Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez

The Harris Common Read selection for the 2022 academic year is a prize-winning, international bestselling examination of how a gender gap in data perpetuates bias and disadvantages women.

Written by celebrated London-based feminist advocate and campaigner Caroline Criado Perez, Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men explores how data – a key part of Harris Public Policy’s policy toolkit, and an essential aspect used to make any number of policy decisions – can treat men as the default and may bake bias into seemingly gender-neutral decisions. This baked-in bias can have stunning consequences for women in every aspect of their lives.

“An unforgettable exposé into the hidden biases within us all – and therefore within the numbers we use to inform our policy decisions – Invisible Women will be an instructive tool to help the Harris community unpack the types of data used to inform policy and the way we view the world around us,” said Michelle Hoereth, Assistant Dean, Diversity & Inclusion at Harris. “I hope this will start a fruitful discussion on data, evidence, and intentionality, and creating policy that serves the public regardless of gender.”

All returning students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in the Common Read and are invited to discussions that will occur throughout the academic year. An important component of Harris' commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Common Read provides an opportunity for future policymakers to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of people who have been marginalized and explore related policy questions. The Common Read was carefully selected by Harris’ 2022 Orientation Leaders in consultation with the Diversity and Inclusion Office.

E-books will be made available to members of the Harris community. For more information, go to The Common Read.

Past common read books include: 

Caste (2021)

What the Eyes Don't See (2020)

Just Mercy (2019)

The South Side (2018)

High Rise Stories (2017)