Women-Only Seats In Libraries

[Mulboyne]

Around eight libraries in central Tokyo have been setting up "ladies corners". Five say they have done so to give women space away from homeless people who use the libraries. Taito ward Central Library set up a space in April, filling adjacent shelves with fashion and family magazines. Day labourers work nearby and there is a large homeless population. On rainy days or very hot days, they often collect in the library, bringing their belongings. Minami Senju library is in the centre of the area and was one of the first to set up such a section. A staff member said it was a last resort because day labourers and homeless often stank of alcohol, slept on the desks and occasionally fought each other. On the other hand, Koto-ku library says that perverts are the reason they established exclusive seats for women. Not everyone is happy with this arrangement. The central library has set aside ten seats out of a total of fifty which some feel is too many. Others say it is wrong in principle to separate men and women in a library. A Sumida ward library decided to remove its separate section. Instead, they put newspapers and men's magazines on the upper floor and women's magazines on the lower floor which had the effect of naturally separating people. Arakawa ward assemblyman Eiji Kosaka protested that a separate section was especially unfair to elderly users and his local library responded by removing it. However, Minami Senju and Nippori decided to maintain theirs. The Sankei newspaper piece on this issue (Japanese) quotes commentators who argue that the libraries are not addressing the real problem. One writer points out that homeless people do not pay local taxes and yet the libraries appear to be bending over backwards to accommodate them while Yoko Tajima wonders about the principle of discriminating over body odour.

Spotted here.

[Takechanpoo]

These so-called "reverse discriminations" for women make Japanese women spoiled. So not only Japanese girls but also most of Japanese ladies are extraordinary inmature. They believe they are given everything they want and take it for granted.

[American Oyaji]

Kinda interesting the one person asked why are homeless in the library since it is for taxpayers.

Instead the question should be asked, why are they homeless? And why is it WRONG to be homeless?

Think about it. In the past, a nomadic lifestyle was not wrong. Problem is in this modern era is that you have to pay someone to survive or at a minimum access to clean water.

[Behan]

Kinda interesting the one person asked why are homeless in the library since it is for taxpayers.

Instead the question should be asked, why are they homeless? And why is it WRONG to be homeless?

Think about it. In the past, a nomadic lifestyle was not wrong. Problem is in this modern era is that you have to pay someone to survive or at a minimum access to clean water.

Good points. Maybe the libraries could set up areas for the homeless people. They need somewhere to go. (I'm not saying this sarcastically, either. )

[ichigo partygirl]

sheesh this is really stupid - seems like this is an issue to do with trouble-makers rather than gender.
The library staff need to grow some balls and throw the trouble makers out or at least call the police.

[omae mona]

sheesh this is really stupid - seems like this is an issue to do with trouble-makers rather than gender.
The library staff need to grow some balls and throw the trouble makers out or at least call the police.

Based on the homeless people I've seen in Tokyo, most of whom seem very self-conscious (even the mentally ill ones), I doubt they are causing trouble. They are most likely just spending time in the library reading, because it is temperature-controlled and nobody bothers them. Their activity is probably indistinguishable from other library patrons except they are unsightly and smell bad. But as we all know, plenty of plain old salarymen and retirees are unsightly and smell bad too. I doubt there are any objective criteria the library can create to effectively keep the homeless out.

I think that's great. As it gets harder to ignore the homeless problem, perhaps citizens will pressure the government to actually try to address it.

[Greji]

I think that's great. As it gets harder to ignore the homeless problem, perhaps citizens will pressure the government to actually try to address it.

It is the never ending story coming around the circle again. Go back through the threads and look at the comments. So many of these people do not want to be permanently helped, it makes it near to impossible to figure out who is homeless and who is a bum.

All the good doers treat everyone as homeless and the bums capitalize on the goodies and freebies, while the real homeless are still out in the cold because they don't know how to use the system and the bums suck it like a soft tit.

[Catoneinutica]

US libraries have been facing a homeless-people-stinking-up-the-joint-and-scaring-patrons problem since the 80s. I recall some libraries being successful in evicting their more foetid denizens, but overall I think one of the reasons full-price booksellers like Borders and B and N, as well as savvy independents, have been able to stay in business is because they provide a comfortable browsing environment while not feeling compelled to act like social welfare agencies. Hence, they reek of Starbucks coffee and/or that vanilla scent retailers use rather than Thorazine-laced urine and BO.

