College Student: Bar's Restroom Sign Promotes Violence Against Women, Patriarchy

Pundit Press ^ | 2/5/15 | Aurelius

[rightistight]

A University of Saskatchewan student has gotten several bars to take down washroom signs, saying they promote "violence against women" and that the response to her initial concerns was a "very typical misogynistic, patriarchal response."

The sign in question, which was up at a Canadian Brewhouse, is meant to portray a blue, male stick figure looking at a pink, female stick figure. It is meant to be funny and show that men like to look at women.

Not so says Reanne Risdale, who is 29. Instead, she sees the sign as threatening to women, insensitive, and referenced Bill Cosby when explaining why the sign could lead to harassment of women. "That is totally not OK," she explained.

When she went to the manager, according to Risdale, "He said if I don't like the sign, maybe this is not the place for me." She continued, "That is a very typical misogynistic, patriarchal response: I'm being too sensitive. For lack of a better word, I'm being an emotional woman, I should just leave." The manager said he is "baffled" by Risdale's account of her interaction with him.

Regardless, Canadian Brewhouse has removed all of the signs, which were up at several of their bars in Canada. Risdale, according to Canadian Brewhouse's marketing director Karen Paulgaard, was the first person to find the sign offensive.

[Pollster1]

I expected ugly and bitter looking, but I guess she hasn’t reached that phase. Yet. She’s average and bitter looking. The signs were stupid, but the big problem is that she’s too delicate to be out in the scary world without a caretaker.

[sickoflibs]

Shouldn’t this be in Breaking News?

[EveningStar]

Ping for Canada