Subway Ettiquette

I have been genuinely surprised at the subway etiquette in Cairo.

On the one hand, when the doors of the subway open at each station, groups of men push their way onto the train with little regard for those trying to exit (or for anyone for that matter). This is especially true during rush house; I often here someone yelling "Push, push!" (in English) as people get on the train.

On the other hand, more often than not a man will offer me his seat. Men will always get up for women with children, elderly men or women, and pregnant women. Men seem to be aware of those around them and responsive to their needs -- and far more consistently so than I ever experienced in New York.

(Note: The subways are full of mostly men. There is often only a handful of women in any given subway car at any given time. This is partly due to the existence of "Female-Only" cars at the front of the train. That doesn't account for all of the huge discrepancy in numbers though.)