I was working in Brussels this week running a development programme for HR professionals. In the car park of the building I spotted this sign on the wall.
The car park was dark with a low roof and it appeared that parking spaces were reserved for women close to the exits as a consequence.
What do you think of this - common sense or men get mugged too - it's discrimination!?
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Parking designated for women - Discrimination or just common sense?
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11 comments:
install lights? Did the CEO have a parking space?
PS having worked in a place where there were several rapes (of women), I was particularly annoyed just to be told to walk in lit areas. I wondered what would have happened if a guy had been raped.
What about transgender/transexual employees?
This strikes me as very odd. I've never seen or heard of parking spots reserved for women only. I have heard of shopping malls having "expectant mother parking" (spaces near the store entrance similar to disabled persons parking spaces).
Unless these spaces have been placed in the lot in response to criminal activity specifically targeting women, I think they are unnecessary. Even if they have been placed due to a rise in crimes against women, I think there are other more effective options (increase security, lighting, install emergency phones & alarms, coordinate a "buddy system" for those working late, etc).
With summer going, fall coming and a Minnesota winter right around the corner . . .discrimination, schmimination, I will take one of these mid January :)
Scott, seems like everyone - men and women need to feel a measure of safety when they leave a building. Thanks for bringing this out.
Dear Scott,
Guru had the misfortune to stay at the inappropriately named Quality Hotel in Welwyn last month.
The fire alarm went off twice between 3am and 4am, resulting in a lengthy evacuation.
While standing outside in the middle of the night in his Y-fronts, waiting for the Fire Brigade to give the all-clear, Guru noticed that the three car park spaces nearest the door were reserved for women.
But interestingly, although there were many women staying at the hotel (also by now standing outside in their nightwear), and although the hotel location was less than salubrious, none of the special 'lady-spaces' had been taken.
What does that tell you?
I'd say this is relative. In a culture with relatively fewer women in the workforce I see no problem with that. Women have only begun joining the rat race and it's high time more were attracted into the corporate world. Geert Hofstede talks of tough-tender cultures. A reading of his work would add support to my comment.
It would be interesting to know the reason behind this for that particular place...maybe you could find out Scott? I am intrigued. maybe we have all jumped to the wrong conclusion - though I am not sure what the alternative reason might be. In general I would have thought that an employer (or hotel as in Guru's case) should make parking areas as safe as possible for all employees (guests). In Scotland a parking space at work for anybody is a rarity though so what would I know?
Scott, if you are that worried about getting mugged at work then i'm sure you can park in those spaces without getting caught. Surely there is not a 'woman parking permit', and I doubt you are going to be sent to jail for the offence. Lighten up... it will just be to keep a few individuals happy, i'm sure they meant no harm!
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