It is not meant to be an insult, but people who have never studied the culture or the customs have a hard time understanding. It's actually to protect and maintain modesty and respect. Would you as a woman insist on going in to the men's bathroom and use it with men in there? It's not becuase they want to "keep the women down". The front of the bus is not a higher status than the back of the bus. One is not greater than the other. This is about men keeping their eyes and hands and thoughts to themselves and not on the woman sitting in the seat across from him. It's really about respecting women and treating them as ladies. If they sit in the back, then men aren't going to be looking at their back of their heads or legs as they sit... these people are trying to guard their eyes.
Would you as a woman insist on going in to the men's bathroom and use it with men in there?
It's not becuase they want to "keep the women down". The front of the bus is not a higher status than the back of the bus. One is not greater than the other.
This is about men keeping their eyes and hands and thoughts to themselves and not on the woman sitting in the seat across from him.
It's really about respecting women and treating them as ladies.
If they sit in the back, then men aren't going to be looking at their back of their heads or legs as they sit... these people are trying to guard their eyes.