Friday, December 15, 2006

Gender Equality Campaign in Vienna

Found this article in an Australian Paper, and find it a very neat idea, so sharing it here. The concept is to mix up the visual image signs we normally see that picture men and women. For instance, instead of a woman changing a babies diaper, the picture will be alternated with a picture of a man changing the babies diaper. What a great idea for an awareness campaign...the city of Vienna scores a BIG TEN on this one.

Viennese gender equality a sign of the times
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200612/s1813048.htm

A green exit sign shows a woman, rather than a man, running for the door, while a traffic light features another crossing the street, in a new initiative by the City of Vienna to raise awareness about gender equality.

The campaign, launched on Thursday and entitled "Wien sieht's anders" (Vienna sees it differently) is part of the Austrian city's "Gender Mainstreaming" project.

Its aim is to "give both genders the same exposure and ensure an equal distribution of chances, opportunities and duties" by changing the gender of figures pictured on familiar signs, City Hall said in a statement.

"Because it clashes with fixed visual habits, the campaign compels (people) to think, look and act differently," Sonja Wehsely, city councillor in charge of women's affairs, said in the statement.

Thus, signs using male characters will have their female equivalent, while the opposite will also be true.

Female exit signs and pictograms in bathrooms featuring a man, rather than a woman, changing a baby, will be introduced at City Hall to start with, the statement said.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Perfect Example of Where This Blog Wants to Go

Tadween is one of those ideas that will slowly grow as I figure out the direction and road it is meant to travel...one part of where it should go, is finding and featuring blogs of those who are making a difference...today, I found one such blog, and hope you will link to it, and follow the travels of a Peace Corp Volunteer.




An Exchange

The other day a fellow volunteer told me an interesting story that I felt sums up much of our job as Peace Corps Volunteers.

A couple weeks ago she was sitting at the market drinking the local beverage, chouck (I’ve written about it in past entries… I think there is even a picture of me drinking it somewhere in the archives.) A little girl (probably 5 or 6 years old) and her mother were there as well, sitting a few feet away. My friend saw the girl point to her and ask a question to the mother. We are all very used to being talked about and she thought nothing of it.

Again the little girl asked something of the mother and pointed at my friend. This time the mother got up, and slightly sheepishly walked over to where my friend was sitting and asked, “I’m so sorry to bother you, but, my daughter has never touched white skin before. Would you mind if she touched you?” My friend being the good sport she is thought for a second and said, “Sure.”

Saturday, December 2, 2006

To Our Friends Far Away...Boo Has Passed Away

Dinero Boo October 11th, 1995 to December 2nd, 2006

God's speed our furry friend, we will miss you ever so much, but we find solace in knowing you now dance among the stars....angels keep Dinero Boo