Posted on 01/24/2008 6:34:06 PM PST by ECM
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Groping and verbal harassment is an exasperating reality for women using public transportation in this sprawling capital, where 22 million passengers cram onto subways and buses each day. Some men treat women so badly that the subway system has long had ladies-only cars during rush hour, with police segregating the sexes on the platforms.
But that hasn't helped women forced to rely on packed buses, by far the city's most-used form of public transportation - until this week.
Acting on complaints from women's groups, the city rolled out "ladies only" buses, complete with pink signs in the windshields to wave off the men.
As word spreads about the buses, the women seem delighted, while some men forced to wait a few minutes longer have shown their anger. Still others have stumbled on board despite the signs, much to their embarrassment.
On Thursday, passengers on one of the female-only buses spent most of their trip down the capital's tree-lined Reforma Avenue chatting or putting on makeup, instead of fighting off unwanted male attention.
When a man mistakenly climbed aboard, the women immediately began teasing him and shouting that he should read the "ladies only" sign.
"He's a gentleman! He should get off," shouted Yolanda Altamirano, a 64-year-old office janitor.
The man blushed and mumbled an apology, then ignored the taunts until he got off several stops later.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
And they recently made it a crime in Italy to pinch a woman’s bottom. Oh the good old days.
Women’s-only buses and trains are also common in S. Asia, specifically India.
Amnesty is the obvious answer. Let these people in. Let them all in !
The difference is that they;re ALL headed to our borders.
This is one of the cultures I’m not supposed to permit myself to feel superior to. Right?
Make an equal number of Men’s Only buses and I’ll call it even. Women get more buses to go on as it is now.
Why should men get less buses because of a few gropers?
I am grateful to be an American woman. Thank you God!!!
The NYC subway originally had separate cars for men and women.
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