Female space on public transport: Case study of women’s metro carriages in Guangdong Province, China

My research focuses on women’s carriages on the metro systems of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In particular, I focus on why women’s carriages were set up in China; I explore young women’s and men’s perspectives on and experiences of travelling on the metro and in women’s carriages; and consider the extent to which there are gendered differences in their responses and why. My research draws on 44 interviews as well as my own participant observations of using the metro system, all of which took place in 2019. According to the policymaker in China behind the introduction of women’s carriages, the main aims were to protect female passengers from sexual harassment on the metro, to create a comfortable and safe travelling environment, and to advocate as part of the pursuit of the socialist spiritual civilisation in which men should be chivalrous towards women. My thesis demonstrates that, despite the introduction of the women’s metro carriages, little has changed, the principle of having women’s carriages is not reinforced, and women continue to experience harassment and discomfort on the metros. Because the focus is on separating women from men, no attempt is made to deal with men’s perpetration of sexual harassment. My interviews demonstrate that many men are unaware of what is acceptable behaviour towards women on public transport and what constitutes sexual harassment. Women live in a climate of fear of sexual harassment and deepens the male dominance and gender inequality on public transport. My analysis also reveals broader attitudes towards gender, demonstrating some rethinking of gender roles and expectations amongst young Chinese men and women alongside the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and practices. I have also extended our understanding of the factors influencing the participants’ changing attitudes towards gender discourse and discuss the increasing gender antagonism among young people in China.