Groundbreaking ceremony in 1957: four women representing the four national languages
Keystone
Admiring the view across Lake Zurich
Keystone
Visiting mothers could leave their babies with professional nannies
RDB
Plumber's delight: an example of a modern bathroom
RDB
A family learns about gender equality.
RDB
The master hairdressers' association launched a new hairdo, which it called "Incroyable" – French for "incredible"
Keystone
Dominican nuns talk to a visitor about their work
RDB
On show: a career woman
Keystone
Female soldiers, who were in a supporting role rather than engaged in combat, give a demonstration
RDB
In addition to day care services, the expo provided entertainment for male visitors
RDB
Grilling sausages on "Girls' Day"
Keystone
A boat has "exploded" – prompting a first aid demonstration
RDB
Young people hit the dance floor
Keystone
Formed with rubble, the island was created especially for the expo
Keystone
Held in Zurich in 1958, the "Saffa" exposition showcased the work of Swiss women, who at that time did not have the right to vote. The two-month event highlighted their contributions to their families, their jobs and to society as a whole.
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Organised by major national women’s groups, the motto of the expo was “the life cycle of women in family, work and state”. In keeping with the traditional image of women in the 1950s, the expo promoted the following curriculum vitae: training and employment before marriage, motherhood and homemaking after that, and then a return to the workforce once the children had grown up. Prior to the first nationwide vote on women’s suffrage, Swiss women didn’t lobby very hard in favour of their political rights. On February 1, 1959, two thirds of the voters – all male – decided against giving women the right to vote. (Photos: Keystone, RDB)
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Sweeping stereotypes out of school books
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While much has changed over the past forty years or more, many Swiss still remember the school textbooks illustrated with stereotypes of happy families – women portrayed only as stay-at-home mothers, men always working outside of the home. The feminist protest movement of the 1970s drove a profound overhaul of educational materials. In 1999, the…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.