TopicAwarenessDesignParticipation cultureTransport patterns & user needs
The idea
Adapted and branded as a pun between pink and corner, the idea is to design a special waiting area for women within the public transportation system (bus/ train/ metro/ tram stations and terminals). As pink colour is already associated with feminity, the proposed campaign goes beyond this concept, raising awareness through visual graphics (written messages) in key locations in a community.
Example: 4 out of 8 waiting sits within a bus station can be transformed into 4 pink ones, having the following messages highlighted in blue letters on a pink background:
the pinKorner
A place to pay HER respect.
Or Show HER your RESPECT.Give/let her this place.
Or REServed for RESst and RESpect.
etc.
A campaign to promote equality in transport powered by TInnGO
The place(s) to apply it
In every city of each TInnGo partner, all over Europe.
The cost
The proposal implies costs for the design of the concept, for printing the stickers for each identified site and for the pink chairs/bench etc.
An interesting idea but it brings up some issues. There are currently some campaigns against gender stereotyping with colour (e.g. why are girls toys/clothes pink and boys blue?) - this gender stereotyping makes no allowance for individual choice and is not diversity sensitive - there is plenty of research to support a move away from this. It worries me that in this design idea women need to be 'segregated' on special seats to have respect - the segregation itself could be humiliating. There are (or were) certainly 'ladies waiting rooms' on some railway stations in the UK, (traditionally) but I wonder if they are now being rebranded simply for anyone. However, I think the idea of a 'quiet place' at transport waiting areas, is a good one that could be used by anyone needing to feel private or safe, older people, vulnerable people, people feeling unwell, depressed or tired, parent with a baby, for example.
Thank you for raising this idea. The concept of safe spaces in public transport systems is definitely one that requires further discussion and design solutions, however labelling them as pink spaces perpetuates stereotypes and would not be an acceptable feature in many countries. I would would also suggest that solutions developed for this is idea incorporate an intersectional approach, i.e., what about elderly people, both men and women? They may also need a safe seated space.
Is the pink necessary to spread the message of respect? Is this only going to be targeted towards cisgendered women, or can it be adapted to include all genders (ie: non binary, agender, transgender, etc...)?
Why do people not respect women and other groups in their everyday lives? (is it a lack of understanding, or are there other resasons?) Answering that may bring us closer to understanding how to change people's behaviors towards those groups.
How are we going to encourage respect to be followed through after people leave the PinKorner? I imagine the PinKorner is only a starting point for women to be treated with respect, and hopefully the respect that is given to women there, can be shown everywhere, at all time.
In general, I love diversification of sitting areas so I think it`s a great idea. One size does not fit all! My question: what are the other (apart from the pink colour) distinctive features of the female area (in terms of design)?
3 years ago