The National Road Safety Agency of Argentina (ANSV) has determined that anyone who wants a driver’s license must take a course on gender and study topics such as masculinities, patriacardo, femicides and women’s access to the transport sector.

“The great sociocultural and technological changes produced over the years have brought with it the need to adapt the contents of the training courses, as well as the theoretical exam, which is why it is necessary to reformulate such contents, in order to guarantee the insertion on the public road of suitable and responsible drivers, with up-to-date knowledge in relation to new automotive technologies and the main rules for safe and efficient driving “, says the resolution published in the Official Gazette of Argentina.

“With the conviction that the cultural resource is an aspect of vital influence with regard to the incorporation of relatively crystallized gender norms, it is necessary to incorporate in the mandatory course for the concession of the National Driver’s License a module that contemplates the theme in question, promoting values ​​of equality and delegitimizing violence against women in driving vehicles on public roads, in vehicle safety and in everything related to the matter “, says the text.

The new requirement aims at equality between men and women through the study of contents such as gender, roles and stereotypes, gender identity, gender violence, in addition to the types and modalities of this violence.

Drivers will have to go through a module that will cover topics such as “Masculinities: patriarchy and heteronormativity; Myths about violence; Feminicides, Transfeminicides; and Hate Crimes”.

They will also have to study “Resources, tools and ways of addressing violence in vehicle driving and transportation; Access and participation of women; and diversities in the transportation sector”, for example. These contents will be included in the driving course during March.

Road signs with genderless language
In addition, the Ministry of Transport has issued a “Special Manual” to readjust traffic signs and signs with a gender perspective,promoting the so-called “inclusive language” in which the male and female genders remain neutral, losing the ending “o” and “a”, changed to “e”.

“The document promotes, among other things, the use of inclusive language, recognizing and making women and diversity visible, collectives hitherto invisible in the transport sector, as a result of stereotypes and cultural limitations linked to supposedly male competences”, adds the Diário Official.

Those who fail, may retake the course 30 days later, up to a maximum of three times a year.