female body have only been used in the US since 2011. In the EU, there is one test where a female dummy is required to be used, but the dummy is only tested in the passenger seat. This leads to design choices which not only don’t do enough to protect women in case of an accident but can actively cause harm; women are 17% more likely to be killed in a car crash.

    It is clear what is needed: more data. Regulatory bodies should ensure that both men and women are accounted for during tests, giving designers and engineers a better understanding of how their designs will affect all of the people using them, not just half.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Fergus Elliott

    Science Editor | 19-20

    Related Posts

    How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

    April 15, 2021

    #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance

    April 8, 2021

    Bangor scientists breed the extinct Welsh dragon

    April 1, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Related/Similar Articles
    • International Women’s Day: Celebrating Female Leads…
      International Women’s Day: Celebrating Female Leads on TV and Women’s History Month
      March 7, 2021
    • Bangor University Feminist Society
      Bangor University Feminist Society
      March 30, 2021
    • Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman…
      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place
      March 23, 2021
    • Zines: a creative benefit for your mental health
      Zines: a creative benefit for your mental health
      February 28, 2021
    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.