Have you noticed pink street names popping up around Geneva?  Ever wondered what the criteria are for naming Geneva’s streets?

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To earn a spot on the traditionally blue and white plaques, one must have 1) had a lasting impact on Geneva, and 2) have been deceased for more than 10 years.  However, despite these gender-neutral criteria, only 7% of Geneva’s streets are named for women.

As a way to correct this disparity, the feminist association L’Escouade has recognized 100 Geneva women by affixing a pink plaque with their name on intersections across the city.  From March, 10 plaques have been placed every two weeks according to the following themes: activism, performing arts, international Geneva, politics, knowledge and science, liberal professions, art and literature, and more.

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For more details, visit L’Escouade.

Last, if you would like to take a free guided tour of the signs, then check out the upcoming tour scheduled for this weekend (Sunday, September 22), leaving at 16:00 from Place Dorcière near Gare Cornavin.  To register for the walk, send an email to visiteguidee100elles@gmail.com.

We are a group of international women living in Geneva, Switzerland. If you would like to learn more about our activities and excursions, visit our website at  http://www.aiwcgeneva.org/