Women's spaces

A high proportion of human societies have chosen some form of gender segregation and it is one of the biggest criticisms westerners often level at non-western societies. In recent years there is evidence that western civilisation may be adopting increased gender segregation.

A lot of gender segregation in western countries is being driven by feminists who state that they often feel threatened by men, sometimes merely by their presence.^[1]

Examples

Cemeteries

There is a Lesbian-only cemetery in Germany.^[2]

Domestic Violence Shelters

Throughout the world, domestic violence shelters are nearly universally available only to women.

Gyms

Women-only gyms are common throughout the west and widely known about.^[3]

Hotels

Other segregated areas include women-only hotel floors^[4]^[5] and hotels^[6]^[7] This is a growing trend.^[8]

There are a few hotels around the world that advertise as male-only although it is unlikely that this is enforced in western nations.

Markets

A women-only market has recently opened in London.^[9]

Music Concerts

Sweden recently had a music concert that was non-men.^[10] The festival was found to be in violation of the country's discrimination laws.^[11]

Parking Spaces & Roads

Australia, China, Kuwait, Malaysia, Indonesia, Austria, Italy, and South Korea now have women-only parking spaces in some areas.^[12] ^[13] ^[14] This practice is even more widespread in Germany.^[15]^[16] The town of Triberg in Germany created male-only and female-only parking spaces, allocating the more difficult parking spaces to men.^[17] It is unclear if the town had to backtrack under feminist pressure.

An insurance company in the UK has seriously suggested road lanes exclusively for female drivers.^[18]

Police Stations

There are women-only police stations in Brazil, Argentina, Guatemala, Peru and India.^[19] Australian academics have been studying the Argentinian model with a view to the introduction of women-only police stations in Australia.^[20]^[21]^[22]

Private Clubs

Many women-only private clubs thrive will men-only clubs are forced to open their doors to women.

Public Spaces

Some public spaces in Australia have women-only seating.^[23]

Public Transportation

Jessica Valenti, a well known feminist blogger, has explicitly proposed gender segregation on public transport.^[24] Some countries are already doing this. There are women-only bus seats in Switzerland and India.^[25]^[26] There are women-only train carriages in Malaysia^[27], Germany^[28] and other countries. There has even been a proposal for women-only seating sections on aircraft.^[29]

Men are not permitted to travel on trains during certain hours in Chennai, India.^[30]

Restaurants

Women only restaurants are becoming common.^[31]

Swimming Pools

The city of Hamilton New Zealand plans to ban men from a public swimming pool during certain times, creating women-only swimming sessions.^[32] US universities have female only education sessions^[33]

Taxis & Ride Sharing

New York City has a women-only taxi service.^[34] Although they have apparently had trouble finding sufficient female drivers. A similar service has been proposed for Melbourne, Australia^[35], and is in use elsewhere.^[36]

The Shebah women-only ride sharing service operates in several large Australian cities.^[37]

Trips4Women is available in California.^[38]

Working Spaces

The US has a growing number of female-only co-working spaces.^[39]

Conclusions

This raises the interesting question about whether it was women who drove segregation in other societies. This would be interesting considering that gender segregation in non-western countries today is often claimed as principally disadvantaging women.

It may be reasonable for a society to permit gender segregation, but it must be on just and equal terms. Thus a society should permit both men-only and women-only organisations only if they are available on equal terms. A society should allow both or it should allow neither. Currently women in the west continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to women-only spaces and organisations while men are today largely prohibited from having men-only spaces and organisations.

External Links

References

[1] ttp://www.feministtimes.com/men-know-your-place/

[2] ttp://www.theage.com.au/world/germany-opens-lesbianonly-cemetery-20140407-zqrlp.html

[3] ttp://fitnessmarketing.com/2011/04/are-women-only-gyms-guilty-of-discrimination/

[4] ttp://www.bcbusiness.ca/marketing-media/vancouvers-women-only-hotel-floor

[5] ttp://www.cpmsp.com/hotel-for-women.php

[6] ttps://www.independent.co.uk/voices/som-dona-hotel-mallorca-women-only-hotel-misogyny-sexism-a9124431.html

[7] ttps://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/7-women-only-hotels-your-next-vacation

[8] ttp://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/amadeus-it-pacific-reports-female-only-floors-needed-in-hotels/story-e6frfq80-1226595825229

[9] ttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-50426904

[10] ttp://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/world/europe/sweden-statement-festival-women.html

[11] ttps://gosocial.co/swedens-first-no-men-allowed-festival-found-guilty-of-discrimination

[12] ttp://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-carpark-trials-female-friendly-parking-zones/news-story/e8e1d21668ed056ce92f75f5aba43e74

[13] ttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2636430/South-Korea-introduces-women-parking-spaces-longer-wider.html

[14] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRtOqzOm4Iw

[15] ttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3180400/Ladies-parking-spaces-introduced-Frankfurt-airport-bigger-nicer-close-terminals-spark-sexism-row-Germany.html

[16] ttp://www.thelocal.de/20150730/women-only-parking-spaces-sensible-or-sexist

[17] ttps://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/men-more-difficult-parking-spots-women-under-mayor-17465310

[18] ttp://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2552130

[19] ttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-09/women-only-police-stations-a-way-to-target-domestic-violence/6292118

[20] ttps://blogs.qut.edu.au/crime-and-justice-research-centre/2019/05/07/media-womens-only-police-stations/

[21] ttps://research.qut.edu.au/pgv/

[22] ttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-17/qld-woman-only-police-stations/1000135

[23] ttps://www.facebook.com/AntiFeminismAustralia/photos/a.1516659345267259.1073741828.1516636858602841/1609066626026530/?type=1&fref=nf

[24] ttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/07/gender-segregated-transport-women-men-behaving-badly

[25] ttps://www.facebook.com/AntiFeminismAustralia/photos/p.1585333115066548/1585333115066548/?type=1&theater

[26] ttps://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/civic/women-can-take-the-chair-in-pmpml-buses/articleshow/71881135.cms

[27] ttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204605520002658&set=gm.915818205141951&type=1&theater

[28] ttp://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/03/26/german-railway-launches-gender-segregated-carriages-in-wake-of-sex-attacks/

[29] ttps://www.foxnews.com/travel/journalist-suggests-women-only-plane-sections-to-combat-mid-air-assault

[30] ttps://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/jan/11/restricting-men-from-trains-illogical-say-chennai-commuters-2248330.html

[31] ttp://thelibertarianrepublic.com/women-only-dining-is-there-a-double-standard/

[32] ttp://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10004301/Man-ban-at-public-pool

[33] ttp://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/03/14/girls-learn-science-and-math/24776455/?fb_action_ids=10152897402564064&fb_action_types=og.comments&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B753232754792712%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.comments%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

[34] ttp://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/11/12/sherides-taxi-service.html

[35] ttp://www.theage.com.au/victoria/womenonly-pink-taxis-on-the-way-20131114-2xj2i.html

[36] ttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbournes-women-warm-to-female-only-taxi-proposal/story-e6frf7kx-1225789034601

[37] ttps://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/news/shebah-3-million-equity-crowdfunding/

[38] ttps://trips4w.com/

[39] ttp://theweek.com/articles/759527/rise-womenonly-coworking-spaces

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