Should Sleeping Compartments on Trains Be Allocated by Gender in China?

Recently, a woman’s online complaint about being assigned to a sleeping compartment with three men sparked a debate on whether train compartments should be allocated by gender. Some argue that gender-based allocation can ensure the safety and privacy of female passengers. However, implementing such a system in practice may face numerous challenges, such as accommodating families traveling together, couples, and varying ticket booking orders for different genders.

Railway 12306 staff stated that they currently do not support gender-based compartment allocation. If passengers are dissatisfied with the compartment arrangement, they can seek assistance from train staff to change their berth or consider other train schedules and transportation options. Additionally, in 2006, China’s railway system experimented with women-only compartments, but the initiative was discontinued due to insufficient demand.

Although the practical difficulties of allocating sleeping compartments by gender are significant, the development of big data and artificial intelligence technologies may enable ticketing platforms to provide more intelligent solutions in the future. Meanwhile, safety measures such as installing alarm devices in sleeping compartments or adding curtains to berths can be considered to protect passengers’ privacy.

When addressing this issue, it is essential to strike a balance between the interests of the majority and avoid taking extreme measures. Improving gender education and individual safety awareness is also crucial in resolving the problem. In conclusion, a more reasonable solution should be sought by considering various factors to meet the needs of different passengers.