If you can only use one shape for each gender, what would you use?
Have you ever wonder or notice the toilet signs design?
The triangle is male and circle is female.
It seems to be really easy and clear.
However, isn't it amazing?
We can just use two simple geometric symbols to represent gender, rather than colors or words or any description.
If you go to restroom next time, try to figure out isn't it true that they use triangle and circle as background
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| The Broad Museum, Los Angeles |
Or it could be as simple as what's shown in the picture
Why does it happened?
Is there any story behind the shapes?
Before that, let's see the standard gender symbols we're used to in our mind.
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| Mars symbol for Male |
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| Venus symbol for Female |
There are two identifying points for both genders' symbols come from,
both points were introduced by Carolus Linnaeus, a great well-known biologist in 18th century
Carolus associated planets symbols with biology, he saw Venus as female and Mars as male.
The gender symbols are also associated with Greek god and goddess.
The male in red is supposed to represent the spear shields for the God of War (Ares);
the female symbol in blue has been know to represent two separate things:
the first across the shield and the second: a hand mirror for the goddess of love and beauty (Aphrodite).
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| Restroom sign in General Assembly in Santa Monica |
Here is my favorite toilet sign, which is in GA in Santa Monica.
It's so simple and beautiful that it only use to shape to represent male and female:
circle for head and two opposite direction of triangles to describe the body shape.
After reading some articles, I concluded some possible reasons in these ways:
1. Social psychology perspective: traditional gender roles
1. Social psychology perspective: traditional gender roles
The shape of triangle is sharp, which could refer to masculine power, strong and firm. The upward triangle can represent ambition and rising up. It will symbolize the force of the male and fire.
On the other hand, round shape is softer and more gentle that represent feminine woman. An ancient and universal symbol of unity, wholeness, infinity, the goddess, and female power. It represents the feminine spirit or force, the cosmos or a spiritualized Mother Earth
2. Physical features: Body shape / Reproductive cell shapes / Genital organs' shapes
The distribution of muscles and fat is different between women and men. Women generally have hips that are wider than the shoulders while the opposite is true for males.
The egg is round, the sperm more pointed. However, since microscopes would be needed to make this observation, it’s likely not an old enough concept to be correct.
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| Toilet Signs Design in New Zealand |
I'm obsessed with signs graphic design, love to observe and appreciate their beauty
Here are some cool examples when I travel to New Zealand in 2014.
1. I really like the simpleness and modern style with metal materials
2. Here's the design in airports. By great area of colors to distinguish female & male's restroom
3&4. Kind of classic and vintage with blonde, copper background
5. It's the sign in New Zealand National Maritime Museum. Very considerate and adorable sign.
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| Toilet Signs Design in AJ Hackett Bungy, Queenstown, New Zealand |
This one is brilliant and catch my eye right away.
This is the World Home of Bungy, birthplace of the adventurous spirit that has shaped Queenstown’s character and one of the most famous attractions in Queenstown, New Zealand.
It's a clever and fun design, even Disabled restroom sign is upside down, hanging by the rope.
After reading this article, next time when you're in a rush to restroom,
maybe you could take a quick look before entering the door.
Enjoy the little things in life!
References:
1. "Why do bathroom signs use circle and triangle shapes?" (highly recommended)
2. THE ORIGIN OF THE MALE AND FEMALE SYMBOLS
3. The Origin of Gender Symbols in Biology
4. Gender symbols
5. Who was Linnaeus?
6. The History of Gender Symbols (highly recommended)
7. AJ Hackett Bungy Introduction
Image Resources:
1. Gender symbol:
2. Restroom symbol
5. iron spear
6. copper mirror
7. AJHackett Bungy logo
This is really fascinating. I was just listening to Jordan Maxwell talk about circle and triangle symbology. cool
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article, and found it quite informative. Thanks for sharing! I generally prefer bathroom signs and would recommend it to all.
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