gzt:

tripp:; Also the owner might just want to deal with men's cuts.

That seems unlikely. That's the beauty of a barber. Everyone gets the same cuts.

Maybe in the 80's not so much anymore.

I have no problem with businesses of many types catering to one specific gender. There are valid reasons for both genders why this can create a net positive effect. Winging about it is small minded IMO, and speaks more about the person winging than it does about the business. Agree with @rugrat that if I was excluded from somewhere I would simply take my money elsewhere. Certainly would not go to the media. Life is too short to worry about the small things. @BTR is absolutely correct - the world has gone PC mad.

I am in two minds about this. Unfortunately, there are some men who cannot control themselves and they can make things very unpleasant for women. This is a valid reason for having female-only facilities. 

At the same time, people in the past have been severely disadvantaged and humiliated solely on the basis of their race or sexuality. This has necessitated the enactment of anti-discriminatory legislation. I agree with this.

Ideally I think there ought to be a place for male-only activities, as long as they do not become venues for unacceptable behaviour, as happened recently in London. I also think that certain businesses, and individuals providing a service, ought to be able to choose their customers, but only within very specific limits. I'm not sure this could be done in practice without creating more problems than it solves. Unfortunately, common sense and reasonable compromise seem to be in short supply these days.

I remember there was a small disturbance in the force one day.

A female breakfast-type-show reporter was reporting on an Australian beach, and spotted a man with muscles exercising on the beach.

She went over and harassed him, flirted with him, touched him, basically did things that might be uncomfortable for some individuals, in front of the camera.

The keyboard warriors commented that if the genders were reversed the reporter would have lost their job or went to jail.

As it happened, nothing happened to the reporter.

So - no, fairness does not exist. 

The hand that rocks social media is the hand that rules the world. Social media dictates who is put on pedestals and who will sink to the bottom of the ocean. Not merit, not logic, not reason.

BUT I am with social justice. Those who are prejudiced against, those with no voice, they need protection. But in general, they don't get that justice, that voice or that protection. Social media decides. Who goes all out and complains about Foxconn factories' working conditions? Nope, you go and buy a new ipad and blog about other things. Who cares about chlid slavery in lithium mines? Nope, let's make a million electric cars this year.

Why can't someone start a men only hairdresser? What's the big deal? 

Surely it doesn't matter if such things as women only gyms, men only hairdressers etc exist? It's hardly the end of the world.

This thread reminds me of an 8 part mini series the Two Ronnie's worked into their comedy series in the '70's - The Worm That Turned.

Geektastic:

Why can't someone start a men only hairdresser? What's the big deal? 

 

Surely it doesn't matter if such things as women only gyms, men only hairdressers etc exist? It's hardly the end of the world.

Batman: A female breakfast-type-show reporter was reporting on an Australian beach, and spotted a man with muscles exercising on the beach.

She went over and harassed him, flirted with him, touched him, basically did things that might be uncomfortable for some individuals, in front of the camera.

The keyboard warriors commented that if the genders were reversed the reporter would have lost their job or went to jail.

As it happened, nothing happened to the reporter.

Geektastic:

 

Why can't someone start a men only hairdresser? What's the big deal? 

 

Surely it doesn't matter if such things as women only gyms, men only hairdressers etc exist? It's hardly the end of the world.

 

Yeah, I don't get it either. The owner says he wants a place where men can feel comfortable talking with other men. Consider it a men's health thing if you will (remember what gender commits suicide more than the other?).

While women want to do their thing without feeling judged by men, the same thing should apply in reverse. Maybe men want to talk to men who aren't their mates and don't charge like a doctor? It could be anything from "Oh mate, I have to get my prostate checked on Thursday and I've never done it before, I'm really nervous"

"All good bruv, I've had it done. It's simple, just don't eat a lot of vegemite before hand"

Or it could be men venting to each other about their wife or girlfriend or whatever. I think venting is healthier than bottling it up.

So, y'know, put a John Kirwan "I has the feels" poster on the wall and invite the blokes in.

I might sound flippant, but anyone who thinks I'm full of it may want to read the following:

Barter Barber Sam Dowdall: Cutting hair, talking about suicide

Hitting the road to get men talking about mental health from the comfort of a barber's chair

How barbers could hold the key to preventing suicide in men

Trust your doctor? Men more likely to confide in their barber with mental health issues

This stuff is actually important - too important for the likes of the moaner in the article to get her knickers in a knot. Not everything is about women, y'know?

kryptonjohn:

 

Double standards pure and simple.

 

Regrettably I noticed an article in the rag about TV News stuffed suit Mike McRoberts. Good on Mike, he's got himself fit and into great shape. So twitter's on fire about it and a whole lot of women's comments along the line of 'fwoar get a look at that!'. Which is fine, doesn't worry me. But if it was pictures of his sidekick Samantha Hayes looking super in a swimsuit and guys were making the same comments there would be howls of outrage over the objectification and harassment.

 

 

 

I get @Fred99 's post, but you nailed it. Perving males aren't the only pervers. We seem to be an equal opportunity/perving nation....

tripp:

 

Fred99:

 

BTR

 

When will people stop being PC mad! Does that mean I can go into a Chinese restaurant and demand they make me Italian food and if they don't they are being racist? 

 

 

There's a strawman in that question which therefore doesn't really deserve an answer, but I'll do it anyway.

 

The answer is no. Easy.

 

Women want female only gyms because some men who frequent gyms are dirty perving scumbags, others are fat-shaming morons.  I can understand why some women prefer women-only gyms.  A better solution in my opinion would be for gyms to weed out scumbags, and turf them out.  But I acknowledge that would be hard to police and enforce - unless it was extreme.

 

I'm not sure why men want men-only hairdressers.  Is there a valid reason other than "just because"?  Some contrived mansplanation perhaps?

 

 

I have known some women that are just as bad as guys when it comes to eyeing up someone of the opposite sex.  Sure not as many of them but I was even shocked with what some of them say when they see a guy with a nice butt, arms, chest etc.

 

Some guys just want a place to go and chat with other guys and not have to worry that something they say may be taking out of context etc.  Also the owner might just want to deal with men's cuts.

 

I am all for "go anywhere you like just don't be a d**k to others you are sharing the space with".  But some people can't control what they say or respect others and this is why you get "women only or men only" places.

 

 

 

Yep, being diplomatic doesnt make it any different. What sorta bugs me, is that there is a pre determined bias because men are like that. People are like that. I expect the "locker room talk" is no different.

Geektastic:

 

Why can't someone start a men only hairdresser? What's the big deal? 

 

 

 

Surely it doesn't matter if such things as women only gyms, men only hairdressers etc exist? It's hardly the end of the world.

 

I expect a mens only hairdresser or [insert business here] would be highly newsworthy and discriminatory.

Basically, men have been dicks for years and so now women get to have women-only facilities while men can't get away with the same thing. If you think it sucks, then tough luck - you can blame all the other men for being dicks. You get the same thing in countries where one race has been dominant over others - that's why you can get Black Music Awards, but you'd be racist for suggesting to have White Music Awards... It's also why you can have a gay rugby match, but you better not try to start up a straights-only rugby team. If you're a straight white male, you just need to focus on being nicer to everyone.  :-)