Removal of Single Sex Sessions at Harrogate Turkish Baths

Thanks. I've used this service in the past and would be dismayed at such a change. Must every last one of our spaces, now including relaxation spaces, be infiltrated in this way? I'm also over the thoroughly inclusive questioning about my sexuality, which is no one's bloody business but my own, and which 'gender' I've been 'assigned at birth' - try neither; what a moronic phrase. My employers are also champions of this BS. MYOB!

You could point out that it would be exclusionary to muslim people and as such has the potential to come across as islamaphobic 🤷‍♀️ and is hardly inclusive.

It might set enough alarm bells off for them to rethink this, i mean a Turkish bath that is effectively barring muslims really doesn't look good.

I'm assuming that they won't care about the risk to or exclusion of women or they wouldn't even suggest it

Thank you for the link. I live close to Harrogate and had not heard about this proposal but was worried it might happen at some point. I attend the Turkish baths 2 or 3 times per year with friends and we always pick a women only session. The baths have a special atmosphere when it is just women. A place to really relax . As a plump over 50 woman I do not feel I am being judged by my appearance. The joy of swimming naked in the cold plunge pool is wonderful (though I have noticed over the years that more women wear costumes - not sure why) I will be encouraging friends to object

It could be they have had issues with the all male sessions too (thinking it was a different type of sauna!) Having then mixed waves a lot of issues and means anyone can use it any time

So women and children have to act as buffer zones for men who want to get it on in a public place?

How about they go home and do it with only the consenting adults present?

I've been there. The women's sessions were fab and the presence of any man would have totally changed the atmosphere.
I imagine men who valued the all-male sessions would say the same.

There were mixed sessions too as I remember, so basically everyone was catered for.

The proposal would be regressive and reduce choice: little to do with equality or inclusivity and everything to do with appeasement.

It could be they have had issues with the all male sessions too (thinking it was a different type of sauna!) Having then mixed waves a lot of issues and means anyone can use it any time

So does this mean that they will be moving the changing and loo facilities to 'all genders' too?

Filled it out. That’s disappointing and I hope they don’t go ahead with it.

Have they surveyed the women customers regularly using the single sex slot to check how many will have to stop coming if this differentiation/diversity of provision is removed from them?

Duh, sorry, that's what the survey IS asking for - at least they're checking!

They really need to read up on what equality actually is. It's not treating everyone the same. Its giving them equal opportunities to access services.

So anyone only able to access the single sex sessions now have no times they can go. Its the opposite of equality

How is changing from single sex and mixed sex sessions, so everyone's needs are met, encouraging inclusion? All it will mean is that some people self-exclude, who presently enjoy going. That makes no sense at all.

Who will they exclude in order to include?

That's the bottom line really. Have they surveyed the women customers regularly using the single sex slot to check how many will have to stop coming if this differentiation/diversity of provision is removed from them?

If there are TW/NB/other users really not comfortable accessing mixed sex sessions then perhaps specific LGBTWhatever sessions AND single sex sessions would meet everyone's needs. Inclusion and diversity means add, not carry out a snatch and grab raid on one group to hand More Stuff to another group to prove they're sufficiently cared about.

Or is this just the principle of nothing that nothing must every be just for females for political cookies?

Could it be because if someone identifies as female, they expect to come to the all female sessions. Therefore people expecting a female only session to be penis free arent getting what they expect? Making all sessions mixed removes the need for staff to judge who should be able to access a single sex session?

“All” genders? 🙄