Paris takes on 'le manspreading'
Men will be asked to close their legs on public transport
It is a common gripe of any passenger on public transport - men who spread their legs over their allotted space, effectively taking up two seats.
Now the global backlash against the leg-spreaders is growing. Almost 19,000 people have signed a Change.org petition asking the Syndicat des Transports d鈥橧le-de-France (STIF) to act for 鈥渢he wellbeing of public transport users鈥�. The local transport authority in Madrid placed a ban on 'manspreading鈥� in June.
On Tuesday the Groupe 茅cologiste de Paris (GEP) took the reins by discussing the issue at a Council of Paris meeting. Their representative David Belliard asked that Parisian transport bodies take note of 鈥榤anspreading鈥�.
The Council of Paris conceded that 鈥榤anspreading鈥� was a 鈥減ernicious form of violence against women鈥�, and that the 鈥渟haring of public space, particularly in public transport, is often not in favour of women鈥�.
The Anti-Sexist Brigade joined in with the campaign, posting around 300 stickers across the metro network, saying- 鈥淵ou should close your thighs. You don鈥檛 have crystal balls, they won鈥檛 explode.鈥�
Some have objected to 鈥榤anspreading鈥� being labelled a feminist issue. They have said women are guilty of 鈥榮he-bagging鈥�, taking up extra seats with their handbags or shopping.
