NYT: Indian Women Find New Peace in Rail Commute

Indian Women Find New Peace in Rail Commute

PALWAL, India — As the morning commuter train rattled down the track, Chinu Sharma, an office worker, enjoyed the absence of men. Some of them pinch and grope women on trains, or shout insults and catcalls, she said. Her friend Vandana Rohile agreed and widened her eyes in mock imitation.

“Sometimes they just stare at you,” said Ms. Rohile, 27.

Up and down the jostling train, women repeated the same theme: As millions of women have poured into the Indian work force over the last decade, they have met with different obstacles in a tradition-bound, patriarchal culture, but few are more annoying than the basic task of getting to work.

The problems of taunting and harassment, known as eve teasing, are so persistent that in recent months the government has decided to simply remove men altogether. In a pilot program, eight new commuter trains exclusively for female passengers have been introduced in India’s four largest cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta.

more at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/world/asia/16ladies.html

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An interesting article. I like the idea of the women-only train, given the situation. We all desperately need some peace of mind. But i wish there were a way to deal with the assholes who harrass women on the trains. Cattle-prod? I don't like how it's used on cattle and in torture, but in this situation, it's sounds quite appealing. :evilgrin:

pinching and groping to such a degree that it warrants a separate train to keep women safe?

It's one thing if the occasional weirdo does something on public transit here in the US but that is typically not the norm.

I don't think I have ever taken the subway or LIRR without witnessing that sort of behavior.

The man from mars might think "show us your tits" is the local greeting,

I haven't been to NY in some time and never took public transit there.

I used to use public transit all the time and the creepiest situations for me were men who would ask for my phone number that were a bit "off", but they never touched me. I was just approached by a guy at the drugstore recently and he gave me his number, saw me about a week later and wanted to know why I hadn't called him yet. but no touchy feely stuff.

Western women just seem more apt to taking the creeps in stride than others.

said in a stage voice so that everybody would turn and stare would get the pervert off the train at the first station.

Still, it would have been nicer not to have to do that.

The situation makes me mad, so mad. I'm not a violent person, but this makes me want to hurt the bastards.

I hope men who find this abhorrent will stand up to those jerks. It's one way to start changing attitudes.

to use if the stares hadn't made the bastard uncomfortable enough to leave.

It wasn't the admonishment. It was making it in such a way that the whole car full of people stared at him.

winning the lottery for perverts







Separate train for women - Women:1 Perverts:0