When I stayed in the United States, I realized how advanced public transportation is in Japan. But there is one thing about our train system that I am ashamed of: the women-only passenger car. India also has this system, but Indians adopted it for religious reasons. In Japan, it was adopted because of some men who touch women's bodies and the women who complain about it to the train company.
Although the system protects women from such men, it should be abolished because it makes the rush-hour problem even worse. Moreover, it is unfair to most men and can hardly be considered a fundamental solution to the problem.
The morning and evening commutes are a nightmare. I can barely move my body, the air is bad, and getting on and off is hard. The women-only passenger car forces more men to fit into the remaining train cars.
The start of women-only passenger cars underscored the existence of sexual gropers. Although it is a good thing that more people are now considering their manners on the train, there is a bad side as well: There are now women who make false claims of being sexually harassed. Any man can be mistaken for a sexual groper.
If a man charged with touching a young girl's body, for instance, is innocent, he is still likely to lose a court fight because the testimony of the woman who thought she was touched is usually considered stronger. This can destroy everything in a man's life. Some men now keep their hands raised all the time while riding trains to avoid being mistaken for a groper. I feel sorry for them.
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