I was thinking about this over the weekend... it seems to me that there are three types of single sex spaces.
The first are places like public toilets, lesbian bars and rape crisis centres which are (or should be) single sex for exceptionally good reasons of safety, comfort and privacy.
The second are (were?) places like golf clubs and private members clubs - men only spaces where important decisions were made and deals happened. They have, in the main I think, been opened up to women, rightfully, because you can't have sexual equality if women can't access all of the places where power resides.
But what of the third type? It strikes me that there are other places that are much less clear cut, but that there are strong arguments for other single sex spaces despite the need being much much smaller than the need for single space refuges and toilets.
Mother and baby group - on the one hand obviously men should not be excluded from SAHP activities, but then again sometimes women might want to discuss things with other women which relate to motherhood not parenthood, and might not want a man there. I would have some sympathy for a SAH man who couldn't find a parent / baby group, but on the other hand I would have full sympathy for a woman who wanted a mother and baby group and who didn;t feel that it was her job to accommodate SAHP who are male.
Football matches - OK, they're not and never have been single space, and obviously plenty of women love football and cannot / should not be barred... but on the other hand it seems to me legitimate for men to wish to enjoy a visceral, emotional, tribal event in the company of men and without women there. On the one hand football should be family friendly, on the other hand is there not an argument that men have a right to spaces where they can go and shout and scream and swear and let it all out without women and children around? Are men losing out by football become more family friendly? [To be clear I am in no way arguing for women and kids to be banned from football, just pointing out that there are some arguments that making it more family friend.
Book group - what is wrong with having a book group which is by and for women, with an idea that the books chosen might be more female-centric than a mixed book group, and that the women there are there to talk a bit about their lives and women's issues not just the books?
Men's support groups - toxic masculinity, mental health - surely men's groups where men support other men with no hint of womanhood anywhere near is something that should be encouraged - arguably is being encouraged.
I don't know what I'm trying to say or ask... I suppose...
Does everyone agree that certain spaces need to be single sex, and some categorically need to be open to both sexes to ensure women are not excluded from power?
What does everyone think about the "need" for "non-essential single sex spaces?" Is there an argument that in the trans / GC "debate" the focus is on essential single sex spaces, and that as a result the need to protect the less essential ones is being completely forgotten?