Something that REALLY bugs me! Caution - RANT ahead :)

[bluninja]

btw... the "womans day" ads are pathetic... "smarter than men in every way" ???
if a bloke's ad did that, it would've been banned by now!

so who IS smarter?

[bluninja]

I used to frequent the Club Physical in Te Atatu which has a small gym area for women only. However the leg spreader machines were in the co-ed section. Obviously us guys need to tone our inner thighs....or perhaps have some serious perving opportunities

Couldn't give a monkeys either way....going to the gym is mostly a social thing...for the fees you pay, you could build up a full set of free weights and some machines and workout at home.

[Blakamin]

so who IS smarter?

Steven Hawking... but somehow, I cant imagine him at a gym

[rodgerd]

What *are* the relevant anti-discrimination laws? Post and cite the Act in question in the next half hour or so and I'll grab some spare time after I go home later tonight to read through it and post an interpretation.

Pretty sure it's covered by the Human Rights Act and amendments.

[rodgerd]

Makes up for all the wanky brandy & cigar "gentlemans clubs" of times
past - where women weren't allowed.

So the answer to the problem of sexism is more sexism?

[rodgerd]

Couldn't give a monkeys either way....going to the gym is mostly a social thing...for the fees you pay, you could build up a full set of free weights and some machines and workout at home.

No, you can't. I've tried that route once. It's exhorbitantly expensive if you're doing any reasonably heavy weights. A decent squat rack, olympic bar, and weights costs serious $$$.

[inlinefour]

Now, it may just be me, but the whole "Women Only" gym / gym area idea just pisses me off

At my gym, Les Mills on Taranaki st, they have a women only section. And there are a whole host of women only gym's operating (Contours) and opening. I was just browsing trade-me, and someone was selling a gym membership for Contours, advertising that it was great if you don't want to work out with men.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand why some women would prefer to excercise in a male-free environment, there are quite a few guys out there that go to gym for other, less respectable reasons. But, why the fucking hell is it ONLY women that feel self conscious, and therefore have the right to choose where, and who they excercise with. I have heard women I know talking about how they like gym becuase they like to check some of the guys out. Obviously this is only a certain percentage of women, but it goes to show that women do also look at men. So, why is it that I, as a male, have no fucking choice but to excercise in a co-ed environment. Now, if I had the choice, I would choose to work out where I am now, but at least I would have a bloody choice.

The whole idea that ALL men are perverts, who go to gym only to perv on women, chat them up and "hook up", and that men don't feel self conscious and don't need a choice makes me so angry.

Equality between the sexes? I don't fucking think so...

They bitched on about women can do anything, only to later state that they cannot. Probably feminists

[Hitcher]

They bitched on about women can do anything, only to later state that they cannot.

Equality versus equity, as the lovely CSL mentioned earlier...

[KATWYN]

So the answer to the problem of sexism is more sexism?

What do you think is the best way to solve the problem rodgerd? Have
you got a suggestion?

[KATWYN]

In the mid to late 80's I worked really hard to complete
an apprenticeship - it was a male dominated environment
of about 12-15 men and my soon to be trade was non traditional
for woman.

To cut a long story short, they made dam sure sexism
was here to stay and I finished just short of getting my
trade certificate because they tried their best to break my
spirit- and they succeeded - at that time.

After picking myself up and dusting myself off (literally)
I then had to start again. So i'm kinda opinionated on the subject
of sexism

[Hitcher]

I might actually post on here who the company in Wellington was..
who the owner was/is and who the main ring leader
was.....I don't give a shit

If you think it would be therapeutic, than go for it!

[KATWYN]

If you think it would be therapeutic, than go for it!

it would not be fair if there is a new owner of that company.

I'll let sleeping dogs lie

[bear]

Come on, if women only gyms mean that the girls are more motivated to get out there and work out, then I'd concede not perving at the gym to see good fit looking ladies in the streets.

[StoneChucker]

Spend ONE night off KB, and I have to spend eons reading up what I missed!

they tried their best to break my
spirit- and they succeeded - at that time

Well, that is obviously hideously unfair. I do think that it takes a certain TYPE of person to propogate sexism. I can't imagine myself putting ANY group down, now, or even if I lived 50 years ago.

Have
you got a suggestion

This is the problem. There is NO easy solution. Any solution with any chance of having a positive effect would take decades, and the continued support of the generations implementing it...

Equality versus equity

I definitely agree with that. Women and men are not the same, and I am endlessly grateful for that. It is the differences between us that make us attractive and life interesting.

for the fees you pay, you could build up a full set of free weights and some machines and workout at home

Whats that smell??? No bloody way, MAYBE you could buy one of those excercise machines off an infomercial, which would sit unused in your basement for all eternity. The gym, mine anyway, continually upgrades and adds equipment, maintains equipment and provides classes and activities which I could not emulate at home. And then yes, after that, it is social, with tv's, music and the people.

The ones with the large messages emblazoned across their chests

I have to admit, I read every tshirt that has writing on it. BUT, I read male and female shirts, so it's got nothing to do with the gender for me. What the fuck is the point of writing on shirts, if it's socially unacceptable to read it?

Normally people go to the gym to forget about all their day to day worries AND I am sure you get hit on by the ladies AND If a chick made a pass at you at the gym, would you take it as a compliment or an offence AND male only gym would just be gay

Ok. Yes, one of the reasons I go to gym is that I can just get on the treadmill and run. I don't have to think, just run. Like that Nike add in "What Women Want". And no, I don't get hit on by ladies, ever. I doubt that's suprising. HONESTLY, I would prefer it if a "chick" just left me alone, and didn't bother me while I was running. At the best of times I have trouble talking, it's alot harder if I'm running. But I must add that I feel really uncomfortable when anyone talks to me, but thats my own problem. Male only gym's would all be gay? Well, at least you don't succumb to stereotypes.

How is it that there is a womens space in uni a maori space a pacific island space etc yet no white male space

I didn't even know about that. Shit that is equally, no, more discrimanatory than my first point. How the hell can they justify that? What, I don't need a place that I feel comfortable in, to study? Fuck that. [/QUOTE]

how many adverts to do with cleaning the toilet or cooking have women doing these things

You're right, and I agree completely, and however unbelievable it may be, I really hate that aswell. And that is alot of the problem, the media continuing that train of though. THAT would be a good place to start, to slowly bring about some sort of change.

It's b/c the whole world has been white male space for many many years!

Cathy... come now, thats not the answer. Yes it is true in days gone by, and to some extent now, but over compensating is not the answer. How would you feel if you were given things, SOLELY on the fact that you're female? Personally, I wouldn't like that at all.

HAHAHA, guess where I'M going now? GYM :P Going to attempt a decent run

[Motoracer]

Ok. Yes, one of the reasons I go to gym is that I can just get on the treadmill and run. I don't have to think, just run. Like that Nike add in "What Women Want". And no, I don't get hit on by ladies, ever. I doubt that's suprising. HONESTLY, I would prefer it if a "chick" just left me alone, and didn't bother me while I was running. At the best of times I have trouble talking, it's alot harder if I'm running. But I must add that I feel really uncomfortable when anyone talks to me, but thats my own problem. Male only gym's would all be gay? Well, at least you don't succumb to stereotypes.

If you look at it from a businessperson's perspective, who would want to invest in running a gym. Would you honestly believe that the business would have a chance in hell to run a male only gym? Sure there will be a few guys in a similar situation as you but how many exactly? Enough to fulfill the running cost of the male only gym. I wouldn't think so, but then again, I don't know for sure. It is just what I think. I think that is why we don't have male only gyms. The gay bit was supposed to be a bit of a joke.