Women only train carriages? really????

[TheoriginalLEM]

So, i quite liked Jeremy Corbyn as a runner for opposition leadership. Down to earth, gritty etc...

Then he has the idea of women only train carriages to avoid sexual harrassment? What next? Women not allowed in pubs in case we have our sensitivities hurt hearing the odd F word?

Its a brilliant idea, why waste all our energies on trying to change attitudes, just keep the poor loves in their own safe little carriages. Will they be painted pink with little make up mirrors on the back of the seats?

Don't stop there - we can abolish sexual harrasment in the workplace by having women only offices. Of course certain jobs have a predominantly male workforce so women are going to have to step down from those career choices and stick to something more feminine instead....

Foot. Shot. Self. himself!

Women can be as nasty as men!

I was wondering what age the cut-off was for boys travelling with mums?

Do I have to let a 3 year old sit with all the 'nasty' men, just because he is a boy?

And what about the general over-crowding that goes on. 300 men squashed in one carriage, with some unaccompanied children, while the pink carriage is empty?

I agree a safe area for ALL vulnerable people would be a benefit.
Wheelchair users
Elderly/infirm couples
New dad with baby
Lone not street-wise teens

Maybe having a carriage for these 'groups' of people, with a conductor-type person would be better?

I have made generalisations deliberately, not wanting to offend anybody.

But that's exactly my point urethra! If we're at the point where we're seriously considering WO carriages, perhaps we should be addressing why women on our society are so unsafe that we need to segregate them in public like in India and the Middle East! It's shocking!
But, instead of going back to the dark ages we should be making society as a whole safer for women. In no way is that belittling women who have been victims of attack or abuse, hell, I think you'd be hard pushed to find a woman anywhere in the uk who hasn't experienced some form of abuse or harassment at some point in their lives

I am disappointed that he said someone had suggested and that it would be discussed. At this point, it is really necessary for him to be having an opinion, not hedging his bets.

I am glad I have not voted yet, this has shown a whole new side.

I was thinking it might be a good idea and then remember that in restaurants it's always the women making the most/worst noise and the loudest laughs trying to prove they (we) are enjoying ourselves, so I'd ask to go in to the men's carriage; it would be more serene.

As far as I understand, Corbyn said that he would discuss the idea with women and women's organisations to see if it were something they felt necessary. He wasn't saying he wuld definitely do it, just that he'd be willing to have a discussion about it. His full policy on harassment does actually tackle the root problems faced by women and suggests some pretty sensible ways of tackling it I think. It's here if anyone would like to read it.

Urethra - i am sorry if my tone doesn't fit your prescription of how these things should be discussed. I didn't realise that we can only talk about serious issues in hushed and respectful tones. I am sorry if you have been affected by this issue. As i said, I have too - years ago in one of those carraiges that you could only exit whilst in the station a man sat opposite me and started masturbating. Thankfully those carriages are now defunct. I think your ire is directed at the wrong person.

ptumbi - that thought crossed my mind also.

Yes, Hama, my understanding was that he was proposing to discuss this with women to see what they think.

So anyone who thought it was a bad idea could put forward their views, rather than get into a froth as if it's a law that's already been passed.

HamaTime thanks for posting that, gives a bit more context.

How ridiculous!! A politician actually listening and responding to womens' concerns.

Ban this sort of thing

The headlines are misleading.

What he said was actually very measured.

I don't agree with WO carriages but I wholeheartedly think female commuters should be consulted.

It's just the usual politician's dodge of being sympathetic to everyone's special interests in the hope that they will be persuaded to vote for him.

But yes it's a fucking stupid, backward idea for all the reasons stated above.

back in the day there were indeed women only waiting rooms on stations (linked to the ladies toilets) which were usually not infiltrated by men - maybe because of the ladies toilets adjacent. Shame they disappeared.
as far as Ladies only carriages were concerned back then - on the old style trains where there was no corridor, ladies only carriage could well be entered by men and there was no escape until the next station
men should behave correctly around women and not harrass them but we are not there yet and I don't think Corbyn listening to women and considering this idea is the answer.

