Women only swimming stopped

If women are stuck at home with no access to English classes, or a doctor or dentist, or contact with the outside world I have no problem with offering appropriate classes and events for them. Change is a gradual process.
I dont see how men only swim sessions for men who wont culturally swim with women is any different from women only sessions for the same or other reasons. They are not rare and they are not under attack from anyone, least of all women.

Equality is not about having exactly the same thing for all people, it is equality of opportunity.

If enough women are put off from swimming by mixed sex sessions, due to issues of safety, dignity and privacy, than women are lacking the opportunity to swim and it's totally appropriate to offer single sex sessions.

If there are men that feel the same (which there are), then they should petition for men only sessions (which in some areas they have).

Taking sessions from women is spite, there is no justification for it.

Funny though how a lot of this thread now is "what about the men", why they need the same,how much demand there is,what their reasons are etc.

Lass

It would be interesting to see how successful a woman would be if she suggested those men's sessions were shut down.

I just can't get the same picture of an outraged woman, in the same way I do of an outraged man.

Ok I get you Lass. There is a need for it, but I can understand you don't agree with council facilities being divvied up on basis of religion.

Yes, I'm not sure that those women who choose not to be semi naked in front of strange men feel privileged by that desire.

It's not muslim women only but it's called that, any woman could go. But it's absolutely packed with a line down the street so you probably wouldn't want to

Noted. I would not support Muslim ( or any other religion )women only sessions.

Google actually shows men only sessions are not the hen's teeth some are suggesting.

There seems to various reasons ranging from the ability to power swim ( fair enough) nude swimming (fair enough) and men for cultural reasons who don't want to swim with women.

Yep "Check your privilege" me too rebel

I'm in Ireland.. we have women only swim classes and men only swim classes. It's always been this way. Once boys and girls reach puberty then the classes are split.

A pp said a woman who has been abused has to mix with men "on the tube, bus, restaurants" I'm paraphrasing.
Funnily enough when I use public transport or eat out I'm fully clothed! not in a swim suit when I might feel more vulnerable ffs

Signed

Datun is spot on.

noblegiraffe

I completely agree. Some bloody man is annoyed. That's why this is not an issue of the benefits or not of an imaginary future proliferation of segregation, or whether men with body issues should have a man only swim.

The point is, this would never have arisen had it not been for gender politics. It's immaterial what the identity of the complainant was, the fact that his complaint has been taken seriously is a result of gender politics and the worry that women only services/spaces are exclusionary.

Whether you think the entire issue is a backlash against women, or a natural extension of progressive policies, women are disadvantaged by it more than men. And this is an example.

It's not muslim women only but it's called that, any woman could go. But it's absolutely packed with a line down the street so you probably wouldn't want to.

If there is demand and need for it, I don't see any reasons whatsoever not to have men only swimming.
But that isn't the issue here is it?

Lass - the swimming pool near me offers muslim women only swim and gym session. This is the only opportunity that these women will get to have a swim or work out. You would seriously cancel that just because you don't agree with their religion?

Yes I would. I see no reason whatsoever for it to be Muslim women only. Women only fine- not an issue.


www.zestcommunity.co.uk/timetables/pool-timetable

Men over 18 only. Tuesday night 20.15- 21.15.

Fine, chuck in men only sessions too, whatever but why cancel the women's session?

Check your privilege

Dunno wether to laugh or cry.

I'm not disagreeing. I have no issue at all with a man only swim. None of our local pools have a demand for it.

All four of them, however, have women only swims. Which are packed.

If the only way to retain a woman only swim, is to provide a man only swim. I'm all for it.

You just know who will have complained about this. No way is it someone who wants to swim at that time, it'll be some angry man who doesn't like women having something that he can't have, so he's going to take it from them.

And fuck the reasons why they might need it.

Lass - the swimming pool near me offers muslim women only swim and gym session. This is the only opportunity that these women will get to have a swim or work out. You would seriously cancel that just because you don't agree with their religion?

Whist I think women only sessions are desirable I can see the argument that asks for male only sessions as well, especially as the timing of the women once session precludes males. Provision for both genders is needed I believe for equality

You can't answer my comment can you? I feel more comfortable in a women only session for various reasons, so do many other women. Why is that not ok with you? Why must I do what you think is right?

I'd be bloody shocked if there was any take up.

Check your privilege. Some men have severe body confidence issues. Other men aren't even suppose to see women without several layers of very modest clothing. There should be single sex sessions for both men and women.

LassWiTheDelicateAir I never said it was? I just added it as another reason why they are needed/beneficial

I know you added it as another reason I personally don't think it is one which should carry much weight.

There is nothing to prevent pools offering men only sessions if there was a demand for them but there doesn't seem to be. Some pools offer nudist sessions for example. I'm sure a poster mentioned this on a thread once and that the one she knew of was pretty much a men only session.

No I don't think disabled or oap sessions should stop.
But segregating men and women represents a step in the direction of further segregation, schools, shopping, parks, is that what we want? It seems to be pushed by members of religions that treat women as unequal to a far greater extent than the UK does. I doubt that a large number are there because they are afraid of men. It's a cultural thing mainly and one I do not want to see pushed here.
After reading the posts about wanting to live on an island of women, I feel my views come from a very different place. I like a lot men, love a few and they add to my life. Yes I've experienced sexism and unfairness based on my sex but living on an island full of women sounds horrific.