Men in Madrid are now prohibited from sitting with their legs wide open aboard public transport

Manspreading, as the practice is called, is now prohibited in Madrid, Spain.

Sarwat Fatima Sarwat Fatima
जून 13, 2017
Interestingly, women in Madrid had been campaigning against 'manspreading' for months. Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ JaneGarvey


How often have you travelled in a bus or a metro, praying that the man sitting next to you closes his legs so that you can get enough space to perch yourself on the seat more comfortably? Tons, you would say. Well, you are not alone. Apparently, 'manspreading' is a global phenomenon, where men sit with their legs apart to encroach on an adjacent seat or seats. But, the capital of Spain, Madrid is not having any of that.

According to a report published in the Independent, the city's Municipal Transportation Company (EMT) plans on installing new signs in all its carriages and vehicles, which they hope will stop the personal space encroaching practice.

"The new information icon indicates the prohibition of taking a seating position that bothers other people. It's to remind transport users to maintain civic responsibility and respect the personal space of everyone on board," reads a statement released by EMT.

The illustrations show a man sitting with his legs wide open on a metro seat and a big X embellished in red, on it. This is to indicate that 'manspreading' is totally unacceptable. The message on the illustration reads as: respect the space of others. And this sign will soon be put up in metros and buses around the city.

Interestingly, women in Madrid had been campaigning against 'manspreading' for months and a group called 'Mujeres en Lucha' had started a petition #MadridSinManspreading, earlier this year. After the campaign gained momentum, the members of the group had met up Madrid's Mayor and Regional President to put forth their request. They explained that women felt uncomfortable while travelling and were forced to sit with their legs tight shut.

"In April the CUP party look the issue to government level when they asked for a national campaign to be launched against the problem. They described the behaviour as a exhibition of machismo and a micro-aggression that can make the person suffering it uncomfortable," states a report published on the Daily Mail.

Fortunately, the authorities paid heed to the woes of women commuters and 'manspreading' is about to be banned in Madrid. However, it's not the first city in the world to do so. New York already beat the Capital of Spain to the punch by taking a stand against it.

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