A battle of the sexes breaks out in this inconspicuous photo. Some praise the woman for highlighting the “entitled” male trait, others label her a “Qantas Karen” – so whose side are you on?

A complaint about a male airplane passenger using the armrests on both sides has sparked a heated debate about “male privilege” and airborne etiquette.

Publishing identity Louise Adler posted an image from an airplane window seat showing the man sitting in the middle of the row, resting his elbows on both armrests and looking at his phone.

“Asking a friend: Why do guys assume they’re entitled to two armrests?” Ms. Adler wrote on the social media platform X.

Ms Adler’s post sparked a flood of comments from like-minded female travelers who had observed the same behavior, but some hit back, calling her a “Qantas Karen”.

This tweet posted by publishing identity Louise Adler has sparked a debate about the man using both armrests

“I was paying close attention,” one person replied.

Another added: “When I sit next to a man this almost always happens (plus it takes up my legroom), when I travel with my husband and he sits next to another man this never happens to him.”

“They know how to respect each other’s space, but not women’s.”

A third commented: “Probably for the same reason that they feel entitled to spread their legs on the train and take up half the legroom of the seat next to them?”

However, many others hit back and called it a non-issue.

“Is your real name Karen?” one asked.

Another said with heavy sarcasm: “I hope you were offered counseling after this terrible ordeal. ‘Thoughts and prayers.’

A third wrote: “Smashing the world’s problems one tweet at a time.”

Some objected to the accusation that it was a specifically male trait.

“I have seen women and men using two armrests. Also children. “I hope this dispels your stereotype,” one person said.

Some travelers felt that the person in the middle seat was entitled to both armrests.

Louise Aldler received some support for her complaint, but many others disputed that it was a male trait or an inappropriate act

“In the words of (Australian comedian) Jim Jeffries: The window gets an armrest and a wall, the middle gets two armrests, the aisle gets an armrest and a little extra leg.”

“We’re not fucking animals. We live in a society.”

One person thought it was about armrests.

“What is the etiquette?” he wrote.

“I think it’s the first time you’re dressed best.” He either pushed your arm away or beat you to it. As simple as that!

“Oh wait, do you think he should offer it to you because you’re a woman?”