Something quite extraordinary happened today. I was on my way home from work and there were no seats on the tube when I got on at Westminster station so I stood next to the handlebar by a priority seat and leant on the glass, thinking people will get off at Waterloo, which is just a stop away, and I'll be able to sit down. I don't expect to be offered a seat on the tube- most people don't offer. On this occasion, the lady in the priority seat opposite to where I was standing offered me her seat and as she stood up, the man I was standing next to started from his seat (which was also a priority seat), apologised to me and the lady and offered her his seat. The kind, considerate actions of these two people more than compensate for the usual rude behaviour I have gotten used to seeing on a daily basis. People don't want to believe it and for a while I wondered if I was being over-pessimistic and just remembering all the bad things. However, I met a woman at the weekend and she had the same experience when she was pregnant- she brought it up while in conversation; I didn't prompt her- so I don't think I was exaggerating. If we want women to find it possible to work and have children then social attitudes need to change to facilitate things, like the commute to work, for pregnant women. I personally want to stay at work for as long as possible; I may be pregnant but that does not mean I am uninterested in, or want to give up on, my career. It makes economic sense to help women stay in work and have children. Giving up a seat for someone less able to stand is a pretty small thing to do to keep things going for everyone so why not do it?
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