Breaking: Nationwide Railway Makes Shocking Makeup Announcement on Trains – Here's the Unforgettable Reaction
A state-owned railway in China faces backlash for its promotional video discouraging women from applying makeup during train journeys, igniting a heated debate on sexism
At a railway station in Beijing on December 12, 2014, a woman is seen applying makeup. The release of a promotional video by a state-owned Chinese railway company, urging women to avoid putting on makeup during train journeys, has ignited a strong negative reaction and a discussion about sexism.
On Saturday, China Railway's clip became the most searched, read, and debated topic on Weibo, which is China's Twitter-like social media platform. This happened two months after the clip was initially shared.
The post received a furious response, aligning with a growing feminist movement in a country with a population of 1.4 billion. In China, men frequently hold dominance in boardrooms and top government positions. Historically, the feminist movement has faced censorship in the country.
The content fragment rewritten in a better way:
The content suggests that the railway's intention was to include this post as part of a campaign to reduce anti-social behavior among passengers. This post is in line with a series of other posts that have already advised passengers against littering, occupying others' seats, or speaking loudly.
Introduced in July, the video showcases a well-dressed woman recording herself getting ready to apply lotion and foundation while sitting in what seems to be the cabin of a high-speed inter-city train.
The woman is interrupted when a man seated next to her taps her shoulder. The camera then reveals the man's face, which is smeared with her foundation.
"I don't need to wear makeup, beauty," he says to the woman. She apologizes and assists him in cleaning up.
The minute-long clip continues to fuel a growing controversy, with no signs of slowing down.
As of Saturday, the accompanying hashtag had amassed a staggering 340 million views and 20,000 comments. Numerous individuals expressed their disapproval of the video, deeming it offensive.
"Can someone please explain why this case has to be so focused on gender, particularly involving women wearing makeup, in order to exemplify behavior that is seen as uncivilized?" inquired one user on Weibo.
Several users stood up for the right to wear makeup. "There is absolutely nothing uncivilized about it," one individual asserted.
Another asked, "Will the next move involve banning women on trains once and for all?"
CNN has reached out to China Railway for a comment.
Chinese officials have attempted to justify the advertisement, as a commentary disseminated by state media outlets urges people not to "overanalyze" it.
According to the commentary, originally released in Nanfang Daily, incidents involving makeup, like the one portrayed, are frequently reported and categorized as "common" grievances.
The publisher of the video emphasizes the importance of advocating a more civilized way of commuting and considering the feelings of fellow passengers, rather than directly discouraging the act of applying makeup on trains.
In response to inquiries by local press, staff at China Railways customer service hotline said putting on makeup is not banned on trains.
