‭ blog by “ Washington Post” showed that study conducted by researchers at San José State‬

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‭University (SJSU) has shed light on a pressing issue: sexual harassment in public transport‬
‭affects both men and women, creating significant concerns for commuters. This study's‬
‭findings are not unique to one region; they reflect a broader societal challenge that demands‬
‭attention globally.‬

‭ ccording to the study, concern about harassment is notably higher among women than men.‬
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‭Twice as many women as men perceive harassment as a significant problem while using‬
‭public transit. This concern translates into tangible actions, with 45% of female bus riders‬
‭admitting that fear of sexual harassment has led them to reduce their bus usage, impacting‬
‭their mobility and daiy routines. These statistics are not just numbers; they represent the lived‬
‭experiences of countless individuals navigating public spaces.‬

‭ ow, let's broaden our perspective. If a country like the United States, known for its advanced‬
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‭transportation systems and progressive values, grapples with such issues, it underscores the‬
‭pervasive nature of the problem. Imagine the conditions in countries like India, where public‬
‭transport systems serve millions daily across diverse landscapes and cultural contexts. The‬
‭scale of the issue magnifies, with the safety concerns of commuters becoming even more‬
‭pronounced.‬

I‭ n India, reports and surveys consistently highlight the prevalence of harassment in public‬
‭transport. This alarming gap between incidents and reporting reflects a larger systemic‬
‭challenge that needs urgent attention and effective solutions.‬

‭ his is where the concept of gender-segregated transport gains significance. By offering‬

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‭segregated options within public transport systems, we can create safer and more inclusive‬
‭environments for everyone. It's about adapting solutions to local realities while upholding‬
‭universal principles of safety and respect for all passengers, regardless of gender. These‬
‭measures not only address the immediate concerns but also pave the way for a more equitable‬
‭and welcoming public transport experience for all.‬

‭ et’s talk about india :‬

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‭- A 2021 online survey across metropolitan areas found that almost 56 percent of the women‬
‭who used public transport reported being sexually harassed.‬
‭-88% of surveyed women in Delhi faced sexual harassment but only 1% reported it to the‬
‭police‬
 -‭ 37% people faced harassment in public transport, says survey The survey received over‬
‭20,000 responses from citizens located in 321 districts of India‬

‭1.‬ ‭Impact on Women's Mobility and Workforce Participation:‬

-‭ Women who feel unsafe in public transportation may resort to using private transport‬
‭options, such as taxis or personal vehicles.‬
‭-This shift to private transport comes with higher personal costs, including increased taxi‬
‭fares or expenses associated with maintaining a private vehicle.‬
‭-Additionally, there are social costs associated with increased private transport usage, such as‬
‭congestion and traffic congestion.‬
‭-In extreme cases, women may choose not to travel at all due to safety concerns, leading to‬
‭significant negative impacts on their workforce participation and economic empowerment.‬
‭-Limited mobility can hinder women's ability to access education, employment opportunities,‬
‭and essential services, perpetuating gender disparities in workforce participation and‬
‭economic independence.‬

‭2.‬ D
‭ espite efforts to mitigate harassment, the close proximity of seats in public‬
‭transportation can still enable perpetrators to harass women.‬
‭The cramped environment may embolden individuals to attempt to take advantage of the‬
‭situation, making unwanted advances or engaging in inappropriate behaviour.‬
‭Why can’t we restrict this from happening at the first place‬

3‭ .‬ ‭Public Transport Doesn't Fit Women's Schedules (by world bank blogs)‬
‭Public transportation systems are mostly designed around the needs of men, which means‬
‭they might not work well for women's schedules.‬
‭Women often travel at times when there aren't many buses or trains running, like during the‬
‭day when they have to do errands or take care of family.‬
‭Because of this, women end up using other ways to get around, like auto rickshaws, which‬
‭can be more expensive.‬
‭This means women have to spend more money just to get where they need to go, which isn't‬
‭fair.‬
‭One solution to this is a different public transport service.‬
 4‭ .‬ ‭According to World Bank‬
‭Women Face high risk of harassment in‬
‭streets and secluded areas. Tend to‬
‭always be alert and adopt safety‬
‭mechanisms to safeguard‬
‭themselves against harassment.‬

