To think it is outrageous to ban women and girls over 13 from a fun run?

[Lex345]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kwk1204jno

I just caught this on the news-the article isn't clear on the justification for this-but this isn't OK is it?

Yes, and I am saying this is wrong.

The reasons why I don't care were very explicitly stated. If you chose not to read that that's your affair.

So had they banned all girls and women from the fun run posters here would have been ok....

Sure.

We’re not. As pp have said.

I don’t think this is a reasonable analysis.

A lot of single sex spaces allow young boys, the age range is normally under 8 but that’s not exactly fixed in stone and if slightly older girls are not a problem for this particular activity, then an older age cut off is as reasonable as 8.

One reason given for women only provision is so that women of religions that have prohibitions on men and women mixing can participate. This is frequently used for sport and fitness provision. Are men of religions where men and women can’t mix not also allowed single sex provision where they can participate?

I’m not sure I find the religious exception appropriate, it’s one of those ways I think religion has been a bane of modern civilization, Christianity has pushed it in the past, but it doesn’t seem to be a central tenant and pressure has died off of late as women’s rights have gained more respect. The very visible separation in Islam bothers me and certainly adds to my hostility to the religion gaining influence on British culture (as an atheist I’m somewhat hostile to any religion having influence on British culture). But the law allows it and it is often used in feminist arguments for single sex provision. I don’t really see how this would be different.

You may not care about the rights of British women and girls to be treated as equals to men and boys. A significant number of British women did not support the introduction of votes for women in 1918. There are useful idiots in all sections of societies across all countries.

Many people, of all ethnicities and all religions or no religion at all, do care. And we will continue to care, and push back against sexism in our country.

I'm not on LinkedIn so have no idea what she said. As @AzurePanda said, on its face it does appear that it is unlawful.

I think that NC is right that it's not "clear" (as in 100% obviously unlawful), depending on how they argue it but that would take a court to decide.

I have no idea what NC said but I would imagine that since Section 193(7) of the Equality Act allows charities to run single-sex events the mosque might argue that they did not hold one fun-run but, in fact were running two separate events; a mens only fun run and, separately, a childrens under 12 fun-run.

If they had actually done that, then that would likely be lawful.

But they certainly didn't advertise it as such and if it came to a court case they would have to prove that they did in fact organise it as two separate events rather than just one.

Are you another one struggling with the basic concept of the Equality Act, it's exemptions, and the reasons for the exemptions that have to be evidenced to be lawful?

edited to add... Ah, I've just seen your post of 14.36, so now I know that you are, indeed, struggling with the basic concept.

Short answer to OP: yes.

She doesn't need saving, she's not even in the UK. She's just doing that thing where she pretends to have the moral high-ground while talking for other people, while criticising others for doing the exact same thing.

The only odd thing about these threads is the willingness to defend misogyny and discrimination against women just because they are born into a particular religion.

The barriers to leave the Muslim faith are high. My friend had to accept that her family would cut her off as if she was dead when she wanted to live her life in freedom. Some women are killed.

Why do so many people not think that largely brown or black women deserve the same rights and protections as the rest of us?

How do you feel as a Muslim woman that you have access to the internet when your Muslim sisters in Afghanistan have had their access removed in the name of Islam?

If you are in the UK, your basic human rights are pretty much protected by UK and EU law. There are constant moves to undermine those rights by certain men. Do you think it is ok to undermine your rights as a Muslim woman in the name of religious belief?

“Your men”? What do you mean?

If you don’t live here what business is it of yours what we talk about? If you are not interested in the topic just scroll past. Attempts to silence us don’t work any more. We WILL discuss things that happen in our society.

Can you explain how it is Islamophobic to object to women being excluded from a ‘family’ event?

Does that mean that some things done in the name of Islam are anti women? Oh wait…

I just wanted to mention that not all Muslims are the same!

I am def Muslim but not super-religious. I don’t wear a hijab and I don’t keep to all the rules, though I don’t eat pork or drink alcohol. I wear what I want, go out and lead a pretty western life. My mum is religious but let me make my own decisions thankfully. No disowning etc.

When looking for prayer times for my mum a few years back, I looked at this website as it is her nearest mosque. I did a double-take when I saw women weren’t allowed to run and felt quite irritated. I am not displeased that it’s got attention now.

My adult nieces are in their 20s. One married and one not. Both religious and wear hijabs. Working women. Lots of Muslim and non-Muslim friends. Happy to have a laugh and gossip about Strictly etc. Both regularly do the Manchester 10k run and laugh at themselves, calling themselves ‘the unfit hijabis’! The Muslim husband of one looks after their two kids happily whilst his wife runs the race.

My point is, that Muslims come with all sorts of views and behaviours. Please don’t think we all are ok with this. Many of us like to keep active. My religious nieces love a charity run and will continue to do so.

My guess is that many of the women closely affiliated with this mosque may not wish to participate in the run. I feel for those that do though.

And fwiw we don’t all hate white English men. I am married to one…

Single sex sports events happen all round the country every single day.

Bloody hell. It has been explained to you MANY times!

Excluding only one group of people with a shared protected characteristic, in this case women, from an event whilst allowing all other groups to attend (men, boys, girls) violates the equality act in the UK. That is breaking the law.

If it was a mens only run that would be fine because they are using the single sex exemption. But allowing men boys and girls is not using the single sex exemption, it's just excluding one group in a discriminatory way. It's illegal.

@Plantine Why do you live in a majority white Christian country if you’re so disparaging about white people?

She doesn’t. She lives in the Middle East.

No, Scandinavia apparently.

Oh sorry. I thought she had spent time in Scandinavia and now lived in the ME. Apologies!

I sincerely hope you stretched before that massive reach…

SHHHHHHHH!!!!!

DON’T YOU KNOW????

YOU’RE ONLY ALLOWED TO
CALL OUT MISOGYNY WHEN IT’S NOT RACIST TO DO SO!!!!!!

I wouldn’t let them anywhere near people who follow a story book that admires a grown man marrying a 13 year old girl.

This, a million times.