For many years the cross walking sign in Sweden depicted a man. He was called Herr Gårman. Mr. Walkman in English, but it you say Herr Gårman quickly it also means you walk here in Swedish. But as women also have been known to cross the streets someone (angry feminist perhaps), decided that a Mrs. Walkman sign was what we needed. This started a long debate and in the end the government ordered the Swedish Road Administration to create a new sign. Which they did after talking it over with the Division for Gender Equality. And here is the result. Fru Gårman is her name. The only problem is that the you walk here word play doesn't work any longer.
I took the photo earlier today. We got a few more decimetres of snow overnight.
7 comments:
Interesting Mrs. Walkman story! Looks like you're really getting a lot of snow. I need to shovel our driveway this morning. Once in Ornskoldsvik with relatives, we were drinking blueberry wine and I said, "Jag vill ha mer blabar svin" - they laughed!
I'm all for gender equality but I hate to give up a good pun. This is a good photograph and an interesting tidbit.
Love this photograph! Zounds it looks cold and snowy!
Bureaucrats are always up to their elbows in BIG problems like this. Why the heck didn't they make a sign with both a male and female figure?
We are still not equal :) Great story and wonderful winter spots! Have a nice, white Christmas! Cheers!
I think these sorts of debates are silly.
I hope the dogs don't get into the act and demand an animal crossing the road sign too. Dogs cross streets too, but they don't vote so their petition probably won't get too far. Have a great week.
Silly is a good word to describe this, although I think it's nice that they update the traffic signs every now and then. Good point Jacob.
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