‭ ace challenges in‬

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‭accessing recreational‬
‭open spaces as it is mostly‬
‭occupied by men‬
‭-In some countries, sexual harassment on transport translates into girls missing school,‬
‭women giving up job offers, or even being unable to access essential healthcare services‬

‭5.‬ A
‭ ccording to a recent study by the International Labor Organization (ILO), limited‬
‭access to safe transportation reduces the likelihood of women participating in the‬
‭labour force by 16.5% in developing countries.‬
‭Farhad Ahmed, a Senior Transport Specialist at the World Bank, emphasizes that if women‬
‭cannot use public transport safely, it could have significant long-term implications for‬
‭transport planning.‬
‭This statistic highlights the critical role that safe and accessible transportation plays in‬
‭enabling women to engage in economic activities and participate fully in the workforce.‬

‭6.‬ -‭ Everyone agrees on the goal of public transport in which all users – men and‬
‭women – feel secure.‬‭Alternatives for getting to that goal either through fully‬
‭integrated public transport with enhanced protection for women or by providing‬
‭women with the option of women-only private cars have big implications for‬
‭economies as a whole and for individual beneficiaries‬

‭7.‬ T
‭ here are 19 possible types of sexual harassment or intimidation on public‬
‭transportation, including whistling or seductively whistling, making comments about‬
‭bodies, making sexist remarks, taking photos without permission, rubbing genitals,‬
‭and groping. Why are we not stopping them at the first stage itself?‬
‭Since prevention is better than cure , then shouldn't we have gender seg transport in‬
‭the first place itself.‬
 ‭8.‬ ‭Safety and security :‬

‭ tudies and real-world experiences consistently show that women and marginalised groups‬
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‭often face harassment, intimidation, and even violence in mixed-gender transport settings.‬
‭Gender-segregated transport provides a safer environment, especially during late hours or in‬
‭areas prone to such incidents. Ensuring the safety of all passengers should be a top priority in‬
‭our transportation policies.‬

‭ o , as a concluding remark , debate over gender-segregated transportation ultimately boils‬

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‭down to ensuring comfortable mobility for all individuals. Regardless of the reasons behind‬
‭the discomfort experienced by passengers, the goal remains the same: to provide a‬
‭transportation system that meets the diverse needs of its users. Segregated transport isn't‬
‭about perpetuating gender divisions or addressing specific empowerment issues; it's about‬
‭acknowledging and responding to the reality that discomfort affects people of all genders. By‬
‭offering segregated spaces, we can create environments where everyone feels safe,‬
‭comfortable, and able to move freely, ultimately enhancing the overall travel experience for‬
‭everyone involved.‬

‭POSSIBLE COUNTER ARGUMENTS:‬

-‭ not to perpetuate gender divisions but to address specific safety concerns faced any gender‬
‭(male/female) where females are relatively more. Highlight that integrated systems should‬
‭still prioritize safety and inclusivity, but additional measures may be necessary to address the‬
‭unique challenges faced by different genders.‬

-‭ Gender-segregated transportation aims to address safety concerns rather than reinforce‬

‭stereotypes. It empowers women to access public spaces and contribute to societal progress‬
‭by ensuring their safety and freedom of movement, irrespective of cultural norms.‬

-‭ : While gender-segregated transportation may not eliminate harassment entirely, it is a‬

‭necessary step toward creating safer public spaces. It should be implemented alongside other‬
‭measures such as education, law enforcement, and social attitude changes to comprehensively‬
‭tackle harassment.‬

-‭ Segregation alone may not completely eradicate harassment, but it serves as a proactive‬
‭measure to mitigate risks.Provides an additional‬

‭ dditionally, investing in segregation doesn't preclude addressing root causes; it complements‬

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‭broader efforts to tackle harassment‬

‭-It might not be the best solution , but yes it is necessary‬

‭Counter questions?‬
1‭ .: How do you address the concerns of women who feel unsafe using public‬
‭transportation due to past experiences of harassment? Do you believe current‬
‭measures are sufficient to guarantee their mobility and freedom of movement?‬

2‭ .What alternative solutions do you suggest to address the documented decrease‬

‭in women's mobility and workforce participation due to safety concerns on‬
‭public transport?‬