Sometimes a story comes along that's guaranteed to please everyone and, by please, I mean offend and, by offend, I mean cause you to rant angrily over breakfast about something that you were blissfully unaware of a few moments before.
Introducing Germany's "frauenparkplatz" – which roughly translates as "women-only parking space." Germany introduced them in the 1990s as a way of making women who feared sexual assault feel safer about underground parking. Frauenparkplatz were well-lit and located near busy buildings and streets. Women-only parking spots have since become an accepted part of German automotive life and can also be found in Austria, China and South Korea, but lately they've caused some consternation. USA Today recently reported that if you want a spot that's "bigger, nicer and closer to the terminal" at the Frankfurt Airport, all you have to do is follow "the pink ribbon of paint on the floor marking off the wider-than-average parking spots and the pink parking garage walls that have flower graphics and signage announcing 'Ladies Parking.'"
Frankfurt's new frauenparkplatz ignited a rage-off. Who has the right to be more aggrieved? Men who feel the women-only spaces discriminate against them or women who feel the fact that these pink women-only spaces are larger and easier to use implies that women aren't good at parking? German magazines Stern and Bild questioned the need for such spaces, maintaining that modern parking lots are not dangerous. Geraldine Herbert, editor of Wheels for Women told German English-language newspaper The Local, "All this does is reinforce the stereotype that women are bad at parking."
Faster than you could say "sexistischen schwein," we had reports in the media proclaiming the new naked silhouette artwork for the mannerparkplatz (men-only parking) in the Black Forest town of Triberg. Next to her are the words "Steile berge feuchte taler" – "steep mountains, moist valleys." The town's mayor told Bild that these parking spots are difficult to use and must be reversed into, hence the "male-only" designation. Many were outraged. The mayor, who said it was humour, did not care.
Are women-only parking spaces unfair? Yes, but who cares? What's wrong with throwing a little privilege their way? That's if you call feeling safe in a public space privilege. Parking lots might be safer than in previous decades but they can still be intimidating.
Is a stupid picture of a woman on her back with a crass pun beside it sexist? Yes, but who cares? If a few dudes want to get a chuckle reversing into that space, what's the harm? I suppose you could say it creates a toxic environment. Maybe contributes to the whole not-feeling safe thing. Maybe it would be best to paint over it. Besides, the sexy silhouette is an obvious publicity stunt. A dumb attempt at grabbing headlines (that worked well).
Instead of being outraged, we should consider expanding the gender-only concept. In Japan, female-only trains were introduced as a means for women to avoid unwanted groping. They're also offered in Russia, Brazil and Indonesia.
If we tried them in Canada maybe it would encourage more people to use public transit. I'd also support trains and buses for people I don't want to be around. It's a long list.
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