An incident involving two women who locked a crying toddler in an aeroplane toilet has ignited an online debate in China regarding how to manage children in public spaces. The controversy erupted after one of the women, Gou Tingting, shared a video online showing herself carrying the child into the cubicle during a flight on 24 August from Guiyang to Shanghai. In her post, Ms Gou claimed she was trying to help the passengers, but was quickly met with backlash.
Juneyao Airlines, the carrier involved, stated that the toddler’s grandmother had given the women permission to “educate” the child, who had been crying during the flight. The video reportedly showed the other woman telling the child that she could leave the bathroom only if she stopped crying. The child is believed to be around one year old, though no specific details were provided by the airline.
After the video was posted, Ms Gou faced swift criticism for her perceived lack of empathy and “bullying” behaviour. In response, she defended her actions, explaining that she wanted to calm the child and allow the other passengers to rest, some of whom had moved seats or stuffed tissue in their ears to escape the noise. Ms Gou’s social media account has since been set to private.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation in China about the behaviour of so-called “bear children,” a term used to describe young kids who cause disturbances in public spaces. The debate has highlighted differing opinions on how society should accommodate or manage young children in public settings, with some advocating for more understanding, while others support stricter measures, such as designated child-free zones, similar to those found in South Korea and some global airlines.
Source ~ BBC
Nneoma Udensi
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