Why, when a pregnant, elderly or disabled person gets on the bus/subway, and nobody gets up...?

Question

Why do many women gripe about the men who did nothing, while they sat tight?

Not meant offensively. I know tradition is tradition but if nobody is getting up a woman could do it.

Answer 1

I see your point completely.

This is sort of a double standard.  I think that if men have to show this politeness and deference, women should too.

*I'm sorry if you disagree but that is how I feel.  In most cases, men will offer their seats to people who actually need them.  This is what I've observed.  It is rude for anyone of either gender to not give up a seat for someone who needs it.

Answer 2

I always get up if there is any of the above boarding a bus... at least I ask if they want to sit down.. and most disabled or pregnant women will but some elderly ladies say '' I am not that old... thank you, I don't need to sit down'', so I stay in my seat... if they have the energy.. I only ask once...it's polite to ask.. men and women should do that.. if there is a handicapped person... or a pregant person.. or an elderly person with a cane then definitely offer a seat.. you don't have to offer a seat to a fit 50 year old woman....or man...but to one in their 70's...

Answer 3

An elderly woman got on a bus.  I thought one of the 'gentlemen' would offer their seat - to my surprise, they continued reading their paper or looking out the window, and so after a reasonable amount of time, I offered my seat and she graciously accepted.

Once on my feet, however, one of the men immediately stood up to offer his seat.   I politely told him 'No thanks...I've been sitting all day' - but I wondered...was he motivated to suddenly stand by humility or embarassment?

Such a jerk.

Answer 4

I agree, irrespective of the gender - we all should respect old, disabled, pregnant women and women with little children. I'm a woman and i do offer my seat. Its true, i see women to be less accomodating, they look the other way when someone old gets in, not all but most women do not get up.

Answer 5

Well, I don't know, because I would get up.  I have in the past.

What I want to know is why the man and the woman are both supposed to work and contribute to the household bills, yet no matter who's working I always end up doing all the housework?  That's the way it has been in every relationship I've ever been in.  So why can't you guys do the standing up on the bus?

Answer 6

I'm a woman and I always offer up my seat to any one in need....pregnant, elderly, or some one who is disabled or maybe has their hands full.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I have gotten up more than once because the fat ignorant man in the suit beside me was too lazy.

Let's see some common courtesy here - Why does everyone pretend they dont' see the old lady get on the bus?

RUDE!!!!!

Answer 9

I always get up for old people, etc. And I'm a woman. It's hard to tell when you should get up, because many older women take offense when someone gets up to let them sit down. I've seen lots of women get up for older/disabled. I think maybe you've seen more men because women are also seen as more delicate, so why should the delicate get up and not the stronger? (That's not my thinking, but I'm sure people think that). I'm sure it also depends on where you live. When I was in Poland, men and women stood up an equal amount of times. Here where I live in the US, I don't ride busses or subways, so I don't know. When I lived in Germany there was a story about a foreign girl who couldn't speak German who got up for an old woman, when none of the Germans would. So it goes both ways.

Answer 10

Because its supposedly meant to be manners for the man to do it or something, I always move for people who look like they need a seat. I usually just stand anyway.

Answer 11

Equality of the sexes, treat women the same way as men.  They don't stand up for us, why should we stand up for them?

Answer 12

I would get up in a second but I would be loud and vocal about the men who sit on their fat asses non stop. I would go on and on about how I, an older lady, had to stand up in order to do the right thing when all these able bodied men sit on their cans and how there is no respect for people any more society is crumbling, etc. Believe me, the guys who did not get up would be very very sorry they didn't.