It may be 2015, but regressive attitudes concerning women in society continue to thrive. Some people say that a woman cannot be President of the United States. Others think that women in STEM fields cannot reach senior positions because they can’t do the job. Some individuals believe that women cannot helm successful superhero movies. “Gotta be male to be a priest” according to the Mormon Church and the Catholic Church. “Women in combat units is a bad thing” in the eyes of some people. There are those who think women shouldn’t be MMA fighters, sit on juries, or be able to vote. On and on it goes. It’s unfortunate that so many people feel that women are not capable or not qualified to perform a job or task by virtue of their sex. These negative beliefs and assumptions about women are pervasive and influence women and men. While there are numerous ways to battle gender stereotypes, software developer Axosoft has a novel approach:
Software developer Axosoft is making us rethink that iconic feminine image used to designate women’s restrooms. Their “It Was Never A Dress” campaign reimagines the bathroom icon wearing a cape and pants, instead of a boxy triangular dress. The official website states:
“It Was Never a Dress is an invitation to shift perceptions and assumptions about women and the audacious, sensitive, and powerful gestures they make every single day. In science, technology, arts, mathematics, politics, houses of worship, on the streets, and in our homes, insightful women are often uninvited, overlooked, or just plain dismissed.“
Having reached 8.5 million Twitter users and receiving coverage from CNN, Time, the Huffington Post, the New York Times, and Today, the gender stereotype-challenging initiative created by Axosoft employees Tania Katan and Sara Breeding looks to be a hit. The campaign’s site is currently soliciting stories, ideas, and images about the reality of being a woman so if you have something to say, head on over there and help disrupt the patriarchal narrative about the role of women in society.
