DollyMix: Mind The Segregation: feminists veto proposed "women only" carriages on London Underground

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Feminism

Mind The Segregation: feminists veto proposed "women only" carriages on London Underground

We've discussed women only carriages on trains and sexual harassment a lot here, and it seems that this is a debate that will not quickly fade. The Guardian's Comment Is Free section has a brilliant response by Cath Elliot to the proposed women only carriages on the London Underground. I think most feminists agree that the prospect of having these carriages is absolutely ridiculous. In another Guardian column earlier this year, Feministing's Jessica Valenti voiced her opinions against women only carriages. Admitting that the idea of having a "safe place is compelling", she asked the very important question of, "After all, shouldn't we be targeting the gropers and harassers?"

Cath Elliot points out that "male violence is the issue here, not women's behaviour or women's presence in the streets or on the tube", and said that she found "nothing to celebrate" when she heard of Brian Paddick's proposal for "women friendly" tube carriages. And really, what is there to possibly celebrate about it? That we have to be corralled and hidden in order to stay safe? That a male politician thinks women will be safer if they're not seen and not heard? It's a nice try, Paddick, but women only carriages are, and will always be, the wrong answer.

Posted by on February 21, 2008

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Comments

I don't understand why people think this is a good idea. It's just transferring blame and masking the problem.

Posted by: Kate | February 21, 2008 5:40 PM

Very interesting post. I like the graphic too, which makes me think there might be a women-only tube *stop* somewhere in London. Probably on the jubilee line or something, so hardly anyone knows about it.

Posted by: Leila | February 22, 2008 8:41 AM

Plus, when my friend was abused on the tube recently by a fellow passenger, it was a woman having a go at her!

Posted by: francois | February 22, 2008 4:48 PM

I got touched up on a train once, and there's nothing you can do to second guess it or assume you can tell who it might be.

The staff on the train were fantastic, phoned the police and gave me lots of free tea. People are doing their best with a horrible situation, but a women only carriage is a ludicrous idea. What about the sort of women who I'd be uncomfortable sitting next to?

And more potently, what about the issue of young men who are prayed on too? It's silly to think that this is solely a gender issue, and one that can easily be solved by running from it.

Posted by: Orla | February 23, 2008 12:47 PM

We unfortunately already have women-only carriages here in Tokyo, and it really doesn't do anything for the safety of women travelling on the train. If anything, it makes people believe you were "asking for it" if you're molested whilst being outside the women's carriage. I can't see any possible way of condoning these, as it shifts the responsibility onto the victim.

Posted by: Lindsey | February 25, 2008 5:46 AM