At this point, you might be offended. "What’s that you say? No women allowed???" That’s right, at Blue’s Imaginary Gym, there is no room whatsoever for the female gender. Period. Not even if they have a mustache. Read the big sign at the door that clearly spells it out for you, “No women allowed.”
Just to make a point.
Because, you see, for some reason, it seems perfectly normal for there to be gyms where men are not welcome. For some reason, few feel offended by that. But think about it... NO MEN ALLOWED. Doesn’t that strike you as a bit exclusionary?
Something tells me the average feminist will want to cancel anyone who dares to exclude women. How dare he? You sexist! Extra, extra, read all about it! No doubt a Trump supporter! Social media experts will be fighting among themselves to destroy the gym owner, because Sexist Gym Owner Destroyed makes excellent clickbait. (Destroyed is such a fun word in 2024.) Thank you, Ms. Double Standard.
But wait a minute. Women are not victims. Not in this country, they are not. Women have the same rights as men. Women are strong. Excluding men only reinforces the idea that men and women cannot share the same space without issues arising. This perpetuates stereotypes about both genders—men as potential threats and women as needing protection. True equality should be about breaking down these stereotypes, not reinforcing them. “No women allowed.” Don’t you just like the sound of that? If you do, you might want to check out Blue’s Gym and sink your teeth into the wonderful world of men-only.
The thing is, exclusion can never be a solution. It's discriminatory. It doesn't address the root problem. “Now wait a minute, Blue,” I hear you protest. “This isn’t any different from today’s bathroom segregation. A bathroom for women only, a bathroom for men only. What’s the problem?” Well, the problem is that bathroom segregation based on gender is a two-way street. “Women only” is not. Why am I reminded of
“Not for colored people” or
“No Jews allowed” or
"Only if you're vaccinated"?
If that last sentence triggers you, ask yourself why. Do you think these things are not similar to a women’s only gym? Here’s an idea: a sign that says, “Harass and a big guard will kick your…”
Don’t exclude. If you do, don’t moan when you’re excluded in turn, as in “Men Only.” The truth be told, us real men don't give a rat's butt about any of this. We don't cancel. We don't go online and complain like a bunch of whinos."We have rights! We have rights, dammit! Boohoohoo!" Why is that?
Anyway, this Arnold Schwarzenschnitzel wannabe is off to the gym. Will be back in 20 minutes, feeling completely destroyed.
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I've seen a For Women Only fitness center and it does seem unfair. (And where I live, I'm sure it's still only biological women.) Even my wife thought it odd although she suggested women might feel safer in an environment wit only other women.
ReplyDeleteLet's no identify as a woman just yet just to get inside one of those women's only gyms. But I'm sure this world won't be big enough a place for someone who dares to put up a sign that says: "Men only. No women allowed." Just guessing.
DeleteI see nothing wrong with men only or women only gyms. My daughter worked at Planet Fitness for a while and saw how some women were treated by some of the men. It was disgusting. My own daughter ended up quitting because she was being stalked by one of the members there who refused to leave her alone even after he was banned from coming back. He would wait outside for her.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of women would feel more comfortable in a women only gym.
I understand, Mary, but what would the social media have to say when someone says: "No women allowed"?
DeleteSocial media might have a problem with it but I doubt many women would have a problem with that.
DeleteYou're right. There's a difference, right there.
DeleteI quit the gym I went to because of the weirdo men. I’d be fine if they wanted their own gym!
ReplyDeleteThere ya go. You get it.
DeleteThe difference, oh my Blue Hunkster, is that ladies do not enjoy being ogled at by men in gyms, at least the ones they don't find attractive, they are not offended if it is some hunk. This is why they need female gyms. On the other hand men love to be ogled at no matter how the person who ogles at them looks like. And as Bijoux says above, you'd be surprised with how many weird psychos love to make ladies uncomfortable in gyms and other places. In every other instance I am strictly against any division, there was a play in UK where only black people were accepted in the audience... like what the phook?
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, Dez. The point I'm trying to make is that when someone puts up a sign that says "Men Only", many women will feel discriminated and start screaming and shouting on the internet. That's all.
Delete“Excluding men only reinforces the idea that men and women cannot share the same space without issues arising” <—- Do you see what you did there? eh? Was that deliberate or is it just that there’s something wrong with me and my mind? hehehehe…
ReplyDeleteIt really is a double standard but the overthinking woman/feminist/angry at the world will tell you that women in this country are still oppressed and still have lots of dreadful things happening to them and that the exclusion of men make them less fearful and able to function in a much safer environment. Nobody will be looking at their boobs, arse, or think about sex with them. They won’t feel threatened. And, unfortunately this is the narrative.
On one hand I understand it as I have experienced the “feeling afraid” to walk home at night, cross through a park at dark, enter a mostly male environment and so on. I understand that there are more crimes against women and I think that fear is a real thing that most women have experienced. But, what’s happening nowadays is that this rage against man has grabbed legs like a centipede and breeds like a rabbit. Toxic masculinity is painted over males as a whole and you’re all rotten rotters that want to destroy us. I do feel for decent men who now feel afraid to walk around parks on their own, or go to places and dare look at a female the wrong way or even dare to throw a chat-up line out there without repercussions. Emasculating men will surely have the very result that women do not want. But like anything in this age, Blue - there don’t seem to be any shades of grey.
I absolutely agree with you on ‘Seclusion is not the answer and only fuels the issues’ which I find rather ironic since the people that get so upset by these things long for a utopian society. How’s that gonna work then, petal?
Jules x
Jules, I've said it before and I'll say it again: you are the best. So well put. Thank you for that :)
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