Growing Global Trend for Women-only Segregation in the west

[Showkat]

Growing Global Trend for Women-only Segregation
by Jessica Valenti, 3 August 2007, The Guardian

Growing up in New York City, I took the subway to school like most of my peers. I remember not quite understanding, as a 13-year-old, the looks I received from men my father's age - or why they kept "accidentally" brushing up against me. What was all that about? As the years went by, of course, it all became clear, and now, in my late 20s, when the topic comes up, I have yet to speak to a woman who hasn't had some experience of being groped on a train.

So I wasn't surprised by a recent report that showed that two out of every three subway riders in New York has been sexually harassed (the survey was of a mixed group, with almost 70% of respondents being women). In Tokyo, the problem is just as bad - 64% of women in their 20s and 30s reported being groped on the train or in transit stations. In fact, the problem is so well recognised in Japan, that there's even a specific name for subway harassment: chikan. And the city's answer to such large-scale harassment? Establishing a woman-only train carriage aimed at protecting potential victims.

Japan isn't the only country where a separate space has been set aside for women's safety. There are women-only train carriages in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and Cairo. Italy has just established a women-only beach. And in the US a hotel recently announced that it is building a separate floor for female guests. All of which raises the question: is this the latest in "girl power" or a sexist solution to a much bigger problem?

There's no doubt the harassment women face in public spaces needs to be addressed - whether it is on the street, the train, or even the internet. We've been subjected to regular catcalls and groping for far too long. But while the idea of a safe space is compelling, this international trend - which often comes couched in paternalistic rhetoric about "protecting" women - raises questions of just how equal the sexes are if women's safety relies on us being separated. After all, shouldn't we be targeting the gropers and harassers? The onus should be on men to stop harassing women, not on women to escape them.

Betsy Eudey, director of gender studies at California State University, says that while some single-sex environments could be beneficial - locker rooms where people are expected to be naked are an obvious example - she finds that "segregated spaces only enhance division by sex, and prevent the necessary actions needed to make public spaces safe and welcoming to all".

Not all feminists are so sceptical though. American writer, Katha Pollitt, says she doesn't think that the rise of women-only spaces will excuse society from confronting harassment and violence. Instead, she believes they simply offer a small respite for women in a male-dominated world.

"Obviously, there would never be enough women-only space to accommodate all women all the time - half the subway cars or half the hotels," says Pollitt. "Women-only space is just a little breathing place for a few women every now and then." Pollitt also notes that women-only spaces aren't just about escaping harassment. "Men just take up too much space. They judge women's bodies. They flaunt their own. This is not going to change in our lifetime, or possibly ever."

For some women, single-sex areas can be a way to expand movement in public spaces, rather than limit it. A women-only taxi service in Tehran, for example, has been touted as giving women more travel options, while, around the globe, women-only gyms provide a welcome space for religious women who wouldn't otherwise be able to work out.
Religious concerns aside though, I'm wary of how the governments and companies that have created many of these spaces are promoting them. Further evidence that this isn't so much about a feminist vision of women's safety as a short-sighted solution is the reliance on sexist staples to drive home the "women-only" point. Brazil's train cars are pink striped, for instance, as is the sign declaring "No Men" on Italy's beach - which is known as the "pink beach". In fact, the only man allowed on the Italian beach is a lifeguard - beach owner Fausto Ravaglia has said, "You clearly need a man to save women in the sea. It's a question of muscles." A women-only taxi service in Mumbai, India, features larger-than-normal mirrors, a makeup kit and a magazine rack; the soon-to-be-opened US hotel will have chenille throw blankets and special bath products (you know, stuff that girls like) on its women-only floor.

Of course, there are more serious concerns than complaints about the sugar-and-spice of it all. In cities that offer women-only train carriages, what happens if a woman is groped - or worse - in a carriage that isn't women-only? Will she be blamed for not taking advantage of the "safe" space provided? After all, women are all too used to being blamed when it comes to assault, questioned as to why they were out on their own/wearing a short skirt/drinking.

Not all women-only venues are mired in paternalism. Girls' schools, for example, are touted as places where pupils have the confidence to speak more openly than they would in a mixed class. Women-only networking events - designed to build an "old girls' club" in industries where golf trips and other male-centric networking is the norm - are gaining popularity in cities from New York to London. Even my publisher, Seal Press, devotes itself solely to publishing female authors.

The difference between these spaces and designated "no harassment" zones, however, is that all-girl schools and networking are positively supporting women and their endeavours rather than hiding us behind closed (or sliding) doors.

