Why do women need gender-specific hip protectors?

Women's pelvises are wider than men's, which positions the greater trochanters (the bony prominences that hip protectors must cover) further apart. Unisex and men's protectors often place pads too close together for female anatomy, meaning the pads sit on the outer thigh rather than over the hip joint where fractures occur. Women's-specific models adjust pad spacing and hip-to-waist ratios for correct pad placement on the female body. Incorrect pad placement renders the protector ineffective regardless of its certification level.