A mall in northern China has sparked criticism after it created special parking spots for women that are 11-inches wider than normal spots, and painted bright pink.
The spots are deemed "respectfully reserved for ladies," and although some appreciate them, others are calling the spots sexist and disrespectful.
One (female) manager at the mall, Yang Hongjun, said that officials just wanted to make parking easier for women.
"Women make up most of our customers," she said. "If their parking spaces are larger, it's only for practical reasons. It doesn't mean that women drive less well than men."
Plus-sized parking spaces for Chinese women drivers http://t.co/2oWwRi0eMj
On Chinese social media sites, bloggers voiced mixed opinions:
"Is this for real? Don't discriminate against women drivers," one person wrote. Another cried "reverse discrimination":
Why do women get all these advantages? If you can't drive, don't drive. It doesn't matter what gender you are. This is precisely reverse discrimination.
This isn't the first time parking spots have been painted pink for women.
In Seoul, South Korea, in 2009, almost 5,000 parking spaces near malls were painted pink in an attempt to minimize the distance that women would need to walk in high heels.
In 2012, a town in Germany also created gendered parking spots. The mayor of Triberg, Gallus Strobel, created 12 female parking spots in the town's public lot, and two "male only" spots. He said that the parking rule was only symbolic, however, and that women could try the "challenge" of parking in the spots for men.
