Air India has responded to reports of sexual harassment in the air by introducing women’s-only seats.
The airline made the decision after reports of two separate groping incidents in the past month, and it’s difficult to argue against. But it raises a serious issue.
Many travel advice books and websites advise women not to travel alone in India for the of harassment or worse.
Indeed, there have been several highly publicised rape and murder cases in India and elsewhere in southern Asia. It is clearly appropriate to ask: what’s going on?
That Air India has made this decision says something about its clientele and male attitudes in general.
If women feel safer in seats that are reserved for their gender only, so be it. But perhaps Air India should also fund education and awareness campaigns to make it clear that nothing a woman does, wears or says invites harassment.
