tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post6289909940873908624..comments2024-03-01T08:19:54.547+00:00Comments on BobFromBrockley: Some thoughts on gender segregationbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-66110856108718209992013-12-15T09:28:25.489+00:002013-12-15T09:28:25.489+00:00The problem here is that the media is acting as a ...The problem here is that the media is acting as a conduit for PR, relaying press releases as if they were news, without questioning how large or representative the groups involved are. In this case there's no clamour from within the Muslim community to end separate seating; it has been normal practice in Islamic society events for decades. The agitation is coming from people with a long history of attacking Islam, such as members of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran (who dominate One Law for All) and another small but vocal minority of Asian secularists. The demonstrations have happened, but they were filmed close-up so you could not see how tiny they were.<br /><br />Another problem is that the media have framed this very simply in terms of "segregation on campus" as if it were the norm, and sought response from politicians on that basis, when in fact nothing that students have to go to is segregated - normal lectures and indeed anything that isn't run by one or two religious societies. Matthew Smithhttp://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-18876069218211668862013-04-26T00:24:14.857+01:002013-04-26T00:24:14.857+01:00"oppose gender segregation demanded by people..."oppose gender segregation demanded by people who insist on gender segregation in pretty much all circumstances"<br /><br />"there is no together for men and women"<br /><br />That's great!<br /><br />Also, allow sexual segregation if not having it will lead to self-exclusion in ways which deny something important that you can't get anywhere else to those affected. I very angrily tolerate women-only swimming, but only just. My immobile neighbour won't let my other half in the house - that also makes me angry and prevents us from sharing the responsibility, but I'm not about to ignore her when she needs something.<br /><br />It's important not to soften on this - sexual segregation is shameful. My mum grew up in that kind of family (Jewish) so we had it a bit when I was younger. I am full of rage when I go to religious events and suffer the indignity of 5 year old boys freely wandering between where I am and somewhere I'm not allowed. They already know they're superior to the women at the margins. I come close to hating the men in the airy upstairs rooms (the last Muslim wedding I went to), and with the good downstairs view and the clique at the front (the last bar mitzvah). For me, it's a betrayal and a real set-back to gender relations. I think all feminists - especially if they are men - should refuse to attend such events, let alone with their children. They are harmful.Fleshhttp://fleshisgrass.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-45607750446338747282013-04-25T12:08:49.364+01:002013-04-25T12:08:49.364+01:00The difference betweeen the examples of acceptable...The difference betweeen the examples of acceptable gender segrgation that you cite and the controversial kind being attempted by Muslim groups, is that using lavatories, or getting changed is not a group activity, whereas attending a conference is. It is something that you are doing together. Segregation in that context says: there is no 'together' for men and women, and that challenges something very fundamental to a liberal society's self-conception.Torquil Macneilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-36852475737484203342013-04-18T21:44:14.360+01:002013-04-18T21:44:14.360+01:00I can also think of examples when I was very happy...I can also think of examples when I was very happy about gender segregation: the rush hour train from Mumbai... You're squeezed into the women surrounding you in ways you can't even fathom, and when people get off/on, you're getting squeezed even more -- all this on a train that's endlessly long.<br /><br />So yes, I was grateful that these were "women only" trains.<br /><br />But in most other situations, there's a very simple rule for me: oppose gender segregation demanded by people who insist on gender segregation in pretty much all circumstances. <br /><br /><br />PetraMBhttp://warped-mirror.com/noreply@blogger.com