Pedestrian traffic lights showing female figures rather than male have been installed in Melbourne to reduce \u201cunconscious bias\u201d and promote gender equality, officials said on International Women\u2019s Day Wednesday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ten stop\/go lights depicting a figure in a dress were switched on at one of the city\u2019s busiest intersections, though some questioned the point of the 12-month trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea behind this equal crossings initiative … is to promote gender equality and reduce unconscious bias through changing some of the iconography we see every day,\u201d Martine Letts from advocacy group The Committee of Melbourne, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.<\/p>\n
The move met with a mixed response, with some poking fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to think of Melbourne\u2019s new traffic lights as little green men in drag,\u201d tweeted Thomas John Jaspers.<\/p>\n
Melbourne Mayor Robert Doyle questioned the value of the initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m all for doing anything we can for gender equity, but really?\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately I think this sort of costly exercise is more likely to bring derision rather than support to what is a very important issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Advocates insist no taxpayer money was spent on the trial.<\/p>\n
Victoria state\u2019s Minister for Women Fiona Richardson threw her support behind the gender-adjusted lights, saying they would help to tackle sexism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many small \u2014 but symbolically significant \u2014 ways that women are excluded from public space,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA culture of sexism is made up of very small issues, like how the default pedestrian crossings use a male figure, and large issues such as the rate of family violence facing women.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a government working towards gender equality for all women,\u201d she added.\u2014AFP<\/p>\n
Image: AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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