Sexist Signage

Carmel · Post by **Carmel** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 2:54 pm

Is it me or is it everyone else? I'm struggling with this one and need your comments/help!

I work for a building company, same company for 18 years now - we have had a complaint from one of our clients that an offensive sign was put up by one of our site managers. The signage said:

'Caution - Men hanging doors'

We immediately got called up - panic, panic, big who hah all over the place - clients says no work until you take that offensive sign down.

Since when is a sign now sexist? These signs saying 'men at work', 'men working overhead' etc are being sold by signage companies!!!

Am i missing something here!

PaddyT · Post by **PaddyT** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:14 pm

Seems to me like a clear case of someone who is desperate to find offense somewhere.

Post by **Alexis** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:16 pm

Hi Carmel. I think your client has seen these "fun" signs on a certain E across the bay place and knows that they are bought for amusement and therefore not official caution signage.

As they are not "officially correct" signs and being deemed un-professional by one of your clients, then surely this must be removed and a more "correct" sign put in its place.

I don't see it as being sexist, just bad taste perhaps?

witsd · Post by **witsd** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:20 pm

If it's not to the client's liking, and it's not 'official' signage, then just remove it and move on.

There's really no need to make a fuss or state debates about sexism, offence and all that.

Carmel · Post by **Carmel** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:30 pm

Yes obviously the signage has been removed and i agree there was no need to make such a big thing about it. We are not unapproachable or confrontational so why not just be nice to each other and communicate without a huge fuss!

Post by **Alexis** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:34 pm

Carmel wrote: ↑Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:30 pm why not just be nice to each other and communicate without a huge fuss!

Hear-hear!

Dare I say it...........was the fuss initiated by a species of the feminine kind!

Post by **bernicarey** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:48 pm

Were there actually persons, of any gender, hanging doors anywhere in the area?
Was it factual signage?

Quite frankly, I'd have asked what their preferred wording was...

If this was some attempt to be 'PC' about signage, I'd have then probably walked away before they got both verbal barrels about being so Chuffing childish.

Essex · Post by **Essex** » Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:37 pm

If men were actually hanging doors I really do not know what the problem is.

Carmel · Post by **Carmel** » Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:46 pm

Lol, exactly that!

Messy · Post by **Messy** » Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:53 pm

It's a sign of the times I am afraid!

If you think that is a PC minefield, I regularly meet with an employee's 'Ability Action Group' and it's very dangerous

Getting the semantics wrong it that meeting, or veering towards anything that is not PC is like walking through a minefield blindfolded and wearing clown's shoes! You will get caught out eventually

Using the word 'disabled' can leave you cast out like a leper (indeed, using that phrase that might get me sacked) and using gender specific language like 'Fireman' or 'manhole cover' would get you treated the same as if you took a KFC bargain bucket into a vegan convention!!

Post by **Alexis** » Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:45 am

Messy wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:53 pm and using gender specific language like 'Fireman' or 'manhole cover' would get you treated the same as if you took a KFC bargain bucket into a vegan convention!!

witsd · Post by **witsd** » Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:41 am

It's just silly, and it does nothing to actually help the equality movement – if anything, it holds it back, much as the application of 'elf n safety' alienates many workers from taking the real stuff seriously.