Women only swimming stopped

[Nickynackynoodle]

Because of a complaint. Article and petition link here

My local pool run a session for muslim ladies, fine by me if that's what they want to do

There is no more justification for a session for "Muslim ladies" than one for Christian, Jewish or atheist ladies.

I can see it if it was someone who identified as "non binary" or "genderfluid". They are normally the ones pushing for no gender (sex) boundaries.

Golf clubs and numerous members' clubs which only allow men.

Or these men only swimming sessions: www.everyoneactive.com/activity/swimming/ (scroll down a little)
www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/activities/swimming
www.hackney.gov.uk/kingshall-leisure-centre

Women only swimming stopped ebcause of a complaint so if we complain about men only spaces (golf clubs?), will they be closed too?

Golf clubs and gentlemen's clubs (not the sleazy kind, the upper class kind) still seem to allow this, but men have lost many men only spaces over the years, from pubs to Scouts, etc. and generally we see this as a good thing.
The men's shed movement seems good, though, and I'm not aware of anyone complaining about that.

Re the allegedly trans complainant (all very muddy )

www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15466172.More_than_1_000_people_sign_petition_to_bring_back_women_only_swimming_classes_at_The_Pulse_in_Dursley/

'A message sent to the Gazette claims that the original complainant was not a male but a person who was transitioning from male to female - who identifies as a women – and was refused access to the group.
'It states that the woman in question feels “vilified” after the reaction on social media and feels that she was discriminated against when she was stopped from attending the session.
The email reads: “For this women it has been a life of torment and struggle, and making this change in her life has been more than most people will ever have to go through.
'“They finally get the courage to go swimming and then they are refused and told that they are not a woman.”
'An SDC spokesman denied that these claims were true.'

"In relation to the message sent to the Gazette, which claims to be from the originator of the complaint who states that they had been refused entry, we would like to point out that this is entirely untrue.”

Scouts voluntarily decided to admit girls due to falling numbers, as I recall.

When were pubs ever formally single sex?

men have lost many men only spaces over the years, from pubs

You're actually describing pubs as "men only spaces" and comparing somewhere people, female and male, have used to socialise for decades to sex segregated spaces specifically for one sex?

No, NoLove, not pubs, just the "men only pubs". I can't think of any in my lifetime except one in Waterford (Ireland) which existed around 15 years ago, where no women were allowed.
I think they have died out now.

Re the allegedly trans complainant (all very muddy confused)

www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15466172.More_than_1_000_people_sign_petition_to_bring_back_women_only_swimming_classes_at_The_Pulse_in_Dursley/

'A message sent to the Gazette claims that the original complainant was not a male but a person who was transitioning from male to female - who identifies as a women – and was refused access to the group.
'It states that the woman in question feels “vilified” after the reaction on social media and feels that she was discriminated against when she was stopped from attending the session.
The email reads: “For this women it has been a life of torment and struggle, and making this change in her life has been more than most people will ever have to go through.
'“They finally get the courage to go swimming and then they are refused and told that they are not a woman.”
'An SDC spokesman denied that these claims were true.'

"In relation to the message sent to the Gazette, which claims to be from the originator of the complaint who states that they had been refused entry, we would like to point out that this is entirely untrue.”

What utter bollocks. This person could have gone swimming any time they liked with men and women.

If I was charitable, I would say that they are only after validation. But I suspect it's the boundary violation that gets them off.

And they know it. And pretty soon all those women will know it too. Because it's obvious. And there is fuck all they can do about it.

It's the attitude that I'm not allowed in a public changing room not the pool, when it clearly states ladies private changing

When were pubs ever formally single sex?

I remember Men Only Bars in pubs. They were not uncommon.

Lass pandering to religious beliefs?
How about just recognising that women have a variety of reasons for wanting to have sex segragated sessions, some of which may be religiously motivated.

When were pubs ever formally single sex?

There seems to have been a time when all pubs wouldn't serve single women. Not quite the same as single sex, but certainly treating women as men's property that has no business going anywhere on its own.

I go swimming with ds. So wouldn't use the women only sessions. I really cant see the problem. You are under water and no one can see anything. I wear a towel till I get to the pool then leave it on the side then dive in.
In answer to someone on the first page. I am overweight and have never had any issues with men saying anything it is always women who are the nasty ones.

Seems men only rooms in pubs, or clubs was more common than whole pubs.
However, they did exist.
Here's a link to a documentary about the last men only pub in Middlesborough.
teessidepsychogeography.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/the-last-men-only-pub-in-middlesbrough/
I don't feel sorry for men for losing their male only spaces btw, just pointing out that there were plenty of instances of male only spaces and now far fewer.

Sexual harassment of women and girls by men and boys is rife. A few weeks ago on this forum someone posted about how at her daughter's school the girls' sports day had to be cancelled and moved to taking place during their lessons as boys were making derogatory comments about the girls' bodies not only whilst they were playing but afterwards on social media. I'm not surprised many women only feel comfortable with women only swimming sessions and anyway there are numerous men only swimming sessions as well (I linked to a handful).

There's a transgender session near me.

Only problem i have is how do they check you're trans? I could pitch up saying i'm scott, i'm male and you're a bigot if you say otherwise.

There was a time pubs could ban POC and Irish people. There were instances of white British only spaces. Hardly worth mentioning except to speak of how abhorrent this was; likewise with "male only spaces".

Plus there aren't many instances at all of female only spaces and women are losing the few there are.

oliversarmy so because you don't have a problem with mixed sex sessions no else should?

Hardly worth mentioning except to speak of how abhorrent this was; likewise with "male only spaces".

It's worth mentioning when someone states:
if we complain about men only spaces (golf clubs?), will they be closed too?

It seems to me, yes! They have been and are being closed. There is a lot of pressure on golf clubs to admit women now.
So it's relevant to this discussion, because men only bars and clubs are (rightfully) being closed due to societal pressure.
Of course, men don't need safe spaces in the same way women do, so it's quite right that they don't exclude women - and illegal.

There are numerous members' clubs which refuse to admit women. Some won't even allow women as guests and would never even have a vote on allowing women. The only one which has had a vote at all recently - The Garrick Club - voted not to allow women to join as members. Many hugely powerful and influential men belong to this club including QCs, judges and well known broadcasters. I don't see much societal pressure on them when these men thrive in their careers and in some cases are paid fortunes by, for example in some cases, the BBC despite belonging to a club which doesn't allow women to join. A fair few golf clubs still don't permit women to join either.

It's not illegal though. There are still men only golf clubs and men only clubs, they're not going to change any time soon. There are men only organisations too, like the Masons and the Round Table.

A lot of old fashioned pubs used to have a snug, which was used by men, and a lounge or saloon bar which was used by women and mixed sex groups. The snugs were quite rough and the lounge bar was nicer decorated and had a more upmarket feel. Yes it was quite sexist but I suppose it went along with the whole 'half a pint for the lady' thing.
Pub landlords did use to have a lot of say over what went on in their premises, and if they wanted men only areas then thats what happened.
Of course things have changed now, partly because pubs have to do whatever they can to stay open.

Interesting how the remaining men only spaces are all very upper class - the Garrick Club! Most men couldn't get in there either! And golf clubs.
Looks like the working class men lost their right to exclude women but the upper classes to go to keep theirs.