Comments on: Family Portrayal

By: Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms » Blog Archive » Icons, Images, and Invisibility

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:06:15 +0000

[...] I wrote a few weeks ago about finding a family bathroom sign that portrayed an opposite-sex couple, and wondered if there were a more inclusive way to draw it. Some commenters agreed that such icons could be more inclusive, though several were resigned to the fact that while the sign may not be accurate for everyone, it’s easily understood. Others interpreted the sign loosely, as indicating “members of the opposite sex can enter together.” (Thanks, Roger.) One assumed I was arguing for a literal interpretation, and said sarcastically, “I for one am offended by these signs. My legs are more proportionate to the rest of my body than these signs are depicting.” [...]

By: Reason #1, perhaps, why straight mums might envy the bejesus out of us? at LesbianDad

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:25:33 +0000

[...] Which leads us, in closing, to D at Mombian, who stirred up an interesting conversation about bathroom signage following her own summer perigrinations. Seems like we still have a ways to go, even after the kids are able to go on their own. [...]

By: David

David — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:53:35 +0000

I for one am offended by these signs. My legs are more proportionate to the rest of my body than these signs are depicting. This is really concerning to me because fashion designers might happen upon these signs and think that all people are built this way and begin designing pants that will no longer fit us “proportionates”. Will I be forced to wear one of the very pointy and angular skirt/dress that short and tall transvestites/women that are being depicted are wearing? Or do you think that the same fashion designer will have enough forethought to correct that design as well? But what if the fashion designer is Gucci or Donatella Versace and they begin charging too much money for these designs and the people in the signs can no longer afford the clothing that they are being forced to wear? Will they be fired from their jobs as gender depictionists because of their social and economic status? Will these signs suddenly become blank because the stick figures were let go? What message will this send to our children? Will they all grow up being snobs? Will they all shed the clothing that was purchased for them to defend the stick figures? Will they begin to revolt and no longer use restrooms and begin urinating in public to stand up for the rights of the stick figure? Will they seek out plastic surgeons to get their legs shrunk and there torso’s lengthened? Will they get boobectomies to mimic the women figures? Will little boys and girls learn that they are only allowed to stand next to similarly clothed persons? Will they learn that in public that they must stand “male to male to female to female” and that little girls can not stand next to dad (assuming that the guy being depicted is dad and not Pedro the pool boy). And how do we know that is really mom? She kind of looks like the neighbors hot college age daughter to me; what will that teach our children?

Just kidding, this really won’t happen and it really is not concerning to me; after all, these are only signs pointing people were they can go to change diapers and freshen up as a family. What really makes me angry are the signs that “warns” of black people crossing the street ahead; the government has brainwashed us in to thinking that they are “pedestrian crossing” signs…

By: Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms » Blog Archive » New “Friends for Families” Networking Site Wants LGBT Feedback

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 01:32:35 +0000

[...] If you look at Friends for Families’ logo, however, you’ll notice it’s composed of two opposite-sex couples. I was thus going to write about how this is yet another example of “family” representations ignoring same-sex families, like the bathroom sign I wrote about last month. [...]

By: Uncle Roger

Uncle Roger — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:20:11 +0000

The Target in Tanforan has a unisex -- it actually says that -- bathroom (in addition to the traditional men's and women's. The icons showed a male and female figure along with the wheelchair icon. Unfortunately, according to the icons, children aren't allowed. 8^) P.S., take a look at this if you get a chance.

By: Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms » Blog Archive » LGBT Diversity on Television

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:58:50 +0000

[...] Clearly, the networks need to do more to represent the true diversity of our country. The cable networks, while somewhat better, also have room to improve (but should be wary of shoving all “diversity” programming into niche-specific networks like Logo). I may have half in jest pondered whether a certain bathroom sign should be changed to be more inclusive of LGBT families—but the fact is, representations matter. They help us feel like an accepted part of the broader culture. They help expose the broader culture to us. Granted, there are vast differences between TV and reality. My life is nothing like that of Bette on The L Word. But someone who’s seen positive LGBT (or black, or Hispanic, or . . .) characters on TV at least has a starting place from which to build further awareness. [...]