And speaking of Starbucks, I've noticed quasi-homeless-looking types hanging out at Starbucks here in Japan. Wonder what Starbucks' time limit is. Any hungover FGs want to try crashing at one (with a minimal beverage purchase, mind you) and see how long before they get a tap on the shoulder?

[ichigo partygirl]

Based on the homeless people I've seen in Tokyo, most of whom seem very self-conscious (even the mentally ill ones), I doubt they are causing trouble. They are most likely just spending time in the library reading, because it is temperature-controlled and nobody bothers them. Their activity is probably indistinguishable from other library patrons except they are unsightly and smell bad. But as we all know, plenty of plain old salarymen and retirees are unsightly and smell bad too. I doubt there are any objective criteria the library can create to effectively keep the homeless out.

I think that's great. As it gets harder to ignore the homeless problem, perhaps citizens will pressure the government to actually try to address it.

my comment was not anything against the homeless; rather that the setting up of women's only areas in the libraries is in my opinion pointless, silly, and it doesn't really address the issue.
If people are causing trouble regardless of who they are then they should be chucked out. Likewise someone shouldn't be thrown out just for being homeless.
I am sure rush hour trains in summer smell worse than the majority of people you find in a library.

[Greji]

[quote="ichigo partygirl"]my comment was not anything against the homeless]

You got that plus having a dedicated area assigned would ruin my old hole in the book routine....

[omae mona]

It is the never ending story coming around the circle again. Go back through the threads and look at the comments. So many of these people do not want to be permanently helped, it makes it near to impossible to figure out who is homeless and who is a bum.

I think your point is that there's a difference between the voluntarily homeless ("bums") and the non-voluntarily homeless, right? If so I completely agree. I also couldn't begin to guess which groups are the ones visiting libraries. But I have always been under the impression that for the legitimately homeless who don't want to be homeless, the government isn't doing much to help them get out of trouble and back on the right track. I agree the bums will stay bums nonetheless.

the bums suck it like a soft tit.

If you keep making this sound so nice, I may have to go homeless myself!

[bolt_krank]

"Womens only" is the keyword for people who want to "look like their helping" while they really don't give a shit.

What are some of the problems with Japan. It's politicians ? Let's make a women's only house....

That'll be the day.

[nottu]

[GomiGirl]

I hate the "women's only" segregation crap that goes on. It totally sends the wrong message. Plus segregation is much easier to initiate than it is to abolish.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I hate the "women's only" segregation crap that goes on. It totally sends the wrong message. Plus segregation is much easier to initiate than it is to abolish.

I think it justifies discrimination against women, so I don't mind it.

[omae mona]

Does it feel good for you to give the alky bum $5 bucks - are you a feel gooder - give me a hug - Chiristian like charity saint.
No - you have no idea what a played sucker you are - but it sure feels good to be a beautiful human being doesn't it?

Not sure if you are directing this at me personally. I don't give cash to the homeless. It would almost certainly not be an effective use of my money if I'm looking to be charitable and make the world a better place.

But if you're claiming that there is nothing governments can do to combat the problem of the homeless, you're wrong. There are plenty of success stories, including relocating them and getting them out of other peoples' hair (e.g. Giuliani-era New York), and helping them find employment (when they're capable).

[nottu]

[Charles]

I hate the "women's only" segregation crap that goes on. It totally sends the wrong message. Plus segregation is much easier to initiate than it is to abolish.

You'd be surprised at how these segregation arguments play out. For example, in San Francisco, they built a huge new main library, the centerpiece was a section dedicated exclusively to GLBT books and history. Immediately the GLBT activists cried that their literature was segregated and it should be in the main stacks.

[Greji]

I hate the "women's only" segregation crap that goes on. It totally sends the wrong message. Plus segregation is much easier to initiate than it is to abolish.

You just wanna be in with the guys so you can get your hands on them....

[Taro Toporific]

Imagine a person in skirt (female or male because this is Japan) trying to use this library in Osaka.

ryotaro-library-2.jpg

Read a full description and see more photos of this seemingly impossible library at: architectuul.com/architecture/shiba-ryotaro-memorial-museum

Ryotaro-Library.png