Woman Complains After Man Doesn’t Offer Her a Seat
NO MORE GENTLEMEN? — A viral Facebook post sparked widespread online debate after a female netizen, using the name “Pixie,” expressed frustration that a male passenger did not offer her a seat on a crowded bus.
In her post dated May 24, she wrote: “shout out kay kuya na pinatunayang wala na talagang gentleman sa mundo. kanina pa ko nakatayo sa gilid nya pero patay malisya lang sya. ano ba naman yung paupuin nya ako since malayo pa byahe ko and babae naman ako di ba?” She ended her post by expressing disappointment in men today.
The post quickly went viral, gathering over 218,000 laugh reactions, 21,000 shares, and more than 50,000 comments. However, after receiving backlash, the uploader apologized, saying she had misunderstood the situation—mentioning that the man had just come from visiting his grandfather and might have been tired himself. She also referenced the classic Filipino ideal of women being treated with respect, like “Maria Clara.”
Later, she issued a more serious apology, acknowledging that her post may have come across as insensitive and that she now understands the importance of discussing gender-related issues with more empathy and care. She emphasized her willingness to learn and grow from the experience.
Eventually, she claimed the post was merely a social experiment and that the man in question was actually her partner, joking that he didn’t offer her a seat because he was jealous of her outfit.
The viral post opened a broader conversation online: Are there still “gentlemen” willing to offer seats to women in public transportation like buses, jeepneys, and trains? Some sided with Pixie, saying that chivalry is fading and many men now only give up seats for those who are pregnant, elderly, or have disabilities.
Others defended the man, arguing that courtesy should not be based on gender and that men are not obligated to surrender their seats unless it’s for someone who qualifies for a priority seat. They emphasized that true gender equality means not expecting special treatment simply because one is a woman. Many netizens agreed that respect and empathy should be mutual.