A sign on a women's toilet in Shanghai has drawn public ire for portraying a man spying on a woman from the top of a toilet stall, The Paper recently reported. While a few thought the design was funny, most felt it disrespected both genders. Photo: Weibo

A sign on a women's toilet in Shanghai has drawn public ire for portraying a man spying on a woman from the top of a toilet stall, The Paper recently reported. While a few thought the design was funny, most felt it disrespected both genders. 

The sign appeared at a restaurant in Shanghai, which soon sparked widespread controversy on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo. Netizens believed that the sign not only condoned sexual harassment of women, but reflected the stereotype of males as being "disrespectful to others and having no boundaries."

Some even said that "it is more of an insult to men for portraying such false stereotypes."

The restaurant later apologized for the design, saying that they did not think about it properly before putting it up, and did not expect it would bring discomfort to its customers. Media learned that the sign was removed right away. 

The company that owns the restaurant had been fined or punished before for occupying public facilities, operation without food waste declaration procedures, and failing to provide source of purchase.

Global Times