How about men just stop assaulting women?

Aaaaaaaand where's the problem? There are many cities around the world that have women only subway and metro cars because perverted cisgender heterosexual males can't keep their hands to themselves. Males are the problem, not the "victim".

Personally, I don't think this is a positive, and not about protecting women. If they really cared, they would have a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate behaviour and create an environment where women felt safe speaking up if anything happened. Stuff like this puts the onus on woman to pay extra to be safe, and if anything does happen, then they can blame her for not taking that option if she was concerned. It's not that far a leap from this to societies where the thinking is women "should" be kept separate from unknown men for their own safety, and need a man to run their lives and protect them .

Japan has women only train carriages. Great idea. A lot of men were not raised well.

It's sad that we have to do this in 2024. If men would simply police each other when this happens, it would stop, because obviously society as a whole isn't going to stop boys from learning to be bad men.

WHY did it take so long? YEARS ago we had separate train cars for men and women

It's a start, but the real problem is men being jerks and entitled a*shats, thinking they can grope and assault women. Not all snakes... SIGH.

The worst offenders have it down to a science. Being in such close quarters makes it easy for them to claim their obvious grope was just an accidental brush of their arm or a slip of the hand. They know it is nearly impossible to prove even if they are accused but just to be safe they prefer to pray on women whose own culture will shame them if they speak up. The shame belongs to those who pray upon these women but it also belongs to those who perpetuate this antiquated culture of victim blaming/shaming.

Seems like a good idea to me.

I don't get why people are upset about this. If your not the problem it doesn't affect you. It's not gonna separate you from your partner or kid it's a option. No this is not the solution a better solution would be teaching our sons to respect women as much as we teach our daughters to be afraid and cautious of men. But this is faster and what we can do right now to try to keep people safe.

Where do they stand on trans people?

I would prefer to sit next to a woman just to avoid the man spreading. See how they like trying it on with other men.

So... we're going back to segregation?

2010s in a German regional train. I doze off and when I wake up find the stranger sitting next to me has put his hand on my thigh. I was so shocked I couldn't even speak, just jerked my leg away. He acted as if nothing has happened. Yes, that's why I totally would book such a seat. And it's not just happening in India or Japan

The men throwing fits about it are probably the reason women need this. Keep your hands to yourself!

I love this - and it doesn't solve the problem but I can tell you if I was in my 20s again I would have used this option in a heartbeat. Good on you Air India!

But then can a man then choose to sit next to a woman? Or do women only get to "see" who is next to them? Great idea, I see a lot of loopholes.

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I think Giles Smith is an idiot.

With all the harassment I have ever endured I have never been accosted on an airplane. However, I understand there is a cultural aspect and that Indian women get felt up and harassed a lot. I heartily approve of this measure but yes, it is a bandaid and it does not fix the problem at hand, nor can you expect it to. This will take lifetimes of nationwide re-education, preventative measures and harsher punishment for offenders. Even living in a western country with better protections, misogyny and harassment still continue so do not expect to see improvement any time soon in India. Instead, do what you can to prevent it and that is exactly what IndiGo is doing.

As a woman I'm fine with getting seated next to a man, as should we all. Absolute insanity, this. But can I get seated away from entitled asshat kids and adults?

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So… men at the front of the bus and women at the back? Sorry: plane. Hmmm.