According to an article from the Associated Press, Indonesia's state run train operator has decided to set aside two carriages on one of its most popular routes from the capital Jakarta as designated 'female only' spaces.
This is in response to 'floods' of letters from women complaining about sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour on the crowded trains. Despite Indonesia's repuatation for tolerance, with Muslim and secular values co-existing happily for the most part, harassment is apparently common on public transport and the new carriages have been enthusiastically filled by Indonesian women during their short trial run.
Indonesia is following the example of Malaysia, Japan and India by solving the problem of harassment with segregated spaces on public transport. And whilst anything that makes women feel safer and and more comfortable has got to be a good thing, it seems both sad and ludicrous that such extreme measures are necessary.
In an ideal world, the onus would be on men to simply keep their hands and their comments to themselves. And I sincerely hope that offering these measures won't mean that women who do continue to choose to use the mixed carriages won't be seen even more as fair game.
