The Differences between
WOmen and Men
Women are not just smaller versions of men but are physically and structurally different. Can you spot the differences between an average man and women?*
​
The differences between men and women mean that PPE designed based on men do not properly fit women. This impacts a wide range of PPE:
​
-
Shoes: Women have shorter and narrower feet
​​
-
Helmets, hats, face masks, respirators, eyewear: Women have a smaller head circumference
​
-
Gloves: Women have smaller hands and narrower fingers
​​
-
Jackets, vests, coveralls: Women have narrower shoulders and wider hips
​​
-
Ear protection: Women have smaller ear canals
​
​
​
​
One reason for these differences can be explained by skeletal differences.​
​
*Created using data from the ANSUR II study
Available at: http://tools.openlab.psu.edu/publicData/ANSURII-TR15-007.pdf
-
Your skeleton has many functions from support to protection and acts as your own personal form of PPE:
​
-
Ribcage: protects the heart and lungs
​
-
Pelvis: protects the bladder (and uterus in females)
​
-
Skull: protects the brain
​
​
Explore below to see the skeletal differences between men and women and the different anatomy that they protect
Skeletal Differences
Female Pelvis​
Male Pelvis​
-
Wider
-
Shorter
-
Large pubic arch angle (red arrow)
-
Protects the bladder and uterus
-
Narrower
-
Taller
-
Small pubic arch angle (red arrow)
-
Protects the bladder
Female Skull​
Male Skull​
-
Vertical forehead
-
Smaller mastoid process
-
Pointy chin
-
More angled jaw
-
Protects the brain
-
Sloping forehead
-
Larger mastoid process
-
Square chin
-
Less angled jaw
-
Protects the brain