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:47:50 +0000

Iconography is both really useful and a curse. Iconography in computer programmes for example is getting out of control and making things less efficient and easy to use.

However, the family bathroom pictured above does kinda drive me nuts. What would be wrong with just showing an adult with a child? Does the WHOLE family need to go in there? Nope, those bathrooms are for any adult accompanied by one or more children.(With an exception of course for a mom if she needs to pump because baby is at home without her, but I can’t imagine that comes up much)

The other one that annoys me is the baby bottle. A lot of family rooms up here have a baby bottle icon on them. Which is hilarious because they are mostly for BREASTFEEDING moms, formula feeding moms do not generally go hide when they are feeding baby. I am sure formula feeding moms appreciate a comfy chair as much as the next person. And I know they run hot water over bottles to heat up formula and that in a pinch you could use the hand soap to wash a bottle if it were to get dirty.

Where is my breastfeeding icon? And if I see one more kids alphabet that says B is for bottle I am gonna scream. There are lots of fun words that start with B. Things that all children know, things like balls, books, baby, balloon, bear.

By: SteveS

SteveS — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 05:22:05 +0000

My thought is that, while I certainly wouldn’t mind a sign change, nationwide we aren’t going to see it.

There are too many husband/wife family arrangements, and the icons really are for people who can’t read. It’s recognizable. Whether it fits your, mine, or any alternative family, we still know what it is. Any other arrangement, and WE could probably figure it out, but 90% of the population would go into immediate chaos and have severe bathroom problems. You know it’s true.

And assuming there are even 4 million gay families across the country (probably more) we would be wanting to change hundreds of millions of bathroom signs. There must be several thousand bathroom signs in each city? A thousand cities or more per state?

It’s a losing battle, that’s my thought, although I wouldn’t mind some generic icons. Stick figures are generic and we could show two big stick figures and some little ones. Will it happen? No. And quite frankly I’m afraid now that if we continue this line of thought, some Republican will introduce the Defense of Family Bathroom Signs Act. You think I’m kidding, but after these last few years, unfortunately I’m serious.

I’m giving up on this battle (generic family representation, in all aspects of life), Kristin still wants me to play the mommy when we play. She’s never had a mom, and when I play one for her, I do exactly what I do each and every day so she can see there is no difference between me and a mom, but still it is so prevalent.

Her play families (with her dolls) always have a mommy and a daddy, in spite of the fact that her exposure to that environment has been fairly limited. She’s met the moms of some classmates at school or at the park, but she’s never really seen a male/female family together nor had a sleepover at a friends house with an arrangement like that where she can see first hand. Nothing except some tv shows like Calliou or Fairly Odd Parents where they have a mom and dad.

Yet still, every family she ‘creates’ is always mom/dad, never two dads.

*shrugging* It would drive me nuts if I didn’t just let that go. But that’s her and me.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 19:08:22 +0000

I think that icons are very useful — not everyone can read, not everyone who can read can read the dominant language. I often bristle at the dress-for-woman icon, but it is a well understood icon, and I think the notion that I need big breasts to be a woman might offend me more! I would look at this one as a depiction of all those who are allowed in the bathroom, rather than a depiction of an ideal family. All possible configurations (and you didn’t even mention grand-parent headed families!) would require a mural!

And I *love * the family bathrooms! They rock! I use them when available even when my daughter and I are alone because they are much safer (she can’t escape me).

And Liberty fans here too!

By: D

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:37:08 +0000

Oh, it’s entirely possible I’m thinking too much. Post-vacation brain. That’s why I asked whether we should change the sign or if this should be one case where we go with the majority representation. I wanted to get readers’ input, though, since I suspect different folks have different views on the matter, and different solutions that make sense to them.

You make a good point, though, that perhaps we should rethink all bathroom signage, especially because of family and trans issues.

Glad you like the blog, and thanks for adding to the discussion.