Do we need a women-only bit in the gym or women only evenings?

The issue I have with segregation is that it legitimates negative stereotypes. Excluding men in case they "ogle" you is no different to excluding women because their chitter chatter is off-putting, or excluding muslims in case they blow you up. It's just not ok to do that imo. The only people who should be treated less favorably are those who deserve it because of an actual transgression, not because of the demographic they belong to and the negative traits associated with it.

No there is no inconsistency from me. No segregation in public spaces.

I have no problem with gyms organising segregated sessions, by age, sex, ability etc., as long as it is made clear when people join. The more people who participate, the fitter and happier we will all be.

I was also in favour of women-only carriages on public transport when it was discussed a while back. It didn't seem to popular then, and the consensus was that men should alter their behaviour rather than shunting women into confined spaces. Is there an inconsistency here?

Your poor friend must have been terrified PinkyofPie.

The women's gym I use has less equipment than the mixed one and is smaller. I'd still rather use it though.

Sadly the only women's only gym in my area is the most expensive and also has limited equipment, so I don't go.

There's also a few men's only gyms, it's not just something exclusive to women

If there are women who only go to women only sessions, then they are paying disproportionately highly for their membership, subsidising those who go at all other times bar one two hour slot.

If it's a council leisure centre then they have a duty to make everyone feel welcome - if that means a few women only sessions, the odd men only one, some over 55s and under 25s events, then so be it.

I sometimes went to the women-only session at my old pool but it was more crowded than other slots, so usually went late at night. Current pool has a nightmare timetable as its constantly kicking you out for a club, more lessons, aqua fit, whatever - a single sex session is neither here nor there.

1 in 4 women will be victims of domestic violence.

1 in 10 women will be sexually assaulted by a man

90% of sexual violence is men on women

There is adequate reason for women to feel intimidated by men

But yeah the wimmin and their silly fears need to get over themselves and stop being so goddamn sweaty

I can't figure out if some people are being obtuse or if they're actually very, very stupid

Also this with bells on:

Men who object to the consequences of other men's behaviour woudl be better to attack the cause rather than the effect

Lost of men whinge NAMALT but do nothing to help fix the problem by changing the culture

They look the other way when women and girls are harassed in the street. The laugh when a friend makes a hateful comment. They ignore rather than challenge inappropriate behaviour in their families

Exactly, but no they sulk instead that they don't get a night too or look for opportunities to fork out less

Mine has sessions for people recovering from heart issues and requires GP referral to attend. That's discrimination!

Women need to get over themselves and realise men are far more interested at ogling themselves in the gym mirrors than other women who invariably look rough, all sweaty and red faced

Yeah ladies, don't you realise you shoudl always look gorgeous for the delight of the men using the gym ? How dare you get sweaty and red faced?

I can also well believe swimming lane shenanigans. My friend, who conceived after an ectopic pregnancy and was therefore extremely anxious for 9 months, was swimming when she was 34 weeks pregnant and a man overtook her in a lane and kicked her in the belly. It was an accident of course but he was far too close to her and being very inconsiderate

I agree Kristina - women's only sessions is a way of pandering to the behaviour. It's the thin end of the wedge towards women's only train carriages etc through which women will be expected to change their behaviour and select women only spaces otherwise they are 'asking for it'. I mean a woman at the gym who complains about a man ogling could be told 'well you should go to the women's only session'.

Change the behaviour instead. There's loads of signs in my gym about good manners, but not one that says - 'men, please don't stare at women as they work out'.

My gym also has sessions where the pool is reserved for the over 60s. Do you want a reduction for those too, Stones?

We need women only spaces because of men's behaviour .

Men who object to the consequences of other men's behaviour woudl be better to attack the cause rather than the effect .

Lost of men whinge NAMALT but do nothing to help fix the problem by changing the culture .

They look the other way when women and girls are harassed in the street. The laugh when a friend makes a hateful comment. They ignore rather than challenge inappropriate behaviour in their families .

I call that sort of swimmer the "wandering jellyfish" cherry. I have one in my pool. They have no discernible pattern to their movements so you can't get past them. I did speak sharply to her once but I forgot I was wearing ear plugs so I've no idea what she said back. She has been better since.

PurpleDaisies, apparently one of the people swims diagonally across the lane with her eyes shut and then accuses other people of bumping into her and gets verbally abusive. DH had a run in with her in the past and had avoided her from then on. On this particular day she tried it with the wrong person. According to DH the lifeguard was about 14 and was trying timid 'excuse me's while the two women went at it.

I would say no actually! Someone said before, if men are bothering women chuck them out. So no. It's unnecessary segregation.

Fair enough, reduced fees it is then.😊👍

I don't need to understand it. If there is a demand, and a gym wishes to provide it it's none of my business.

I pay for a gym to be able to use it at my convenience, if that changes I'll switch gyms. In the end though I imagine there is room in the market for both.

A lot of it is conditioning that leads to girls dropping out of sport and exercise as young teens because they are embarrassed to be seen sweaty and red faced.

Women are judged on their appearance. Women exercising in public also get appearance/sex based abuse. I had abuse shouted at me twice after 3 runs in public. I'm old, a 12-14 and pretty fit from running 5km a day on the treadmill at the gym.

I also walk my dogs which has been an eye opener in terms of watching the attitudes of some men to women runners. If you're fast you've run past before you've even heard the abuse. If you've just started running you notice other runners and look at their technique for tips. I've had the joy of watching a gang of outdoor workers on a smoking break ogle a woman and then call after her (with gestures) as she passed them. She was running with a pushchair. I've seen a normal looking bloke practically walk into a lamppost leering at the ass of a woman who had run past. The men calling out from cars and vans are too numerous to count.

I used to use the women only gym session to use the weights room without unsolicited help from male gym goers.

Oh my god, YES.

I also like being able to squat without catching men staring at my arse in the mirror. Unfortunately my gym doesn't do any women-only sessions.

The gym I used as a teenager did women-only nights and I felt less self-conscious and the atmosphere was different - women were chatting to each other in between sets or circuits. It also took some of the anxiety away because my friends would brag about how many men chatted them up and my number was always zero - obviously never stopping to think about why a grown man was hitting on a 14/15 year old

Don't understand it personally. Women need to get over themselves and realise men are far more interested at ogling themselves in the gym mirrors than other women who invariably look rough, all sweaty and red faced.

If a man is behaving dodgily then he needs to be tackled rather than letting men think that behaviour is fine which I think having women only sessions does.

I can well believe that cherry. I bloody hate other people in lanes. It gives me the rage like almost nothing else.

DH swims and has seen an actual fight over lack of lane discipline. With slapping. In the medium lane.