Shenzhen Metro Group launched "ladies first" subway cars on Monday, with the aim of providing a better traveling experience for female passengers and advocating care for women. (Photo/Xinhua)
With more men using 'women priority' carriages, many have questioned the usefulness of such carriages. A male passenger said he did not notice the carriage was for women until he boarded it. “Everyone finds out that it is for women only after boarding it.” A number of female passengers said there is no time to look for the logo during the rush hour. Many females said they do not plan to take the carriages as there are more men than women in them.
Faced with this situation, people are asking whether 'women priority' carriage can guarantee female passengers' priority right to take subway. And whether men will be punished or dissuaded when they get into the special carriages.
Cultivating respect
According to a staff member of Shenzhen Metro Group, the reason for launching the 'women priority' carriage lies in a proposal submitted during the two sessions of Guangdong province this year by Su Zhongyang, a member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of CPPCC. Su suggested setting up the 'women priority' carriage to provide women a safer travelling experience. In June 2017, the proposal was adopted by the Shenzhen metro and the Guangzhou metro, both of which have set up 'women priority' carriage on some of the lines.
Shenzhen metro staff said the 'women priority' carriage is not legally binding, and is not aimed at reducing sexual harassment, but to cultivate respect for women, and further improve behavior in Shenzhen.
The staff member said that the 'women priority' carriage is exclusively reserved for females.
