Women on the streets
Book
Women on the streets analyses the streets and squares named after women in Valencia, Spain, from a statistical, urbanistic, historical and feminist perspective. By studying the limited number of signs named after women in Spain, and across Europe, the author’s extensive research calls attention to the sexism at the heart of Western contemporary societies and their historical grounding in patriarchy. By examining the characteristics of selected streets, squares and neighbourhoods, along with the careers and lives of these honoured women, she offers a fresh and truly feminist perspective on the lives of the women whose names grace the city of Valencia.
This work is available in three languages: British English, Spanish, and Valencian Spanish.
second edition (2023)
125 x 210 mm (4.9” × 8.3”)
548 pages
300 copies
ISBN 978-2-9579763-1-7
Back cover
‘Gender discrimination against women during the town planning process is a common practice. In Valencia, Spain, 89% of the streets and squares named after people are attributed to men, while less than 11% bear the name of a woman. Although history is full of exceptional women, the signs of most European cities display an incomplete and androcentric legacy. Such skewed narrative is like a rigged mirror that only shows one rigid reflection.
Addressing urbanism, history, and feminism, this book aims to shed new light on our heritage. It is composed of two parts: First, a statistical analysis of the 179 Valencian signs named after women. It informs, condemns, and cautions against contemporary toponymy trends. Then, a biographical index that highlights the contributions of the 139 women whose names adorn the streets and squares of Valencia’.
Author’s note
‘I write for all women, girls, and ladies who inspired, inspire, and will inspire our futures, struggles, and achievements. I write for all women who were not celebrated for their accomplishments, or for all those who are still discriminated against despite their devotion to our society. I write to fight the inadequacy of an androcentric historical narrative, and to promote equal acknowledgement of all people – regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or origin. I write to show how oppressed communities have been forgotten, and how their contribution to our shared culture has been undervalued.
I assert that women first repressed by history are now expelled from our collective memory. I study the toponymy of European cities – that is, the urban planning process carried out by the city council whose purpose is the inauguration or renewal of signs. I focus expressly on the names of the streets and squares of the city of Valencia, Spain. I found indisputable evidence of gender discrimination: 89% of the signs attributed to people are named after men, while less than 11% are named after women. I know that women have participated in more than 11% of our history, and I believe that the city council must officially recognize their roles in urban planning: ‘Every time we approve new street names (...) it is essential to give them names that are in line with the times we live in,’ said the Councillor for Heritage and Cultural Resources, Glòria Tello.
Streets and squares signs allow citizens to navigate the city, but also offer free access to its legacy. She later confirms that the council wants to ‘continue bringing relevant women to light for their participation in different areas and increase the low percentage of places in the city with names of distinguished women to gradually make up for this apparent inequality and discrimination.’
I maintain, however, that this wrongful imbalance cannot be corrected overnight, and that it is unrealistic to believe that it will ever be. Nevertheless, it is my responsibility as a citizen to sound the alarm. ‘It is high time for women to have visibility in our public spaces,’ said Lucía Beamud, the Councillor for Equality and Gender Policies and LGBTI, to stress ‘the need to break the invisibility that often shrouded the feminine figure.’
It is also my duty as a feminist to highlight the qualities of the extraordinary women who left a mark on our past, because I believe research that is qualitative, informative, and engaged can make up for quantitative inequality. It's time to look at our heritage in a different way – one that is feminist, of course, but above all, one that is just’.
Pénélope Delaur
Pénélope Delaur is a French graphic designer and artistic director who left Paris, France for Valencia, Spain in 2020. As she was getting to know the new city she moved into, she picked up an interest in the names of the streets and observed a lack of representativeness of women. She published the first edition of Women on the streets in 2021, and concurrently started a publishing house, éditions pépé, which focuses on women and feminism. After she published two more artists, she launched an updated and more thorough edition of her book in 2023. She has written many essays, poems, and lyrics since arriving in Spanish territory.
Feminist analysis — Pénélope Delaur
Women on the streets
Collection cards
All the women whose names grace the streets and squares of Valencia, Spain, are featured in Women on the streets. Each woman also has a dedicated collection card designed for them. The front displays her portrait, or the street...
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Feminist analysis — Pénélope Delaur
Women on the streets
Stickers
A paper sheet of 17 discrete stickers showing the neighbourhoods of Valencia, Spain. To scatter, share, or use as a miniature jigsaw puzzle!
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Feminist analysis — Pénélope Delaur
Women on the streets
Flat-fit underwear
Flat-fit thong showing the project title, Las mujeres en la calle (Women on the streets), on the front or on the back depending on the chosen style, plus an extract from the book, and/or the logo signature for éditions pépé...
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Feminist analysis — Pénélope Delaur
Women on the streets
Bumpy-fit underwear
Bumpy-fit thong showing the project title, Las mujeres en la calle (Women on the streets), on the front, or on the back depending on the chosen style, plus an extract from the book, and/or the logo signature for éditions pépé...
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Feminist analysis — Pénélope Delaur
Women on the streets
Posters
In November 2021, thanks to the Biennal de València, Ciutat Vella Oberta, we raised awareness among Valencian citizens about a feminist approach towards their Spanish history. We made art and culture available for...
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