Muni Diaries Anniversary Favorite: Don’t piss off the Pregnant Lady
Tara’s favorite diary got quite a response in the comments. We’re not taking sides, of course, and we do love a spirited debate about bus behavior: “I actually really like the pregnant-lady-trips-girl for a few reasons. It (along with a lot of our ‘what should you do in this situation?’ kind of Seinfeldian posts) generated a lot of debate on what we as non-pregnant, non-disabled people have the responsibility to do on public transit. Also, it’s just plain hilarious to picture a pregnant lady shifting from passive-aggressive to aggressive-aggressive because of some kid.” Visit the site tomorrow to read Jenny’s favorite diary as we wind down toward our first birthday Friday.
Don’t piss off the pregnant lady (originally posted February 19, 2009)
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Pregnancy is making me mean
Today the muni was crowded. I had to wait forever for the L. I had the smarts to take whatever train to West P. and then wait for the L so most of the train ride wasn’t so bad. However, when I got on the L it was super crowded. I unbuttoned my jacket, stuck my pregnant belly out as far as I could and no one gave me a seat. In fact, most of the other Sunset residents on the train closed their eyes and pretended I wasn’t there.
I decided to choose a target.
I saw a 20 year old girl who I thought had a strong back and should give me her seat. I stood right beside her and stared at her. I didn’t take my eyes off of her. Then she turned up her ipod and closed her eyes. I moved closer to the point where everytime the train jerked, my belly hit her shoulder. I wish it would have hit her head, but my belly isn’t that big yet. Then I got a seat, perpendicular to her. I positioned my feet and my backpack so she had to really squirm to get out of her seat. When she did, I moved my foot a little bit and tripped her. She didn’t fall. She just stumbled for half a second. After I did it, I didn’t exactly feel bad, but I did notice how mean pregnancy is making me. Does this make me a bad person?
– Andrea
Image by Flickr user World of Oddy
(Send us your Muni diaries, and one of them could get picked for next year’s favorites. Eugenia’s favorite, which ran yesterday, can be found here. Jeff’s was Monday, and is here)
I would have stared at you till you averted your eyes. After the second time your belly brushed my shoulder, I would have made sure to nudge your belly with my shoulder every chance I could. I would have stepped on your foot, which was in the way, when my stop came up. You’re pregnant, congratulations. Does that afford you privileges? Not in my book.
Dear Tara,
Do you know that pregnancy is a disability under federal law? Under state law too? You should let all of these people that comment on your website, including IMD above, that they MUST get up for a disabled person.
Nope, you are not a bad person. I try to be polite and ask for seats. Sometimes I am turned down and I am visibly pregnant. Today I was yelled at by an older woman for sitting in disabled seating. She told me I should give up my seat for two older residents entering the train. However, there were 4 open disabled seats already. She was so hateful. I told her I was pregnant and I didn’t want to fall and hurt my baby. She told me it doesn’t matter. We got off at the same stop and she commented that I seemed to be walking fine (but so was she ??) and I explained you can still lose your balance easily and that I fell just last week on my belly on the train. SF can be harsh, but this was just so cruel. People can be so insensitive. If I fall, and I lose my child, it is on me for not asking for a seat or taking one, so I have to do the right thing not for me, but the child I am carrying. If I had a 1-year-old in my arms, a seat would have been offered, no question.