Yesterday, Swedish Radio reported on a Social Democratic initiative for so-called ‘gender-equal street names’ in the municipality of Östersund. The background to the proposed initiative is the belief that too few streets in the city are named after women.
Nearly 20 years ago, the government at the time decided that ‘Fru Gårman’ should replace ‘Herr Gårman’ at several pedestrian crossings around the country, as part of the drive for gender equality. Now, a decision has been made in Östersund that more streets will be named after women.
Among the two Social Democrats advocating the initiative is Emma Tyrebo, Social Democrat and chairwoman of the Social Democratic Women in Östersund. Speaking about gender-equal street names, she says:
– Well, I think it’s important, because it shows whom we highlight in history, whom we value, and how we choose what to lift up.
After the initiative was proposed by the Social Democrats, the Environmental and Community Committee of Östersund has now tasked civil servants with investigating how more women’s names can be used for squares and streets in the city.
Jessica Rundberg, group leader for the Social Democrats on the committee, admits that many streets in the city already bear women’s names, but believes more must be done. However, it’s not just streets named after people that can help promote gender equality, says Rundberg (S).
– We don’t have a Midwives’ Alley, but we have a Stone Masons’ Lane. So women should feel included in the city and its planning, and that their contributions are recognized and valued.
But when Marcus Danielsson, group leader for the Sweden Democrats in Östersund, hears Rundberg’s claim that women wouldn’t feel their achievements are recognized and valued unless more streets are named after women, he responds as follows:
– It feels like this is one of those stunts. I’ve never heard anyone say they walk around thinking, ‘Oh, this street is named after a man.’ I think it’s a bit like the matter of racism: if you look for it everywhere, you see it everywhere.
