Separate Trains for the Sexes

I was browsing through feministing.com today and I came across an article about how India now has separate trains for women. That article then links to other pieces that talk about the same matter within other countries such as Japan, Tehran, and Brazil. In the Western world, when women are segregated in any way, Western women, and most definitely Western feminists, will automatically assume it’s an act of sexism. In some cultures, some women view the separating of men and women as discriminating against the men. On one hand, I’m extremely excited and happy that these trains are being put into action since it’ll reduce the amount of crime committed against women on public transportations i.e groping, kidnapping, etc. and it is a sign that countries are beginning to step in to help the women who have been victimized. But on the other hand, these events make me ask some questions: Are these actions a way of segregating women? Should we be looking at this event from the Western angle alone? Shouldn’t the men be better educated instead? My problem with this situation is that by removing the women, it seems to send the message that women are the reason why men behave in such horrible manners and that by removing them, the men automatically transform into ideal model citizens. The problem with solving harassment shouldn’t be placed on women but on the men who think that committing such crimes are not only acceptable but also a male born right.


The attached video is from Anthony Bourdain’s Travel Channel show titled No Reservations. The relevant footage, taken from an episode when he visits Saudi Arabia, is from, approximately, .47 to 2:11.