A state-run railway in China has faced backlash after advising women not to apply makeup during train rides. Here’s the public response

Hong Kong (Dinogo) – A promotional video from China Railway urging women to skip makeup on trains has ignited a wave of criticism and sparked a broader discussion about sexism in society.

On Saturday, the video by China Railway became the most discussed, shared, and debated topic on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, more than two months after its initial release.

The backlash against the post comes at a time when China’s feminist movement is growing, calling for more gender equality in a country of 1.4 billion, where men still dominate in leadership roles and where feminist voices have often been suppressed in the past.

The post seems to be part of an ongoing initiative by the railway to reduce disruptive behavior among passengers, following previous efforts to discourage littering, occupying other people’s seats, and excessive noise on trains.

Released in July, the video features a woman elegantly dressed, recording herself as she begins to apply lotion and foundation while sitting in what seems to be the cabin of a high-speed train.

She is interrupted by a man sitting next to her, who taps her shoulder. The video then cuts to the man’s face, now covered in the woman’s foundation.

The man tells her, “I don’t need to wear makeup, beauty,” prompting an apology from the woman as she helps him clean up the mess.

The one-minute video has sparked widespread controversy, and the debate surrounding it shows no signs of slowing down.

By Saturday, the video’s related hashtag had accumulated 340 million views and 20,000 comments, with many viewers calling the video offensive.

“Why does it have to be a gender-specific issue, with women applying makeup as an example of inappropriate behavior?” questioned one Weibo user.

Others defended women’s right to wear makeup, with one user commenting, “There’s nothing uncivilized about it.”

One user sarcastically asked, “Will the next step be banning women from trains altogether?”

Dinogo has reached out to China Railway for a statement regarding the video.

Chinese officials have attempted to justify the advertisement, with state media circulating a message urging people not to “overanalyze” it.

An article in Nanfang Daily argued that incidents like the one shown in the video are some of the “most frequent” complaints received by the railway company.

However, it acknowledged that there are more disruptive behaviors, such as loud talking or taking up other passengers’ seats.

The statement clarified that the video wasn’t meant to ban makeup on trains but rather to promote more civilized commuting and encourage passengers to consider the comfort of others.

In response to local media inquiries, customer service staff at China Railway confirmed that applying makeup on trains is not prohibited.