In my last blog, I covered the opening of a new women-only parking lot at a Chinese Mall. While I assumed this could be a trend or even a hint of societal evolution, a different viewpoint has been posed by Richard Zhou, Managing Director of Cytel in Shanghai and an expert on China’s parking industry.
“I consider this as a marketing event of this particular developer to show they have something unique,” Zhou suggests. “I don’t think anybody will follow the suit. It will surely not become a trend.”
This could be true, although it would sharply contrast Seoul Korea’s similar recent move, a sincere attempt to make the city more women-friendly by designating women-only parking spaces in pink.
A clever marketing scheme, a fad ready to sweep across Asia, or the new front line for the battle of the sexes? Time will tell.
