Is this sexism and can i complain?

[Tiscold]

Ok, me and my partner (male) wanted to relive a bit of our youth and go clubbing / night out yesterday as generally there's really good discounts on sundays and its a bit more relaxed.

So we approach a club and theres one line for both sexes but females have to go to the left once they reach the front and show ID to a female bouncer and males to the right and male bouncer. No issue so far.

This club charges an entry free "to help manage the crowds and improve the experience plus to absorb the costs of people not drinking and just coming and dancing after getting drunk at home" . I'm asked to pay £2.50 entry free and enter, my partner comes in and is grumbling that on a cheap night they've charged him a fiver for just entry.

Now surely that isn't right and is sex discrimination? They're charging more for men to enter then females even though we both use the same service. Am i being petty to complain and idk report them to somewhere or should i just get over it?

I'm not bothered about the redund, more the inequality of it, so hooe they change their pricing structure.

I find MRA is using as a derogatory word to say people are anti feminist etc which I'm not

@Tiscold

But feminism is seen as an insult by most men and women because there is a massive disconnect between thinking the exes deserve equality of opportunity and feminism.

Modern feminism turns off ever-increasing numbers of women as it is irrational, illogical and misandrist.

The fact you're offended by being called an MRA is a wonderful case-in-point.

Equality should be across the board big things and small. Saying women suffer more in other areas such as DV and other things mentioned does not justify not having equality in some areas to the detriment of men just because they have it better in other areas.

Although this is a minor equality issue, the more minor issues which are addressed the more the world will view women and men as equals. Sure there are much bigger equality issues out there which need to be addressed as a priority but it doesn't mean that minor equality issues should be ignored or made fun of.

To be honest men may be paying less but the point is that women are still the victims here. The reason they're paying less to get in is because they're basically being treated like a commodity. Like the club's only worth going to if it's packed with females. Many places also offer women reduced drinks as well, clubs packed with drunk females being even more attractive I'm guessing

Yes. Does anyone seriously think the owners are doing this because they want to be nice to women? Or because women earn less than men?

Minor equality issues for women -not sure what they are?

When women raise stuff that is "minor" nobody addresses it everyone says stop being hysterical. Thinking things like women having to wear high heels for work (even if it causes pain etc)
Even stuff like street harrassment nothing really happens, loads of people say oh it's just a bit of banter can't men even talk to women any more etc

I woudl have been red hot keen to pay an extra 2.50 in exhange for all the "minor" things that happened to me and my mates in clubs.

But that's by the by and not really relevant.

OP I do hope that you get the result that you're looking for and your OH gets his 2.50.

And if there's one thing that MN posters hate, it's men's rights. No one has ever explained why men wanting equal rights is bad or why men advocating for men is bad
I advocate for men where they are under represented. I'm involved in groups supporting men's charities and support networks for mental health.

Big difference between being an MRA and advocating for men.

MRAs are the men who act like women pointing out longstanding social and structural power imbalances is a crime against men. They like to think that women should lighten up because men were just joking. They are the types who'll talk about how they are essentially victimised at work because there's a 'women into management' course to address the fact their institution is highly male dominated. They wander with their tail between their legs feeling hard done to if anything is done to try and achieve greater equality in the workplace. They think women raising women's issues should get back in the kitchen and know their place. They're the ones who post on social media that women in politics and lobbying need a shag, should suck their dick etc. They are horrible group of misogynist who are interested in keeping women in their place by claiming men are somehow the big victims in society because mean women are speaking out. See also men who claim feminism has gone too far the other way.

I've already said up thread it's sex discrimination on prices but that at the heart of the situation at the club is misogyny. The £2.50 is a tiny part of a bigger issue where drunk women are the bait to get the men in and men feel happy to pay extra to have better odds with women.

It was the whole 'woe is me, poor men, nobody cares about anything that disadvantages them, poor men and their £2.50' that I found reminiscent of the MRA types.

When I go clubbing I have to buy all the drinks, it's £2 for me £4 for my older mate and £6 for my boyfriend. They want lots of attractive women in the bar and on their website to get lots of lads to come after them.
Gross, but it's the way the world works. They wouldn't bring his Entry down, they'd just shove yours up if made to equalise (see driving insurance)

Realised that made me sound really up myself then... soz, erase accidental stealth boat

ducks for cover

Although you could see the cheaper female price as a subsidy for the gender wage gap?

@BlackPrism NO. Just absolutely no to everything you've said. Cheap drinks for pretty women in nightclubs doesn't make up for professional women getting less money and less respect than their male counterparts. I for one would rather pay a fair price for a drink in a club using the fair wage I've earnt. In fact it's just another example of women being objectified, condescended to and disrespected. You're right to duck for cover, you're wrong for thinking it's cos barmen think you're pretty. You've massively missed the point if the thread.

And "gross, but it's the way the works works" isn't gonna get us very fucking far is it?

