Same sex spaces the good and bad

Girls do a lot better in single-sex schools.

I went to a mixed one until a levels then single sex.
Being at a single sex school really sorted out my internalized misogyny and I developed friendships with girls for the first time.

And I started to flourish in sciences without anyone shouting out before I could answer.

When I read threads like this I thank my lucky stars that I went to an all-girls school. 😂 No mansplaining, no male gaze to make me feel self-conscious about the lack of a bust, no dumbing down in case boys would think you were a swot. I'm very comfortable in all female spaces.

To superloudpoppingaction thank you. Yes, I meant “girls studying sewing while boys study woodwork”. That sort of single sex space. I expressed it badly

That’s not really an example of single-sex spaces, but of gendered activities.

To superloudpoppingaction thank you. Yes, I meant “girls studying sewing while boys study woodwork”. That sort of single sex space. I expressed it badly

Ah fair enough

I getcha

I hated that as a teenager as well, but with the exception of sport i think this is getting a bit better in schools

Or is that just wishful thinking?

www.feministcurrent.com/2015/11/30/18995/
Cheat sheet here.

I love Marilyn Frye though. On class and race as well.

Lots of women who have experience of sexist single-sex spaces have reservations about any single-sex spaces.
I think that's a totally normal thought process.

I've absolutely loved any women only conferences I've been to though and found them very different to mixed ones.
It's safer to talk about certain things. And nice not to have any mansplaining.

They aren't utopian but they are different in quality to mixed spaces.

Thinking of the women's pond in Hampstead at least pre-self ID staff training:

Good:

a place away from the male gaze in which to feel comfortable when sunbathing topless and just relaxing in nature

a place where you don't get stared at for not complying with current trends re depilation / cosmetic surgery

a place where women who have had mastectomies / limb amputations can just chill out without being stared at

bad:

fairly frequent invitations to sign petitions endorsing quackery and conspiracy theories

occasional attempts by cults to recruit via female recruiters and leaflets

re women only steam / sauna:

the opportunity for women from Jewish / Muslim /Christian / atheist beliefs to get to know one another outside of the usual social norms

Good - provides safety and privacy for women and children, and privacy for men and boys.
Bad - can make things difficult for parents and opposite sex children.

I think I felt similar when I was in my teens (a while ago now) but totally recognise the need now & will fight for them to be retained

Anyway if anyone has any wise words I’d be glad to read them

Did you ever stop and think why we have same sex spaces?

Why not pick some same sex spaces and do a SWOT analysis on them and present your findings to the board?

feminist-reprise.org/library/resistance-strategy-and-struggle/some-reflections-on-separatism-and-power/

Worth reading marilyn frye's 'on separatism and power '

Feminist same sex spaces are very different from holding pens (girls studying sewing while boys study woodwork ) or refuges from the patriarchy (women only train carriages/prisons).
Arguments against the latter should not be used to eliminate the former.

Im not sure that miss idea of a same sex space is the same as mine

Especially if she thinks that it means you can't play football

Could you possibly clarify what you mean by same sex space please miss

Same sex spaces? What hospital wards, changing rooms and such? No, I never found them anything but safe. Having to change in front of men would make me very uncomfortable.

Same sex spaces doesn't mean you can't play football it means that when you change into your football kit the males and females are in separate rooms.

They are needed.