In the documentary Reference Man, award-winning journalist Sophie Frankenmolen investigates the 'standard man' our world is designed around. This Reference Man shapes nearly everything, with profound consequences for women's health and beyond.
Reference Man (NPO Start, 2022)
Our world is calibrated, tested, and built around a 'standard human' – a white man about 1.75 meters tall and weighing roughly 80 kilograms. This is Reference Man, a flawed benchmark that can prove life-threatening. In her insightful four-part series, Frankenmolen uncovers its impacts: women, for example, face nearly 50% higher risk of serious car crash injuries because dummies are modeled on the 'standard man.' The effects ripple into medicine and more.
The Norm in 'Neutral' Spaces
"I never expected Reference Man to lurk in so many places. He's the unspoken norm in areas I assumed were neutral, like medicine or the cars we drive. Each episode features experts and those with lived experience explaining his hidden influence – and the risks if you don't match him. Reference Man stands in for everyone, and that's simply wrong," says Frankenmolen.
Every episode tackles a unique theme, starting with medicine, where far less is known about the female body than the male. This leads 'standard' drugs to affect women differently. Reference Man also dominates technology, daily life, and workplaces – often at the expense of anyone who deviates from the norm.
