Writer, Photographer,

Well, the inspiration for this random little project came when we landed in the London, Heathrow airport the first time and I happened to notice the sign for the ladies room. It cracked me up! I started thinking about how differences in women (or the perceptions of women) could really vary from place to place, and how I could maybe document these differences as we traveled around.

I was not disappointed. Behold: women of the world!

Let’s start with England. It would seem that British women are inherently bottom-heavy and everybody knows it. Or perhaps they are all just really big fans of Marilyn Monroe and that wind-blown skirt thing has found its way into their signage. Either way very entertaining, even though the woman on this sign has no arms.

This next one was taken at the train station in Madrid, Spain. I notice an emphasis on being hour-glassy in terms of figure. Looks kinda like a marshmallow peep with two popsicle sticks for legs. Mmmmm….peeps…  Anyway, again with the no-arms thing. What’s up, England and Spain? Do you find your women to be incapable or perhaps double amputees?

Next up is France. I think this one came from either a metro station or a train station. Either way, what’s up with the singular pogo-stick leg? The guy in the sign clearly has two legs of his very own and presumably does not have to suffer the indignity of hopping along on the streets. At least France is somewhat redeemed by the miraculous reappearance of arms. Although, I do feel like the woman in this sign should be holding a cigarette or something, just for accuracy’s sake.

Now Prague…what a sign! I found this gem in an authentic Czech restaurant we had lunch in one day. I feel like this sign could very well represent an entire country of willowy ballerinas. I was pretty intimidated just standing there. Also, she’s got arms! Just look at her: strong, capable, graceful, and with no pogo leg. 5 stars for you, Prague! 

Last, my favorite: Italy. More specifically, from the airport in Rome. Now, I saw my fair share of nuns while we were in Italy, so I’m inclined to think this sign is more of a nod to them rather than a suggestion that women should be somehow partially invisible or topless. Or maybe you’re supposed to put a tv screen on there like in Teletubbies. Either way, the stance of this thing is great. No primness or pogo leg here…no top-heaviness or bottom-heaviness or questionable skirt modesty. Just a hearty, non-dainty, pure and simple futuristic robot nun. Plus, I thought the blue on silver gave it a snazzy touch.

So what did I learn? Women should probably have two arms, two legs, and be completely visible in order to function. Get on board, world (except Prague, whose sign seems pretty great to me)! And fair’s fair, I might as well critique the sign of the good old US of A and see how we stack up against the competition.

Not bad, right? All limbs are present and accounted for, and she looks pretty broad-shoulder, dignified, and modest. Not like she’s about to belch in public or go to bed without brushing her teeth or sue someone on Judge Judy for misrepresentation in an ebay ad. In short, not a spectacularly accurate representation, but at least we’ve got braille! So proud to be an American!

 

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