Beijing subway lines can be long during the rush hour. (Photo : Reuters)
Members of the China People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Beijing Municipal Committee proposed that women-only carriages must be established. One member said that this is what Japan has and she found it personally helpful in avoiding sexual assault experiences.
According to two members of the CPPCC, female passengers' plight when taking the subway should be given attention. Most of them experience sexual assault from male passengers, especially during rush hours.
One of them specifically cited her experience on the subways of Japan, where female passengers are segregated from the males and said Beijing should emulate this.
"Subway carriages exclusive to women are available on the subway in Japan. I found it very helpful to women when I visited Japan last time. Many of my colleagues and students often complain that the subway in Beijing is too crowded," said CPPCC member Xiao Mingzhen.
She added that most female passengers found riding the Beijing subway every morning painful and unpleasant because they have been assaulted by the males.
The other CPPCC member who supported the idea, Zhang Zhiming, explained that because around 10 passengers would squeeze in a space of just one square meter on a rush hour, some male passengers seize the opportunity to harass the females who cannot move or do anything about it.
Xiao specified that the separate women's carriage should be established especially for the rush hour. The carriage should also be located in the middle of the train so that it would be convenient for women to board and alight.
Zhang, on the other hand, thinks that there should be more than one women-only carriage. She suggested that these carriages be established at both ends of the train for the rush hour and painted pink with signs stating that only women could board them.
