Sexy clothing may cause sexual harassment

By Zhao Yue Source:Global Times Published: 2012-6-28 18:05:02

A 30-something male commuter ejaculated on a woman's leg during rush hour earlier this month. A week later, another man showed his private parts to a woman on a metro Line 7 train and another one was caught using his mobile phone to take pictures underneath of a woman's dress.

The Shanghai No.2 Metro Operator posted a photo on its official microblog, in which a woman whose underwear was clearly visible through a see-through black dress. The operator said in the post that "It's no wonder that some people get harassed if they dress like this." It continued to advice women to dress more modestly. This statement aroused heated discussions.

In response, two female activists publicly protested on the city's subway lines with a sign that read "Just because I'm slutty doesn't mean you can be dirty."

According to an online poll, 5,836 (55.1 percent) people support the metro company's post on microblog, saying that women should dress more appropriately in the summer, 4,115 (38.9 percent) are against the post, saying that it's women's right to choose what they want to wear, and 637 (6 percent) think it's hard to say.

As a woman myself, I strongly support the female victims and condemn the metro gropers. We are not living in the ancient times anymore. Women fought for centuries to get the right to vote, to enter politics, and to be able to choose their spouses. We live in the 21st century and it would be ridiculous if women couldn't have a say on what they want to wear.

I agree that the metro company should remind female passengers to watch out for the metro gropers. But I don't think it is appropriate for them to make the judgment that it is women's fault that they were sexually harassed. The metro company should be protecting passengers' safety, not judging their choice of clothing.

I believe women have the right to choose what they want to wear. The gropers are the ones that should be blamed. Should the women who wear bikini on the beach be sexually harassed by men too? Should all women be wrapped up like dumplings to ensure that they are safe?

There are thousands of male passengers commuting on the metro every day and yet only few of them harassed the innocent women. When you see a woman who dresses improperly, it doesn't mean you are free to touch her. Gropers, I think you are the ones who should have more self-respect.

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT
Illustration: Chen Xia/GT



Posted in: TwoCents, Metro Shanghai

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