The question of who should have priority access to chairs on public transport is a thorny issue all over the world.
In London, the transport authority has even launched badges labeled “please give me a seat” for people with special requirements to use on underground trains.
Today, it was the turn of the Saudis to debate when and for whom people should give up their seats.
Media personality and women’s rights campaigner Muna AbuSulayman kicked off debate with the following post:
في باص الطيارة الذاهبة للرياض الرجال قاعدين و السيدات و الأطفال واقفين، كله عامل نفسه مو شايف و يبص في تليفونه # جدة #الرياض #رجولة #كاذبة
— Muna AbuSulayman (@MunaAbuSulayman) January 17, 2017
In the airport bus going to Riyadh the men were all sitting and the women and children were all standing. The worker himself didn’t see and just kept staring at his phone.
Soon, the hashtag “that’s our seat” was launched as Saudis discussed the delicate issue. Some suggested that the answer is straightforward: men should give up their seats for women.
مش هتسأل البنت في الباص انتي فيمينست او بتطالبي بالمساواة عشان تقعدها مكانك او لا، اعمل الاشي اللي يخليك رجل في نظر نفسك وبس.
— ارنستو و شرَّفتو (@mohammad_adawi) January 18, 2017
#الكرسي_لنا
You’re not going to ask a girl on the bus are you feminist or do you demand equality in order to give up your place or not. Do the thing that makes you respect yourself as a man.
#الكرسي_لنا You guys need to understand that it's not an obligation, but it's more of a tasteful demeanor. pic.twitter.com/eTBhuPJKzc
— Ahmed | احمد (@Ahmed_Osaimi) January 18, 2017
@MunaAbuSulayman جالسين في اماكن ماهي لهم ، مكتوب في لوحه جانبيه " المقاعد للنساء وكبار السن "
— ناصر العوده /هولستون (@HoLSTN10) January 17, 2017
They are sitting next to a sign saying that the seats are for women and the elderly.
Others claimed that women should only be given the priority when they were pregnant or elderly, or had some other special requirement:
#الكرسي_لنا
— AngrySaudi (@AngrySaudi) January 18, 2017
ماله دخل الذوق ولا الرجولة ولا الشهامة
اذا انت احد الي بالصورة .. حقك
اذا لا .. روق المنقا يامحور الكون pic.twitter.com/0IXHsqTVKK
This has nothing to do with good taste or manliness or chivalry. If you are one of the people in the picture... it is your right. If not...then calm down, you "center of the Universe."
#الكرسي_لنا ترا فاهمه غلط كونك انثى مو يعني انك من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصه! اذا جاء قبلك فالكرسي من حقه pic.twitter.com/RUndQAcck1
— (@m123my2) January 18, 2017
She has understand being a woman wrong. If you are a woman that doesn’t necessarily mean you have special requirements. If he was there before you, then the seat is his right.
@MunaAbuSulayman
— حذيفة (@houdaifa1990) January 17, 2017
معك بنقطة الأطفال والسيدات الحوامل وكبار السن أما سالفة انا جيت وجلست بعدين تجي وحدة وأقوم وأقعدها مكاني بس لأنها أنثى لا
I am with you on the point with regard to children and pregnant women and old people. However, with regard to the occasions when I come and sit down, and then a girl comes I have to give her my seat just because she’s female, then no.
Others simply mocked the suggestion that women should be given priority seating:
#الكرسي_لنا women in this tag be like pic.twitter.com/tdtfDEYHgo
— زكريّا (@Big7ShoT) January 18, 2017
#الكرسي_لنا
— Faisal (@Faisal___NA) January 18, 2017
Of course it is pic.twitter.com/vPbm1sVzlF
As secretary general of the philanthropic arm of HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal's Kingdom Holding Company, AbuSulayman has been involved in supporting a number of social initiatives, including projects empowering Saudi women. Alwaleed himself is well known for his support for women's rights, having called last year for a change to the law forbidding Saudi women from driving.
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