You do understand that both men and women can be unclean and it's just easier to separate a bus back/front than left/right (entrance and exit wise), right? It's contact with death that makes one unclean- and both menstruation and nocturnal emission are associated with death. This is a pretty big reason for separation.

I mean, think about it, forcing them to sit next to one another would be akin to forcing men and women to use the same restroom together. It's just differing lines of modesty, that's all.

Just to be clear: I am a Jewish woman. They're not being mistreated- they're just sitting in a different part of the bus.

So, after doing some research, it appears that there are three separate buses that run this route. This bus was specifically implemented- and is paid for- by those who agree (including the women) to gender separation. The bus appears to have rear and front entry doors.

First, I would like to say that this woman was on the bus by her own choice (and under invitation, which implies that this is not just a standard bus). If it was a matter of having no other options, this would clearly be a case of discrimination. Because this is a private bus, inside of which both genders have made the choice to be separate, with plenty of alternatives, this isn't the case.

Some think it's simply a case of women and men not touching- but among Orthodox and Hasidic Jews this isn't the rule. If a woman is Niddah, a man cannot sit in a seat in which a Niddah woman has sat. This separation just makes that easier.

Sure, they should probably make their bus a bit more individual, so unwitting passengers don't get on and get a shock. Sure, there should be alternatives, and there are. Calling them antiquated or ignorant because they all choose to make their lives a little simpler by getting their own bus is just silly.

There are plenty of places devoted to those of a specific faith or practice that institute gender or other separation. This is no different. Would you raid a temple or mosque, a community center, and tell them to stop? No, so why do it with a bus created specifically for that purpose?

I'm actually fairly disappointed in Neatorama for posting something that includes such biased and disrespectful phrasing as "Yup, it's 2011" or saying they "force" women to sit in the back. Nothing about this bus is forced. Choosing to visit a community center, attend a mosque, worship at a temple, ride this bus is just that- a choice. Funny, I don't see any posts mocking the Amish for living the way they do, especially considering they also practice gender separation.

We could focus on fighting battles that matter, championing causes that actually include discrimination. Instead, we're decrying a bus where the passengers have asked to sit in an unusual arrangement. Maybe we should sort out our priorities.

Haha, definitely says "I'm delicious."

I love it.