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Society

Women gear up to battle subway creeps

Updated: 2011-07-16 07:50

By Yang Yijun (China Daily)

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SHANGHAI - Self-defense equipment such as mini stun guns and pepper sprays have become best-sellers among young women this summer.

On taobao.com, China's largest online shopping website, there are at least 15 stores selling self-defense equipment. One of the stores sold more than 970 mini electric batons within a month.

"Self-defense equipment is especially popular with women in summer. Many of our customers told us they bought them as a defense against sexual harassment," said Xiao Feng, the customer service supervisor of the Zhejiang-based store.

According to Xiao, the store's best-seller is a type of mini electric baton, priced at 180 yuan ($28) about the size of a credit card. On pressing a button two small pins pop out that can deliver an electric shock strong enough to cause temporary paralysis and pain.

"This type of equipment can be used by women when taking a bus or other public transport, as it is portable and will not cause unintended harm, which a pepper spray might do," he said.

However, Zhu Xiaoding, a lawyer with Cailiang, a law firm in Beijing, said he would not suggest people buying such equipment and using it when on public transport.

"Subways and buses are usually very crowded and the use of such equipment could cause chaos or a stampede. We should always consider the safety of the other people even when we are protecting ourselves," he said.

He advised women being sexually harassed on public transport to shout instead.

But an office lady in Shanghai, surnamed Shen, who has been harassed on the subway, said: "It doesn't make any difference whether I shout out or not, since I will have already been molested. What's more, the man might hit me."

But Shen was also doubtful about how useful mini electric batons and pepper sprays would be in preventing attack and questioned whether they would pass the subway security checks.

"I think they are only good to take revenge," she said. "I think special carriages exclusively for women is the best solution."

Yin Wei, an official with Shanghai Metro Operation Company, said that as yet the subway has no specific measures to prevent sexual harassment and has no plans to introduce carriages exclusively for women.

"Currently we only have announcements in the carriages to remind passengers to mind their behavior," he said.

"Passengers who are sexually harassed can report the incident to staff members in the subway stations. But as far as I know, very few people have done so," he said.

According to the country's law on administration of public security, a person who performs an act of indecency toward another person or intentionally exposes his or her body in public places can be detained for five to 10 days.

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