Less than 25% of all U. S. families consist of a married mom, dad, and their children, according to the 2000 Census. (Thanks to Rosanna Hertz for pointing this out to me.)
Why then, is it so hard to find depictions of other types of families?
I wrote a few weeks ago about finding a family bathroom sign that portrayed an opposite-sex couple, and wondered if there were a more inclusive way to draw it. Some commenters agreed that such icons could be more inclusive, though several were resigned to the fact that while the sign may not be accurate for everyone, it’s easily understood. Others interpreted the sign loosely, as indicating “members of the opposite sex can enter together.” (Thanks, Roger.) One assumed I was arguing for a literal interpretation, and said sarcastically, “I for one am offended by these signs. My legs are more proportionate to the rest of my body than these signs are depicting.”
In truth, I’m really with the moderates on this. I don’t want some rigid, “politically correct” sign police coming through and making sure all signs are fully inclusive of every possible family permutation. But the bathroom sign is only one of any number of family depictions I encounter that exclude my family, and the cumulative effect is beginning to wear on me.
Case in point. My dentist (whom I in fact like quite a bit) has a business card with an image of an opposite-sex family on it. (See image to the right. Yes, it could be a brother and sister taking their respective kids to the dentist, but I think it’s reasonable to assume it was meant to be a father, mother, and kids.) OK, another isolated example. I shouldn’t get too upset. It would be ridiculous to want a ban on depictions of opposite-sex families. When I fill out a patient form for my son that asks for “Mother’s Name” and “Father’s Name,” however, I really start to feel invisible. “Parent” and “Parent” is an easy alternative that could have counterbalanced the depiction on the business cards.
The examples pile up. Easter eggs. Mobile phones. (Thanks, Abigail.) All with easy inclusive alternatives.
Today, LesbianDad mentioned a related issue, found in a New York Times article about the dearth of baby-changing facilities in men’s rooms. The Times spoke with Chuck Ault, who runs Boot Camp for New Dads:
Several years ago Mr. Ault began noticing something on newer airplanes. The signs on the restrooms’ changing tables, which previously had a triangle-shaped-dress character hovering over the baby, now featured a gender-neutral figure. It made the skies seem a little friendlier.
“I think those airplane signs are really symbolic and interesting,” Mr. Ault said. “I think universal symbols are powerful indicators of what is believed.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
One final point. The more depictions of non-traditional families or roles we see, the less we’ll twitch over any given image of a traditional one. I don’t want a homogenous world where every image and ad shows as much diversity as possible. That would be way too crowded. Just mix it up a little, though, and we’ll all feel better.