(LI SHIGONG) 

In late April, Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, launched female-only bus services to combat sexual harassment in the summer time. The special buses, deployed during the city's rush hours, are decorated with fake flowers and toys to distinguish them from ordinary ones.

While most women welcome the practice, some men feel the move is discriminatory as it implies that all men have the potential to molest women. Men who do so are colloquially referred to as "wolves."

The bus company says the idea behind the service is to make the journey more comfortable, convenient and safer for women. Women-only buses will be in service just for the summer, the time of year when women are most frequently molested by men in crowded public transport vehicles.

In countering the discrimination criticism, the bus company pointed out that an ordinary bus will follow each female-only bus, so that male passengers are not disadvantaged. Pregnant and breastfeeding women also need the special service, the company said.

Progress 

Zhang Na (www.people.com.cn): The women-only bus service aims to protect female passengers. In the summer, females usually wear less clothing than men, which makes them easy targets for so-called "wolves." Such buses can prevent sexual harassment.

Besides, the service makes traveling more convenient for women, especially breastfeeding mothers. Sometimes, mothers have no choice but to feed their hungry and crying babies in public, even though they know it's considered improper to do so in front of strangers. In an all-female environment, however, the situation will be different, and women will surely feel more secure when feeding their babies.

Some males complain that the bus service is discriminatory, since, they say, predatory males account for just a small fraction of the total male population. I don't think the women-only bus service inconveniences males, as the dedicated buses are an additional complement to the existing buses. Besides, female-only buses will only operate in the summer during peak hours to relieve overcrowding. How can this be dubbed as discrimination against males?

The women-only bus service is an appropriate practice, but to fundamentally solve the problems facing female passengers, we need to improve passengers' moral standards, so that women can find themselves in a friendly environment.

Zhou Zi (Qinghai Daily): The women-only bus service in the summer demonstrates consideration and care for women. Certainly, this is not the fundamental way out, and we all know that the solution is to provide enough buses and to crack down on the harassment on public transport. But not enough buses are currently available. So, under present circumstances, providing buses solely for women seems to be a proper measure.

Is this discrimination against males? In response, the Zhengzhou bus company has said that, just like International Women's Day, the female-only bus service shows care and respect for women—it is not designed to insult males.

Some sociologists praise the bus company for its consideration for pregnant women and nursing mothers, who often find buses inconvenient. The dedicated service also shows how, even in a society that upholds gender equality, special care for women is still necessary. Respecting women does not necessarily lead to discrimination against men, and caring for women does not inevitably result in harm to men.

Some people ask, since buses now exist exclusively for women, why not reproduce the practice of gender segregation elsewhere in public? In reality, though, few if any places exist that are as crowded as buses during rush hours.

A female-only bus service is a special measure that addresses a specific problem, so it need not be replicated in other areas. How long the service continues will depend on passenger demands. As for whether or not the step is negative or positive, the answer will come in time.

Yu Lisheng (www.rednet.cn): The provision of female-only buses in Zhengzhou during summer rush hours is based on several factors.

In the summer when passengers wear thin clothes, women are more likely to be molested on buses than in other seasons. This service is intended to better protect the dignity and safety of women.

Also, the number of pregnant women is increasing under China's newly adopted two-child policy, but the number of bus seats reserved for them is limited. Female-only bus services, therefore, provide more space. Women in the early stages of pregnancy, who have yet to exhibit any obvious signs of their condition, hesitate to ask for seats in crowded public transport, and at the same time, other passengers see no reason to offer their seats. In women-only buses, however, newly pregnant women will find it easy to tell others that they are pregnant and thus need to sit down.

We should not treat gender equality in a rigid way. We have to admit that there are physiological differences between men and women. Real gender equality is based on the correct treatment of specific issues. Sometimes, women do need special help due to physical and physiological reasons, and we should not neglect the existence of these needs.

Xue Jiaming (Qinghai Daily): Although female-only buses benefit only a small number of women in this city, that's not a rational reason to deny the service.

Females tend to have issues they cannot speak about in public. When surrounded by members of the same gender, however, this may no longer be a problem. Mothers, for example, can easily breastfeed their babies in such an environment.

Although its effect is still limited, this service represents progress. If it goes well, hopefully more female-only bus services will become available both in Zhengzhou and in other cities around the country.

Discrimination  

Ran Yu (Qinghai Daily): Not everyone nods in approval at Zhengzhou's practice of providing women-only buses. Is this really the proper way to protect women? Actually, some women don't like the measure, arguing that it emphasizes women's weak image.

In modern society, women see themselves differently from how women saw themselves centuries ago. Traditional thinking, which deems women to be in need of protection, is changing, and women are assuming a contemporary identity as social players who demand treatment equal to that enjoyed by men.

The bus operator, then, may find itself in a no-win situation. The immediate and fundamental solution is to increase the number of buses so that the vehicles will be less crowded and "wolves" will find it more difficult to carry out their nefarious deeds. Imposing tough penalties on such bullies is also important.

Wang Chunyang (Yimeng Evening News): This is meant to be an effort by Zhengzhou's bus operator to safeguard women against molestation. But, those who sexually harass women constitute only a small fraction of male passengers. By introducing women-only buses, the bus company to some extent labels all males as possible offenders.

Essential differences exist between the genteel treatment of women and "women-only" buses. The former showcases male etiquette, but the latter harms men's right to take public transport. Is the city only capable of protecting its women by hurting its men? Providing female-only buses damages Zhengzhou's image.

Why are women easily subject to harassment in buses? On one hand, overcrowding on buses makes it easy for these so-called "wolves" to molest women. On the other hand, some women don't dare to speak out when they are attacked due to a fear of escalating the issue. In most cases, moreover, other passengers keep silent when women are harassed, and this helps fuel such incidents on buses.

Zhengzhou's bus operator has not tried to solve the fundamental problem. They've simply addressed it superficially by separating female and male passengers. It may work in the short term, but actually it covers up the basic problem.

Copyedited by Chris Surtees

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