I have a question, but no real reason for knowing except curiosity.

I read on here once about the Ladies' carriage on the Cairo tube. Do women have to go in it, or can if they don't want to be with the men? Was wondering whether it was a choice if they didn't want to be with the men, or enforced that they aren't allowed. And are the other carriages the 'men' carriages, or are they just the normal carriages, making the women the 'others'.