Questions, Answers and Comments

Do street names affect anything? Isn't it better to invest in equal rights?

Studies indicate that representation in public space significantly affects women's aspirations, sense of ability, and sense of entitlement to participate in that space, as well as men's gender attitudes toward women. for example:
- A comprehensive study (see here) has shown that the very presence of women in local councils has led to a significant reduction in the gap between girls and boys in personal aspirations.
- A second study (see here ) showed that the presence of women in positions of influence significantly increases the number of women competing for and winning senior positions, and influences men to significantly change their position regarding the quality of women's management.
Dealing with street names brings us all to deal with the factors that are holding us back from making the change - such as hidden attitudes, historical procedures, and fears of reactions from conservative factors.

Isn't it simpler to settle for naming new streets after women?

The gender gap in street names in most authorities is so great that even if 10 new streets are paved each year, and even if they are all named after women, we will achieve gender fairness in street names in just 50-100 years.

There is nothing to do - more men are in positions of influence. Is it not better to promote women first, and then they will be rightfully commemorated?

There are many women who deserve to be commemorated, and have not been considered at all by the committees that have decided on the names of the streets (see for example here ).
This is an unnecessary delay of tens of centuries in achieving gender fairness in street names.
As described in the answer to the first question - representing women in public space affects men's consciousness in decision and influence positions, and women's sense of ability, so the process of renaming streets will accelerate the process of proper integration of women in positions of influence.

Changing street names will impair the orientation of the residents, especially in old age.

This is very true, and there are ways to greatly reduce the damage, for example leaving signs with the old names for a transition period of a few years.

Changing women's names will damage the character of the settlement. Does the process justify it?

The exclusion and gender unfairness in the names of the streets are also part of the character of the settlement. Changing the names of flowers and streams to female names will hurt the historical character, but will shape a new character for generations to come - of gender fairness (what's more, many streets will remain named after flowers and streams).

Switching to female names will hurt the dignity of men whose names are on the waiting lists. Does the process justify it?

Right. The relative harm to the dignity of the men on the waiting list should be weighed against the dignity of women who have never been commemorated or even entered the waiting lists, and against the dignity of women and girls who roam the streets feeling tens of times less important than men.

Changing to women's names will involve changing procedures and regulations, and overturning previous decisions of commemoration committees. Does the process justify it?

True, the authority will have to consider the political effort of changing procedures and regulations and overturning past decisions, as opposed to the goal of correcting the gender unfairness created under those regulations, procedures, and decisions.

In what organization do you operate? What salary do you get? Why are you doing that? Are you unemployed?

I work on my own, and not within any organization (although I am very proud of organizations that have agreed to be partners in the venture).
I have no income from the activity, it is all voluntary and I pay the expenses involved in the venture myself.
I do this because I want to take an active part in correcting the exclusion and cross-cultural discrimination of men towards women.
I serve as a VP in the social enterprise 'Kol Zakut', volunteer in two associations, and lead several other social projects.