Gender Equality and Road Signs

Back in January, I wrote that Sweden, ranked as the world's most gender equal society in a recent survey by the World Economic Forum, was considering a ban on all advertising deemed sexist. The ban was rejected on the grounds that it would violate freedom of speech rights.

Now the gender equality issue in Sweden has taken an unexpected twist: road signs. A deadline of October 1st is set for the government's National Road Administration to come up with a new national crosswalk sign that is more gender conscious. The new signs are set to go up next year and feature a female figure, an alternative to the walking man signs at pedestrian crosswalks. Local authorities will decide whether they want to display the traditional sign or the more gender conscious alternative.