I've already said up thread it's sex discrimination on prices but that at the heart of the situation at the club is misogyny. The £2.50 is a tiny part of a bigger issue where drunk women are the bait to get the men in and men feel happy to pay extra to have better odds with women

It was the whole 'woe is me, poor men, nobody cares about anything that disadvantages them, poor men and their £2.50' that I found reminiscent of the MRA types

I don't know what is so difficult to understand about this but you couldn't get much clearer than that.

Although you could see the cheaper female price as a subsidy for the gender wage gap?

No you couldn't.

Apprently we should be happy with sexism so long as in benifets us yet we should complain vigorously if it disadvantages us massively?

Well yes! Maybe you weren't around but we had hundreds of years where we were treated like dirt by Ken and it's only fair we take advantage of any extra benefits available because you know men would happily do it the other way around.

@TerriTummyTowels have you been around for hundreds of years then?! 😂

WOMEN AREN'T BENEFITING FROM THIS!!! Give up on equality cos we get £2.50 off club entry?!

OP this is a good marketing ploy for the club, but probably not for the reason you think.

Women pay less to enter > more sexually available women enter > man who pays twice as much has a better chance of getting laid > man goes back because he normally gets laid when he goes there > club attracts more clients of both sexes.

Go find me a bloke who’d prefer to have less women in the club.

Pleasing men is normally at the bottom of these things.

Maybe you weren't around but we had hundreds of years where we were treated like dirt by Ken

Who's Ken?

@Badstyley that's what the whole thread had been about.....

Hadn’t RTFT. It just seems obvious to me.

Well, it is discriminatory. They’re obviously doing it to get more women in - that way more men too. In my day, there would be frequent “ladies nights” where you got in free, or got a free drink. It’s just so you have lots of women. I never complained though......funny that......
Also £5 to get into a club sounds pretty cheap.
I call out any discrimination which doesn’t help women, but I just couldn’t get excited about this issue. If you do, then complain, but bear in mind, it’s discriminatory but not sexist (sexism refers to a structure that maintains a set of power relations - ie patriarchy).

"Women pay less to enter > more sexually available women enter >"

This is an incredibly interesting statement.

It is what the idea is behind this>
That women who will go to a club for free or reduced money are likely to be / are "sexually more available"

This is the entire premise

The idea that a woman might fancy a cheap night out (in the straightforward meaning) is absent

She is cheap >>> literally

So men think this,NAMALT, but that is the subtext with clubs that let women in free or for next to nothing, right?

Are the women in on this? I mean that they are to be "sexually available"?

OR is it an idea by male club promoters for men - let's get as many women in as poss and etc...

Then the understanding of what it's all about between men and women will be quite different.
Like all those times that many of us will have been in that men have somehow felt entitled, or something, to our company, our conversation, our whatever in clubs. And I never went to ones that were cheaper for men (they were cheap for everyone :D).

Do a large minority of men think women in clubs are basically there to entertain & be nice to them? (ie not tell them to piss off if they go on and on and on).

You're getting angry at women who are not seeing the big deal in being charged £2.50 less than men, when your own husband isn't bothered about it.

I'd happily support my dh or any men in any issue that affects them and I'd genuinely complain with them if they were annoyed about it but I wouldn't send emails in and complain for them if he'd said himself he can't be arsed.

If someone can't be arsed to do something then it's usually because it's not issue they are bothered about, so if men are not bothered and are not organising to change sexism where they don't benefit because they can't be arsed then why the hell should women do it for them?

If my DH went to his male forum and expressed anger that women are charged more for razors and is going to complain to Gillette, that I'm not complaining myself because I can't be arsed but they should be annoyed by it, do you think the reaction would be positive?, or do you think he'd get a similar or more negative reaction than you're getting now?

My brother often says how unfair it is that there's various support stuff at work work women and lgbt groups but none for men, suggested he starts one then and organises with other males to support each other through mh issues, esp as the male suicide stats are so scary and he said he can't be arsed, he thinks it unfair that women have their support group but thinks there should be a male one but isn't bothered enough to try start one. or even attend one, hes just pissed off that women have arranged on by and for themselves.

@MyNameIsTaken sorry but did you read the thread? I just feel like you've missed the pointa bit. OP shouldn't be complaining on behalf of her husband but on her own behalf. Women are being charged less because they're basically expected to act as bait to get the men paying more through the door. You might gain £2.50 but you're still losing in this scenario. You're losing respect, equality, and in a larger way the right to go into a nightclub without some kind of expectation that you're there for the pleasure and convenience of a bunch of men you don't know (and probably don't want to).

@EnglishPuffins
I did read the full thread, I got the impression OP was complaining about men being discriminated against because they are charged more.

I agree that she should complain on her own behalf and how the policy shows lack of respect for women but based on her posts that's not what was promoted her to want to complain, it was her husband/men being discriminated against and that was the element that made her want to complain. I know other pps were pointing out the disrespect to women and using them as a lure for attracting men but didn't think that was what why OP was annoyed at her husband being charged more until that part was pointed out.

I'll hold my hands up though and admit I had a few drinks when I read the thread so will go back and reread :)

Ah yes @MyNameIsTaken you're right!