Indian businesses are seriously #gendered in their product designs. Everything from furniture to cycles are made for boys and men and women and girls have to adjust. (Thread, add your experiences)

People looking for new business ideas in India, please think about office furniture for Indian women (av. height 5.3 feet. I’m a hopeful 5.0 feet). The chairs are too deep, the back ergonomically rubbish for short people and the tables are too high. My elbows hurt.

Ironically only @ikea has a table that fit my needs in terms of height. Even a researcher friend (height 5.4ft) didn’t like any office tables on offer. Too high. I did mention this over email to @featherlitein but there was no acknowledgement of my feedback. Ignored of course.

Don’t even get me started on cycles for Indian women. I scrounged cycle shops in Bangalore for a cycle for me - height 5.0feet.

All designs are racy, meant for boys/men, meant for fast uneasy rides, for taller people.

women = bright pink in the same design.

I found exactly three cycles. The frame from Firefox was too big for my body size. Also it was an UGLY bright pink. (Shudders)

All ergo-nice bikes for women were from BSA and Atlas (frame too big), w/out gear, because why would girls need speed and gears and expensive bikes?

I had to take a boy-bike (painted half pink and white) because there were NO cycle products for me, an Indian woman in her 30s, who would like a heated bike for a comfy ride to her office or neighbourhood lake.

@bicyclemayorblr

That reminds me, you would think that clothes is one thing that Indian companies get right when it comes to Indian women. That happens only for some Indian punjabi suits/sarees.

No sportswear fits me. T-shirts are too long (they bunch up on my rounded hips).

#productdesign

Even most brands make kurtis shaped for Western women (taller frame, more angular bodies). Yes I’m talking about #MadeInIndia for Indian women. Clothes don’t fit us!!

Then there is the office chair’s height. My feet dangle off the seat. I’ve to keep a stool to make sure the balls of my feet touch the ground (true for other women friends)

It’s too deep. The back pokes me wrong as the head is too high for my frame (again true for others)

And commodes! https://twitter.com/shwetawrites/status/1304662359529549824

Gender assumptions is another thing which pervades Indian products. Why do my sanitary napkins have to smell sickly sweet and come in pink packaging?

Do the people who make this product know that my smell senses are way STRONG during periods and I gag at the fake floral smells? https://twitter.com/shwetawrites/status/1304662361307979776

This is an important point too. I need steps for all shelves in rented homes.

When I was getting interiors done for MY home, I argued with the designer because no one apparently gets that slab and shelf need a particular height. https://twitter.com/Priyeah13/status/1304761065356500992