Spanish Oddities
Sexist signs being changed in Fuenlabrada, Madrid
By h.b.
Nov 10, 2006 - 9:52 AM

The Madrid dormitory town of Fuenlabrada is doing its bit for equality between the sexes. Following the Prime Minister’s lead in selecting a cabinet that is half female, the town has decreed that half of all the signs on the town’s pelican crossings be changed to feature female attributes, such as skirts or ponytails.

The idea is the brainchild of Rosalina Guijarro, the local councillor in charge of safety. She said the change does away with the previously sexist traffic signs where only men appear.

The change will no doubt remind male pedestrians in the town that under the civil marriage clauses currently in force in Spain, they have to do their share of the housework and cleaning.