Votes for Women in This German Town
If you ever thought the days of chivalry and “women and children first” were over, you just have to see something we spotted.
On one of my first visits to Germany, Martin and I were visiting a small tourist town where some of his family friends lived. I spotted this sign and couldn’t believe it:
The best parking spots were reserved for women and people with kids! Why don’t we have this everywhere? It could make things so much simpler for young families and women who must return unaccompanied to their cars after dark.
Does the government or the people in your community reach out to make life a little easier for one another? I certainly love a good day of people holding open doors for each other and letting someone else go first at the checkout, don’t you? This town just takes the cake.
October 16th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Wow that is just awesome – love those pictures Katie! Our government surely doesn’t do that – we don’t even have national maternity leave! Ouch! Our local grocery store does designate several spaces up front to people traveling with kids, but more often than not people without kids take these spots – getting on my last nerve! argh!
October 16th, 2009 at 6:01 am
This would never *fly* in the US, where being politically correct takes precedence over common sense or simple courtesy.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:27 am
We have this here in Maryland!
I was surprised the first time I saw it here, too. Most of the major grocery stores in my area have a section right by the door, parallel to the handicap spots, for moms and pregnant ladies. Ikea, European company of course, also has a nice section outside their front door. Hope this idea spreads to other parts of the US soon!
October 16th, 2009 at 8:00 am
I’ve seen this at IKEA, but for families – not specifically women. Some places take the whole ‘specialized parking’ a bit too far though – like Seoul designating parking spaces for women in high heels. Here’s a link: http://smaknews.com/Need-to-Know/south-korea-paints-parking-spaces-pink-for-women-in-high-heels/
October 16th, 2009 at 8:24 am
We have them, like Cathryn said, all over Maryland for a few years now! It is a pretty great idea!
October 16th, 2009 at 8:32 am
:o)
October 16th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I do rather think that ‘families with small children’ would be more appropriate than ‘women’
Dad doesn’t want to drag babies across a cold parking lot either!
My thought with women is that I imagine most locations have a lot (even a majority!) of female customers, so unless you make half the parking lot reserved spaces it wouldn’t help many people.
Wait, ‘und personen mit kinderwagen’ probably translates to ‘and people with baby strollers’ doesn’t it? So I guess they thought of that. Woo for cognates! My grandmother would be proud.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Our Best Buy has ONE space reserved for expecting mothers or women with small children. We like using it, but I’m sure it isn’t enforced and is often taken advantage of.
October 16th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Yes, I love it! i appreciate the ‘women’ spaces for when I return home late/after dark, and the “kinderwagon’ spaces for when either my husband and I are with the stroller. Very considerate. I agree, though, this may cause a uproar in the States as not being PC enough but glad Maryland is so thoughful! Laura in ludwigsburg
October 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I saw this in the Ukrops grocery store parking lot where I live, for moms with children. I don’t think in this day and time that it is needed just for women. Morals and manners are not taught much anymore and women are equal with men, so it should also read men with small children also. I have a son and I want fairness for him also.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Yup, lots of malls/larger stores have spaces for expectant mothers or those with small children here in Michigan. Nice idea, imo.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I love this! I remember when I was pregnant and shopping at Babies R Us, they had special parking for expecting moms. I’ve wished for special parking for moms w/little ones many times over when shopping.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I’ve seen them in a few places in the US (mostly large malls), but they are everywhere here in HD. Baden-Wurttemburg is very family friendly in regards to parking.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
well, I’ve seen the same in Britain last summer, in a huge parking place in front a huge supermarket,
the first parking spaces were for “families with kids and prams”.
I thought it was kind and consideriate!
October 19th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
My gosh – you all have me thinking! Would parking spaces like these be available for women in the US without an uproar? Especially in dark areas not within sight of anything else (like this area)? Hmmm…
Katie
October 21st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
We have this is Texas too. Most grocery stores like Kroger and Tom Thumb have special parking near the store for pregnant women or women with small kids. So does the Ikea store here.