Man tries to argue it's 'unfair' for pregnant women to ask for bus seats, gets schooled by moms

Commuting is extremely risky for pregnant women; hence, reserved seats help them avoid standing during long periods of traveling by public transport. Moreover, standing for long periods can strain their back and increase the risk of dizziness or falls. However, when a man on Reddit called pregnant women "entitled" for asking for a seat on public transport, women and mothers on the internet did not let it slide. On November 13, online users on r/TwoXChromosomes shared their thoughts on the problematic statement.

u/potatopotato53 shared that a man on another Reddit sub said pregnant women are "entitled" for asking for seats in public transport. "And with the lack of many others calling it out, I'm wondering if I'm going crazy to think that’s not a normal thing to think? Like of all the people to pick on, why do you need to think pregnant women are entitled for wanting to sit down because they're trying their best to carry their unborn child…? I don’t get it," they wrote. Backing the author, many mothers and other women came to lash out at the problematic statement. Agreeing with the author, u/Lynn_the_Pagan wrote, "Yes they are... in my culture it's rude to not stand up in public transport for older people, people with mobility issues and pregnant women. There are even these icons of those people in public transports for people who don't get it. If you're young and have no health issues you should offer your seat. It's basic decency."

u/alienatedcabbage criticized the way society treats women. They wrote, "Women can't win. We're derided for not having children and then for doing so. It's not about a seat, it’s about hating women." u/know-your-onions commented, "Pregnant women should be entitled to a seat on public transport (they are in my country); and they should be able to expect that somebody else will give up a seat when there isn’t a designated seat available, without them even having to ask. Any society that disagrees is a shitty society." u/iamthefirebird commented, "There are enough invisible disabilities that if I happen to be sitting in the priority seats, and someone asks, I'm moving immediately. If they look pregnant, or elderly, or in need, I wouldn't bother waiting to be asked."

They continued, "Pregnant women are entitled, in the sense that they are entitled to have those seats. They are not entitled for asking to sit; they are entitled to seats. Because they are pregnant. Even I know that pregnancy can cause dizzy spells and nausea." In a 2023 report by the United States Department of Transportation, it was noted how public transit often failed to support pregnant passengers. The report also noted the weak compliance from other passengers with "courtesy" seating, accessibility barriers, and various safety concerns.

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