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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

women at Girton College Cambridge aren’t allowed 1 hour out of 83 hours to swim in a female only environment

137 replies

papayasareyum · 04/02/2019 12:52

I’ve just read this. Apparently they wanted 1 measly hour for women to swim, without men.
1 hour. The rest of the time, the pool is available for men and women. This is Girton college, a women’s only college, Cambridge.
A www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6665283/Fury-posters-women-non-binary-gym-sessions-defaced-Cambridge-College.html
A man was outside protesting apparently. Angry

OP posts:
OP posts:
DancelikeEmmaGoldman · 04/02/2019 12:55

What on earth is a non-binary when it’s in the pool?

CountryPlumpkin · 04/02/2019 12:57

Just to point out - Girton is not a female only college any more.

SD1978 · 04/02/2019 12:57

But anyone can turn up- it's not a female only session- it's female and whatever you're currently identifying as, so ultimate pointless?

Rogueaccountant · 04/02/2019 12:58

Cancel the Xmas disco.

Original poster
papayasareyum · 04/02/2019 13:01

that's what I thought too. If you're allowing non binary people, you're allowing male bodied people to swim in a women only session?

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 04/02/2019 13:11

This will be a big issue for Muslim students, especially those from more conservative backgrounds. I thought Oxbridge were keen to recruit more BAME students.

Barracker · 04/02/2019 13:15

I'd support a women's hour, and a men's hour for that matter.

But the idea that a "woman and non-binary" hour could be in any way policed is bonkers.
Do people have to declare their invisible identity first?

It's not even worth writing, it's such an embarrassment. Idiots.

TeenTimesTwo · 04/02/2019 13:23

Girton's been mixed for 30 years.
But I agree.

QuietContraryMary · 04/02/2019 13:26

Non-binary means the entire population of the planet, no?

So it's already useless bollocks that excludes women who do not want to swim with men.

feelingverylazytoday · 04/02/2019 13:31

This 'non binary' wankery needs to be fucked off immediately. It's quite obviously just a made up concept with absolutely no medical or scientific basis.

WokerThanWoke · 04/02/2019 13:35

Women and non-binary people does mean everyone, so whoever added to the sign was correct to do so.

I would support them if it was women (single sex) only.

Jaxhog · 04/02/2019 13:45

Why on earth dont they have 1 hour for just women, i hour for just men and 1 hour for just non-binaries? Then maybe 1 hour for transwomen and 1 hour for transmen - just for completeness. That's 1 hour each weekday - not too hard.

Btw, non-binary is a catch-all category for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine‍. ie. NOT everyone.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/02/2019 13:46

Does anyone know if the 'everyone' was added by MRA or by a GC person trying to point out that everyone is 'non-binary'?Confused

At all events, seems like the upshot in real life is women wanting a time when men stay out.

In response to the usual idiotic MRA comments on the DM piece, in the interests of equality by all means have a men only session too (or rather, men and non binary, of course). That would also help point up the idiocy of 'non binary' in this context.

Female session and Male session would be clearer and better.

AssassinatedBeauty · 04/02/2019 14:01

@Jaxhog no one is exclusively masculine to exclusively feminine though? So non-binary applies to everyone who isn't an absolute example of gender stereotypes at all times.

AssassinatedBeauty · 04/02/2019 14:03

exclusively masculine or exclusively feminine... no idea how the "or" turned into "to"...

Aquilla · 04/02/2019 14:06

I don't think it's right to pander to minorities to fit their (in my opinion) old fashioned cultural norms. Drip, drip, slippery slope and all that.

stillathing · 04/02/2019 14:07

Women, transmen and non binary identified females.

Women and people of any gender identity who were born female.

Females of any and no gender identity.

I don't know why it is so hard for organisations to be inclusive to the young people whilst also maintaining the adult position that sex matters and segregation by sex is occasionally necessary and lawful.

Barracker · 04/02/2019 14:09

Women are a minority?

Original poster
papayasareyum · 04/02/2019 14:10

I know, I agree! And it's only one hour they're asking for. ONE HOUR! Thats all! One hour for adult human females. ONE. And that's too much.

OP posts:
Barracker · 04/02/2019 14:13

Unfortunately, OP, they asked for an hour for adult human females and also adult human males who identify as non-binary.

Kinda defeating the object entirely.

Floomph · 04/02/2019 14:13

Girton are embarrassing themselves. Non-binary people = anyone and everyone. Why are they pandering to this nonsense? They should be much bolder in having a women-only session for the comfort and safety of their female students/staff

Gingerkittykat · 04/02/2019 14:59

I'm really pissed off my health suite have stopped male/ female only sessions. I don't feel comfortable being in such close proximity to nearly naked men (far closer than swimming) and the fact almost no women use that facility any more says it all.

I'm sure loads of women feel the same, I remember there was huge backlash when a pool in a predominantly muslim area introduced women and child only sessions.

And I agree non binary people with male bodies don't count as women.

Jaxhog · 04/02/2019 15:53

@AssassinatedBeauty I think most men and most women identify as binary i.e. male or female. I don't consider myself to be non-binary.

AssassinatedBeauty · 04/02/2019 15:56

You said masculine and feminine, not male and female. No one is 100% masculine or feminine unless they are a walking cartoon stereotype. You're mixing up sex with gender roles/stereotypes which is the root of most of these issues!