Israeli Gender Equality

What Should Ultra Orthodox Do About Gender Equality on Israeli Buses?

For this weeks blog I am discussing an article regarding gender equality within Israel's public transport system. Based on social and religious beliefs, some men believe that a woman ought to sit at the back of public buses. The Israeli Supreme Court has officially deemed gender-segragated buses illegal, though incidents of 'sex-bullying' still occur. In this article, police arrested a man who was suspected of sex bullying a woman. The report states that two men boarded a bus and demanded a woman leave her seat at the front of the bus and move to the back so they could sit. She refused, and the men shouted that she was 'impure' and began reciting prayer and screaming at her. Police were dispatched to meet the bus at its destination and confront every one involved. Even the police asked if she was 'willing to respect the men and move to the back?” In response, she said, “I respected them enough with my modest dress and don't plan to humiliate myself to respect them or anyone else.” The man who screamed at her opted to stay at the bus stop rather than travel with the woman in question. This is a glaring example of the gender inequality that still exists in parts of the world, and particular in the middle east region. We in America have already gone through similar situations here, and to us this is unacceptable. I admire this woman for standing up to these guys that were trying to force her to give up her seat. Gender equalization is slowly working its way through these regions of the world. It is definitely a bit behind where we are, but according to what we have learned about in class I feel they will be away from discriminating and bullying women for the basic things that men are entitled to.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/19/what-should-the-ultra-orthodox-do-about-gender-equality-on-israeli-buses.html