I am disappointed that he said someone had suggested and that it would be discussed. At this point, it is really necessary for him to be having an opinion, not hedging his bets

I don't think he should have to nail his colours to the mast straight away, especially as it is a woman's issue and he is not one. The is no point in guessing what the outcomes of a consultation would be before it's been done. When it has been done we will know the answer so there is no point in saying 'this is wanted and necessary' or 'this is unwanted and unnecessary' beforehand, other than to tell people you were right all along.

I'm in favour of evidence based policies. I am not in favour of women only carriages, but I'm not all women so welcome the consultation as well as some of his other policies.

There are women-only carriages in many countries, particularly on late night trains / metro services. Although I agree that work is needed to increase safety at all times and in all carriages, I think it's a great idea. I would definitely use them. I don't agree with much of what he says, but this is one idea I can agree with!

It isn;t just women at risk on trains though is it. A friend of mine was assualted on a train station - my friend was a man. Total random attack.

Saw an advert about sexual harassment on the tube. In the advert the woman said nothing and looked embarrassed.

Having had something similar happen to me in a crowded tube. I shouted at the guy to keep his f***g hands off my arse. The whole carriage heard and the guy ran off the tube at the next station.

My dd travels on the tube daily with her friend. Friends mother advised her dd in similar situation to say nothing and to get off the train at the next stop. I advised my dd to shout and scream telling the whole carriage what the perpetrator had done. I wonder how many sexual assaults there would be if the advert featured a woman shouting back.

The proposal is for women only train carriages after 10pm at night. I support this idea.

Reading the actual statement I can only agree with PP who questions the idea but as it has been put forward by other women is happy to discuss it.

I remember women only waiting rooms, they were great.
You were able to get away from Pervy blokes without having to find a strategy, ignoring, asking to be left alone, finding a guard. I travelled while breastfeeding so there was a convenient place for that too.

I am older and invisible to the male gaze now, which is a blessed relief.

Corbyn said he will consult women about their views on women only carriages along with other ideas for making public transport journeys safe.
He also wants to make public transport safer for everyone, not just women.

While people are getting offended because we should be tackling attitudes towards assaults on women,. people are still getting abused and assaulted, so I can't see anything wrong with having womens only carriages whilst doing something about attitudes as well.
Some women won't travel alone because they are scared. If they have to wait for attitudes to change, they may never travel at all.

it's a ridiculous idea. Not least because less women travel around on their own late at night anyway, so you could potentially end up with women feeling isolated in the women's only carriage on their own and therefore potentially being more vulnerable as who will be enforcing this women only rule., so a man with ill intent could easily pursue a loan woman into the woman's only carriage late at night.

It would in fact lead to women feeling more isolated if they were being segrigated late at night.

I agree with a PP who said that we instead should be empowering women to stand up for themselves rather than feeling that they should isolate themselves if they don't want to be victims.

I have never been a victim of sexual harassment and I travel regularly on london transport on my own including late at night. for me though, I would far rather be in a carriage full of people than isolated in a woman's only carriage where there might only be a couple of other women.

He also wants to make public transport safer for everyone, not just women.

Surely this should be a real focus. My DBro in law has been attacked twice on a train

I think more people legally empowered to address harassment, and other forms of anti-social behaviour, on public transport would be a more positive step.

The transit authority in Toronto has held consultation meetings with the public for decades to discuss problems such as harassment ,assault, accessibility,etc. Every carriage has along it's length a yellow alarm strip which stops the train at the next station ,seals the doors and the train is met by transit guards etc. On the alarm strip it says to press for fire, accident, harassment, vandalism , illness,etc. It is used every day many times , which causes delays and annoyance but is understood by most of us to be a necessity and a benefit. Platforms also have a press button alarm which connects with the transit guards. Then there is reporting by phone or in person - which is followed up on and reports back to the complainant.

Well no one is suggesting they become madatory, only optional. When they used to have them on the tube it was the carriage next to the driver's cab.

We are all legally empowered to address harrassment and other illegal activities - by speaking up, by speaking up for others, by reporting to the authorities and even by making a citizen's arrest. Or are you suggesting that there be a paid person in eah carriage to enforce the law.

I think it's a great idea. it would only work if trains and stations were properly staffed though. With staff who will actually do something if things kick off (often on my route the train manager will hide).