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Gropers beware: The Fridabus takes Mexico City

10:03 H | Topics: Culture - Marketing - Mexico - Society - Women

Earlier this week we talked about the latest attempts to raise the profile of Frida Kahlo in the world, in honor of the 100th anniversary of her birth. While some might say that this is all too much, Mexico City thinks not. They've converted some of their city buses into "Fridabúses" -- moving shrines honoring the painter. According to Mexico City blog DFinitivo, the buses also serve an altruistic purpose:

The Fridabúses are the first step in exalting important women in history involved in education, science and the struggle for women's rights -- women whose actions strengthened equal gender rights.

Beyond just "equal rights", Mexico's El Universal reports that the buses are also focused on making public transit safer for women, often subject to lewd behavior by men on the city's bus and subways systems:

City government gave the green light for the Metrobuses with the objective of eradicating aggression towards women and fomenting a culture of respect towards them.

With the image of Frida Kahlo and messages such as "I want to walk freely in the streets of my city without being afraid because I am a woman", the capital city government is attempting to foment equality for females.

Both buses are stocked with brochures which promote the right of women, providing information about sexuality, morning after pills and promoting condom use. They also have signs which offer phone numbers to call if one is the victim of violence.

While this is all fine and well, and the city is to be commended for looking out for its women, a few bus campaigns are not going to eradicate this social ill. El Universal interviewed a 16 year-old girl who sums it all up perfectly: “People aren't going to change because they see posters. Manners are learned at home and that is what defines everyone's behavior on the street."

Via / DFinitivo and El Universal (Mexico)

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