Should adults give up space on public transport to school-age children? The Russian journalist talks about the problem of childcentrism in our country.
One of the rules of conduct in public transport reads: "Give way to passengers with children, the disabled and the elderly." It would seem that what questions there might be - everything is logical. But should a young woman who comes home from work tired, jump up at the sight of a 10-year-old child? Where is the age limit at which a child is unable to stand on his feet for several minutes before stopping? The Russian journalist shares her opinion on this issue.
After one incident on the bus, she broke down and posted this story on Facebook.
I returned home in the evening. The bus was full, the seats were all occupied, another 15 people were standing at the handrails. A woman over 50 (probably a grandmother) with a grandson of 9-10 years old came at the bus stop. The lady looked around the bus with a determined gaze and asked her grandson: "Where are we going to sit?" The boy shrugged his shoulders and, not showing any particular desire to sit down, languidly stretched out: "I don't know ...". "Sit down, sit down," insisted the grandmother, "there is no truth at the feet!"
While I was following all this conversation with interest, the woman purposefully moved to a girl of about 25, sitting in the most convenient place, and without a shadow of a doubt ordered: "Make way for the child!" The girl got up, the man sitting next to him also stood up out of harm's way. The lady and the boy took the vacant seats and rode all the way sitting.
This is a typical Russian mentality, sacredly respecting the principles of childcentrism: all the best is for children ... and adults will manage somehow.
If that madame had come up to me, I would not have thought to give up my seat. An adult child, who does not even show signs of fatigue, and a middle-aged woman who can be called “grandmother” does not turn his tongue: why should people who are tired after a hard day give in to them? Apparently, a young woman who honestly plowed a full-time job did not deserve the right to go home sitting. As well as a man who may be engaged in hard physical labor.
After publishing this text on Facebook, a storm started. A hundred conflicting opinions fell on my head. First, for some reason, some felt that the grandmother and grandson might be tired and feel bad. They could, of course. As well as those whom they raised from their seats.
Secondly, the issue of the child's gender turned out to be of fundamental importance: if it were a girl, then all right, but the boy still needs to be raised like a man.
Thirdly, many decided that it was a decrepit 80-year old woman and a one-year-old toddler. No! By using the word "grandmother" I was only indicating the degree of kinship. The lady was not much more than 50 years old, and the "baby" was quite capable of being 10 years old. Here's what, for example, they wrote to me in the comments.
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Agree! Lately, every now and then I come across such situations in transport, in shops, in cafes ... Everywhere the same thing: give way, skip the queue, serve us first ... But why on earth? We, probably, also deserve basic respect! Interestingly, is it only in Russia that the world revolves around a child, or are there such trends in Europe as well?
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10 years is quite a conscious age, when a boy already needs to instill male behavior, and not drive a woman out of her seat so that he can sit down. How will he treat the weaker sex when he grows up? So she will adhere to the principles instilled by her mother and grandmother: nothing is more important than her own comfort.
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I wouldn't give in either. After all, the boy did not even want to sit down. This grandmother thought for him and decided. Apparently, the most wanted to sit, and here it is so by the way - the child is at hand. This is a universal shield with which you can cover all your desires.
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Of course, if we were talking about a kid who is still uncertainly on his feet and cannot withstand a long load, then it is clear that he must give in. But an over-aged child, over whom the "young grandmother" clucks, is too much. So up to 40 years old and will consider himself a child.
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Notice that the grandma raised the girl to make way for her grandson. To the future man! This is how the attitude of a man to a woman is formed. It is formed by such mothers and grandmothers who are ready to sacrifice themselves and all other females as a sacrifice to their tired child.
And then it begins - "all the men are goats", "there are no normal men left" ... And where can they come from, if such upbringing. Men are brought up from birth !!!!!
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It also annoys me when young children are not put on their knees. The child sits next to his mother, taking a separate seat, moreover, they do not even pay for travel. Is it really so difficult to pick him up and make room for one of the standing people?
How do you look at this situation? Would you give up your place?