When I take the subway now, a bit older and certainly more jaded, I do my best to avoid crowded train cars and instead of silently rolling my eyes when someone brushes up against me, I make a fuss. (Grabbing the offending hand and holding it up, declaring, "Why was this hand on my ass?" seems to do the trick.) If New York City was to create a woman-only carriage, I might use it occasionally, just for some breathing space. But I certainly wouldn't stop using the others. After all, women should have the right to be safe anywhere and everywhere.

source: Is segregation the only answer to sexual harassment? | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

Comment:

The Islamic social system is regularly attacked by the West and its allies from the westernised confused Muslims for keeping men and women apart unless absolutely necessary such as shopping, education, work etc.

Western societies which encourage men and women to mix as much as possible have now felt the side effects of such policies eg rape, harassment, abuse, violence, name calling, sexual diseases, adultery, fornication, unwanted pregnenecies, abortion and so forth.

Now it seems they are willing to try segregation and definetly the statististics for harassment will reduce, and if they were to apply the same policy upon other aspects of their society and life, they would of course see further reduction.
Maybe some Muslims who are infatuated with the western culture and practices can learn a lesson from this?

[Aryan_]

What about women who grope women? If you want segregation wear a burka.

[Sea_of_Roses]

Can you color the important sentences in red...this article is way too long

[roberto]

Originally Posted by Aryan_

What about women who grope women? If you want segregation wear a burka.

Is that a suggestion for men or women , hem if for both, who knows who's molesting who

[roberto]

Originally Posted by Sea_of_Roses

Can you color the important sentences in red...this article is way too long

Run your finger along the line as you read, it helps

[nooni]

Originally Posted by Showkat

Comment:

The Islamic social system is regularly attacked by the West and its allies from the westernised confused Muslims for keeping men and women apart unless absolutely necessary such as shopping, education, work etc.

Western societies which encourage men and women to mix as much as possible have now felt the side effects of such policies eg rape, harassment, abuse, violence, name calling, sexual diseases, adultery, fornication, unwanted pregnenecies, abortion and so forth.

Now it seems they are willing to try segregation and definetly the statististics for harassment will reduce, and if they were to apply the same policy upon other aspects of their society and life, they would of course see further reduction.
Maybe some Muslims who are infatuated with the western culture and practices can learn a lesson from this?

thanks for the article!

i am certainly in favor of adding women only (and even men only) modes of transportation (or whatever else). but i am also opposed to closing down mixed gatherings too. basically, i just feel that having an option to go to a segrated place is always good and does help.

another option that i have seen work is this... while i was in Algeria, ia attended two water parks. one made for anyone to come in and the other made for women. in the one made for women, men are still allowed to enter only if they have a sister, mother, neice, daughter, wife or female friend. how does this keep guys from acting stupid around girls.. cause guys tend to not act stupid with girls in front of girls who are relatives or friends. i thought the idea was wonderful and it does work!

[roberto]

[quote=Showkat;2682]Growing Global Trend for Women-only Segregation
by Jessica Valenti, 3 August 2007, The Guardian

After all, women should have the right to be safe anywhere and everywhere.

source: Is segregation the only answer to sexual harassment? | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

Comment:

Western societies which encourage men and women to mix as much as possible have now felt the side effects of such policies eg rape, harassment, abuse, violence, name calling, sexual diseases, adultery, fornication, unwanted pregnenecies, abortion and so forth.

What statistics do you have to support a direct connection between freedom of association and the offences listed.

This women obviously favours freedom How do you rate risk against freedom, ?

[Skinwalker]

Originally Posted by Showkat

Western societies which encourage men and women to mix as much as possible have now felt the side effects of such policies eg rape, harassment, abuse, violence, name calling, sexual diseases, adultery, fornication, unwanted pregnenecies, abortion and so forth.

".. Have now felt the side effects..." This has been going on for as long societies which are male dominated exist. The problem isn't that men and women are allowed to mix, (otherwise rape, harrassment, abuse ect etc would not be happening in Islamic societies as well. The segragation of women only serves to disenfranchise them from any power in their society. It does not protect them from rape. Most rape victims know their attacker. It is not usually a stranger as popular culture contends. Many rape victims in male dominated cultures don't come forward for fear of reprisals and shame. I understand that name calling and harrassment of women occurs just as frequently in Islamic countries, or probably more so. Women in Europe and western societies are mostly able to travel and go about their business without a male escort. In fact, many of them wouldn't put up with the kind of sexual harrassment that seems to be prevalent of lone females in places like Jordan for example. The average American woman would not put up with groping or cat calling at all as they have become more empowered and a lot of men don't go for it either. They're well educated about sexual harrassment and law suits. Things aren't perfect, but they're a hell of a lot better than they were before. This is the 21st century. It would be interesting to see how well this hotel does and who the clientele are. Japan is a poor example as the culture there is light years behind the west in emancipation of women.

The list you quoted above is not peculiar to western cultures. This is not about East meets West here, but about empowering women. Women once were warriors you know.