'Men At Work' signs to disappear in Atlanta

[DaJudge]

by ERIC STIRGUS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/09/08

In the battle of the sexes, women's magazine editor Cynthia Good said this was a skirmish she had to fight.

Across Atlanta they stood, orange signs with black letters that read "Men At Work" or "Men Working Ahead."

Sometimes, the signs stood next to women working alongside the men.

Good demanded Atlanta officials remove the signs and last week, Atlanta Public Works Commissioner Joe Basista agreed.

Score one for gender equality, Good said Wednesday.

"They get it," Good said about the city in a telephone interview.

Public Works officials are replacing 50 "Men Working" with signs that say "Workers Ahead." It will cost $22 to cover over some of the old signs and $144 to buy new signs, said Public Works spokeswoman Valerie Bell-Smith said.

Good, founding editor of Atlanta-based PINK Magazine, a publication that focuses on professional women, said she's not stopping with Atlanta.

"We're calling on the rest of the nation to follow suit and make a statement that we will not accept these subtle forms of discrimination," said Good, 48.

Good pressed the issue after Atlanta police came to her office last month on a complaint that she spray painted "wo" onto a "Men At Work" sign.

Did she do it? Good replied by complaining about the signs.

Good fired off letters complaining about the signs to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Gov. Sonny Perdue.

State transportation officials said they will ask contractors to remove signs specifying just men are working at a construction site.

Atlanta union leader Gina Pagnotta said some women employees of Atlanta Public Works complained about these signs years ago.

"It is a little bit bias to say 'Men Working,' " said Pagnotta, president of the Professional Association of City Employees. "Women are working, too."

This politically correct nonsense is out of hand. Regardless of what this woman says, I have never, in all the days of my life, seen a woman working on the road crew, neither where I live, nor in Atlanta.

[valley]

You should look closer. To comply with DBE and EEO requirments for state contracts, women and other minorities are required to be hired. On my project we have women who drive trucks, work with erosion control, and even operate heavy machinery. There are female engineers and lab test techs that are also on projects. Women are out there, just not in the numbers that men are.

But I do agree, this is PC gone wild.

[free]

I have seen many women on road crews...Not sure if it matters what the sign says...At least I don't care one way or the other.

[Pastor Bill]

Yeah, I've seen many women, especially holding signs for slow/stop to direct traffic. (that's the main people you notice since they are directing traffic). I can understand phasing out the old signs as new ones are made, and old ones retired, but otherwise it's rather a waste of money. Here in KY they have gotten cute with those signs and most of them say things like "Be careful my Daddy is working" with a cartoon of a child, some also say "Mommy" and I think there is a variety. I think the intent is to get people to read them because no one really pays that much attention, they just see a construction sign and know somethings going on. Which makes the money spent in Atlanta even more of a waste.

[DaJudge]

If they are out there, they must be sitting in the truck. Never seen one on the jackhammer or on the front end loader.

[valley]

Yeah, I've seen many women, especially holding signs for slow/stop to direct traffic. (that's the main people you notice since they are directing traffic). I can understand phasing out the old signs as new ones are made, and old ones retired, but otherwise it's rather a waste of money. Here in KY they have gotten cute with those signs and most of them say things like "Be careful my Daddy is working" with a cartoon of a child, some also say "Mommy" and I think there is a variety. I think the intent is to get people to read them because no one really pays that much attention, they just see a construction sign and know somethings going on. Which makes the money spent in Atlanta even more of a waste.

I have yet to see that in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). But I know there are several contracters, especially Peek Pavment Markings, that have those signs on their trucks.

One guy on the back of his helmet has a sticker that says, "Please Don't Hit Me: I'm not sure about my insurance."

[Pastor Gary]

If they are out there, they must be sitting in the truck. Never seen one on the jackhammer or on the front end loader.

They are here: they recently repaved a road next to the church and the biggest piece of equipment used, that huge roller, was driven by a tiny little woman about 5'1".

One of my members is Safety Officer for a major construction company... bright pink hard hat, steel-toed boots and all.

[DaJudge]

I guess the 80's rock band that sang, "Down Under" will have to retroactively change their name to "People of Mixed Genders at Work"

[DeWayneTN]

I despise this kind of PC stuff not so much about this particular sign but what it will inevitably lead to. Can you imagine how that crowd will target restroom and locker room designations (and some have already)?

[DaJudge]

I despise this kind of PC stuff not so much about this particular sign but what it will inevitably lead to. Can you imagine how that crowd will target restroom and locker room designations (and some have already)?

It has already happened

She also cited an informational document published by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the Transgender Law Center that already is lobbying for special treatment in the school system.

"If you want to use a restroom that matches your gender identity … you should be allowed to do so," it advises. "Whenever students are divided up into boys and girls, you should be allowed to join the group or participate in the program that matches your gender identity as much as possible."

[EagerBeaver]

I guess the 80's rock band that sang, "Down Under" will have to retroactively change their name to "People of Mixed Genders at Work"

Also "The Safety Dance" by the People Without Hats
How about "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by the Baha People of Mixed Gender as well?

God forbid.

[Pastor Bill]

I despise this kind of PC stuff not so much about this particular sign but what it will inevitably lead to. Can you imagine how that crowd will target restroom and locker room designations (and some have already)?

It has already happened

She also cited an informational document published by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the Transgender Law Center that already is lobbying for special treatment in the school system.

"If you want to use a restroom that matches your gender identity … you should be allowed to do so," it advises. "Whenever students are divided up into boys and girls, you should be allowed to join the group or participate in the program that matches your gender identity as much as possible."

If they rule that adolescent boys who identify themselves as gay can use the girls restrooms, locker rooms, showers... we're going to see a rise in the number of "gay" adolescent boys.

[DaJudge]

If they rule that adolescent boys who identify themselves as gay can use the girls restrooms, locker rooms, showers... we're going to see a rise in the number of "gay" adolescent boys.

[Full Quiver]

The women are there but many of them look like men

Really, did women fight for the right to hold an orange flag?

[valley]

I despise this kind of PC stuff not so much about this particular sign but what it will inevitably lead to. Can you imagine how that crowd will target restroom and locker room designations (and some have already)?

It has already happened

She also cited an informational document published by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the Transgender Law Center that already is lobbying for special treatment in the school system.

"If you want to use a restroom that matches your gender identity … you should be allowed to do so," it advises. "Whenever students are divided up into boys and girls, you should be allowed to join the group or participate in the program that matches your gender identity as much as possible."

If they rule that adolescent boys who identify themselves as gay can use the girls restrooms, locker rooms, showers... we're going to see a rise in the number of "gay" adolescent boys.

Be fair. There is a far cry from being gay and being transgender.