NEWS this week of carparks painted pink for women had me giggling like the powerless little lady the masterminds behind this idea must think I am.
The carpark trial, instigated by the City of Perth for female drivers, has seen 28 parking bays painted pink, with signs imploring men to “kindly reserve this bay for female drivers”.
The bays are nearest to the pay stations and on the ground floor; the idea being that defenceless women won’t have far to walk to get to the safety of their vehicles.
By 7am yesterday they were filled with tradies’ utes.
But that’s beside the point.
The fact that someone thought this was a great way to keep women safe is mind-boggling.
I mean yes, a tin of fuschia paint is a whole lot cheaper than putting plans in place to oh, I don’t know, combat crime/make the city safer/help the homeless/teach violent thugs to keep their hands to themselves, but honestly, why not add a few ribbons and bows?
Doesn’t every woman love a pretty pink frill? Especially on their parking bay?
This level of condescension would be funny if it wasn’t so ubiquitous.
Pretty much from birth we are conditioned: pink is for girls, blue is for boys.
Girls are allowed to cry and need help; boys need to be brave and strong.
Whoever came up with this idea must be stunned women even drive and – god forbid, work - these days.
They obviously don’t think it’s common.
Of the hundreds of car bays available, just 28 are painted pink.
The rest of us are in the kitchen, basting the lamb roast for dinner and making sure our hair is set for when our men come home after a hard day at the office.
We are preparing their slippers and pipe, and have spent the day vacuuming in high heels.
There are very few things which shock me these days.
But pink carparks?
They’ve got me seeing red.
