As a preventative measure against sexual harassment, some modes of public transportation in Jakarta, such as the KRL Commuterline train and the TransJakarta bus, provide women-only sections on their vehicles. And with the launch of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) railway system scheduled for March, the train company is contemplating doing the same.
On their social media channels, MRT Jakarta has posted a survey asking women if women-only carriages — much like those on the KRL Commuterline — should be a feature on their trains. You can fill out the survey here, which closes on Dec 15.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq7CUhrnPdM/
KRL Commuterline and TransJakarta operators have justified the creation of women-only spaces in order to combat sexual harassment, though some critics say that segregating women on public transportation does more to normalize sexual harassment than protect them.
The comments section of the post above are also divided on the topic, highlighting both the pros and the cons of women-only carriages on the MRT.
“It’s not necessary. This would be a dumbing down, negating room for [society to] learn. It’s like tearing down the toilet just because there’s a cockroach in it. By mixing [genders], men will know how to appropriately behave towards women, and vice versa,” wrote one user.
“It’s necessary. On the KRL there are only few women-only carriages whereas there are many passengers. If we go in the [general] carriage the risk is high. Sometimes there are men who deliberately touch women’s behinds and even breasts. That’s fact,” wrote another.
It’s true that, regardless of whether or not there are women-only carriages, the large number of train passengers in Jakarta means that many women often have no choice but to go on gender-neutral carriages, leading to numerous cases of sexual harassment. One way the KRL Commuterline has been combating this is by deploying undercover security officers to catch harassers in trains and at stations.
And while women-only carriages is a pretty solid safeguard against sexual harassment by men, they do not guarantee comfort for the women on board since they are often so crowded. Such tense conditions have led to numerous viral incidents of physical confrontations on women-only carriages in recent years.
Do you think the MRT should provide women-only carriages? Let us know your thoughts on the comments section below.
