DESIGNING CHANGE
Ever wonder why things often don’t seem catered to women? It’s up to us to make the changes we want to see for a more equal future
When you stop to think about it, it’s amazing how many everyday things are still designed for a male experience. Want a few examples? Seatbelts are tested on mannequins with flat chests and higher mass. Office air conditioning is generally set for the metabolic rate of a 40-yearold, 70kg man. Military equipment, CPR dummies, power tools, even the top shelves in supermarkets – so much of our world is made, by default or tradition rather than intentional exclusion, to cater for men. And that’s just the small stuff. In business, politics, health and many other sectors, we’re still largely living in a world that doesn’t quite fit us correctly.
Once you’re aware of this imbalance, you’ll start to notice it everywhere. But this also means things can change for the better. When women have a voice, are aware of biases that exist and feel represented, it goes a long way to start fixing systemic issues. This year sees the highest proportion of women ever in Australian parliament, showing that the more of us who show up and speak up, the better off we all are.
Businesses also have a responsibility to stand for gender equality, both socially and economically. And there’s plenty of room to do so. Take Australia’s car insurance industry, which is traditionally a male-dominated category that hasn’t taken into account the fact that Australian women are statistically safer drivers, making fewer claims at a lower cost than men.
Stella Insurance was specifically created to challenge this industry status quo, leading change in a way that’s purposedriven, centres women and demonstrates a practical way of improving things.
Stella’s offering puts women’s needs and lifestyles at the heart of their policies. Specific examples include additional cover for baby capsules and child safety seats, as well as waiving any excess to an insurance claim for damage arising from domestic violence.
There’s plenty of work to be done across the board and across the globe, and Stella’s example shows how disrupting the systems we so often take for granted can ensure a more equitable future for everyone. Let’s get behind the wheel.
“One of the challenges of building Stella has been making sure that the brand was truly understood as a pro-woman and not an anti-man endeavour. By putting women at the centre of everything we do, we want to help balance the gender equalities that exist for women in insurance, with a broader ambition for a more equitable world beyond just insurance. It won’t change the world overnight, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.”