Just go elsewhere is the answer …. ?
A suggestion to have women-only swimming sessions in Hamilton has caused plenty of waves, with some people saying there should be male-only sessions as well.
Hamilton City Council’s manager for recreational swimming, Mathew Baylis says the proposal is not do to with segregation, but more to do with making women feel more comfortable being in the pool.
He says if the proposal goes ahead, they would only be looking at 90 minute sessions only once to twice a week.
Mr Baylis says there are other pools that men can use.
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/23298327/women-only-swimming-session-causes-wav
Comment by golfa — Wed 7th May 2014 @ 4:02 pm
There may well be a valid reason for Female only sessions. However for every one It could be reversed and be reversed to Justify Male only Sessions. And what about exclusive sessions for those who have had gender reassignment surgery? The Mind Boggles!
Comment by Alastair — Wed 7th May 2014 @ 4:36 pm
If it is a public pool then it should be open to the public at all times. I can accept part of the pool being used for a specific purpose but I don’t accept that men should have to be excluded at specific times for women only access.
A man shouldn’t need to check the pool schedule in advance to see if he is allowed in.
I can accept segregation as a matter of age. It wouldn’t bother me if there was a pensioners only pool – they deserve a bit of piece and quiet in their twilight years, especially if they need a caregiver in the pool.
This special rights for women in New Zealand needs to stop.
Comment by Downunder — Wed 7th May 2014 @ 5:06 pm
Let them eat clonazepam (anti-anxiety drug).
Then they can enjoy the pool along with everyone else, as a larger and more relaxed social group. Running very empty sessions is highly uneconomic and unnecessarily excludes other people who may be keen to use the pool.
Comment by MurrayBacon — Wed 7th May 2014 @ 5:53 pm
A longer version of this article is on stuff.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10004301/Man-ban-at-public-pool
You know when you get a little older, more experienced and see the types of boobs who make it into local councils just to have a go to get what no one else wants. They dish up such crap and think of ways to sell it to the public.
Councillors – before you vote – Read and understand the law.
Section 21(1a) of the Humans Rights Act 1993
For the purposes of this Act, the prohibited grounds of discrimination are-
(a) sex
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0082/latest/DLM304475.html?search=sw_096be8ed80b74003_sex_25_se&p=1&sr=0
Section 65 of the Humans Rights Act 1993 is very clear when you can exclude someone.
Where any conduct, practice, requirement, or condition that is not apparently in contravention of any provision of this Part has the effect of treating a person or group of persons differently on 1 of the prohibited grounds of discrimination in a situation where such treatment would be unlawful under any provision of this Part other than this section, that conduct, practice, condition, or requirement shall be unlawful under that provision unless the person whose conduct or practice is in issue, or who imposes the condition or requirement, establishes good reason for it.
I read this as it is unlawful to have a man ban unless the person whose conduct is an issue. And woman who are apprehensive about their bodies (another way of saying I’m too fat for men to look at me) does not pass the exceptions set down in the act.
According to the Human Rights Commission there are some gender exceptions here.
http://www.hrc.co.nz/enquiries-and-complaints-guide/what-can-i-complain-about/sex/
Again, none of the exceptions on their site regarding gender allows for any discrimination against men in public funded swimming pools on the grounds of a small minority of brain damaged woman who are apprehensive about their bodies or woman who further want to breakdown the family unit.
Comment by Lukenz — Wed 7th May 2014 @ 9:03 pm
This jusr is outrageous how is it in nz it’s normal for women to discriminate againt man with some lunely excuss but with women are discriminated it’s unexceptable in all ground no excuse. There are many bixxxs only gym but are there male only gym around nz? I bet there aren’t any. I for one have personal example. I am training at mixed martial art gym at glenfield every monday and Wednesday there are womens only class before mainstream mma class. During the session no man can enter the gym. All man have to stay out till this bxtxhs class finish. This is ok during summer but in winter it just too harsh for us guys we have to stay out in rain socking wet waiting for our class to start. But the thing is almost every pro fighters contributing to this gym are the guys and not one are girl. There are less then ten girls in our gym and this girl are that good looking eather so no guy will bother them during their training even if they where these guys are good gentle guy who have no interest of doing such offensive thing to any of this girl. Way do man rights have to be undermind to make this girl fill comfortable this is bs.
Comment by Shinhee Yi — Thu 8th May 2014 @ 8:07 am
We demand white-skin-only sessions (those darker skinned people make white folk uncomfortable). And South-East Albanian only sessions, and sessions only for 43 year olds (all other ages make them uncomfortable). And sessions exclusively for jazz buffs; we’re really, really uncomfortable having to share swimming pool resources with pop and rap fans.
Comment by Man X Norton — Thu 8th May 2014 @ 9:04 am
Actually, the answer is not “just go elsewhere”. The pools are funded by all and discrimination needs to be challenged. A better answer is for several men, or even one man, to use the ‘woman’s pool’ regardless. Let them call police to come and arrest the male swimmer and make sure journalists are present for the melee.
Comment by Man X Norton — Thu 8th May 2014 @ 9:07 am
#8. My mistake. I was so infuriated by the Council’s flippant solution that I forgot to add a question mark. I’ve fixed it now.
Comment by golfa — Thu 8th May 2014 @ 9:34 am
Just go elsewhere. I tried living a quiet, honest life elsewhere and three times now the psychos have pursued me to wreck their havoc.
Personally, I have no difficulty with the ‘lady only’ pool sessions. Especially if balanced with ‘gentlemen only’ sessions. Then I’m not at ground zero.
Comment by Soothsayer — Fri 9th May 2014 @ 7:14 am
FYI, our letter to Hamilton City Council ([email protected]), copies to:
Human Rights Commission ([email protected])
Ministry of Women’s Affairs ([email protected])
Jo Goodhew, Minister of Women’s Affairs ([email protected])
Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Ethnic Affairs ([email protected])
Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development ([email protected])
Hon Dr Pita Sharples, Minister of Maori Affairs ([email protected])
Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs ([email protected])
Contact email addresses are provided in case anyone else wants to make contact with them.
If you wish to volunteer to join us when we visit the Hamilton Pool for a swim at the appropriate women’s only time, please contact Kerry Bevin, ph (09)4247762 or email [email protected]
Comment by Ministry of Men's Affairs — Fri 9th May 2014 @ 9:45 am
The only problem with men only sessions is that they would likely be attended by the type of men who make red blooded fellers like us feel uncomfortable – then that would be TWO sessions we couldn’t attend.
Comment by Daniel — Fri 9th May 2014 @ 2:24 pm
May I suggest Burkini’s for all and while we’re at it can we please adopt Sharia law for all also. Perhaps that will allow men to have a say in NZ society again and allow them a role in the upbringing of their children.
Comment by Had_Enough — Fri 9th May 2014 @ 5:31 pm
I just hate the fact that discirminating against man is widely accepted in New Zealand.
Hunmen rights law on discrimination doesn’t include man?
I think this unfairness between the gander cause conflict and leads to D.V out of frustration and hate.
some woman deserve [suggestion inconsistent with the rules removed by moderator].
Comment by FeministHater — Fri 9th May 2014 @ 7:41 pm
Maybe we could have ‘girl-only’ clubs such as Girl’s Brigade, Girl Guides? Oh wait. We have that already.
Maybe we could have ‘boy-only’ clubs such as Boy Scouts? Oh wait. We had to open that up to girls.
Maybe we could have women-only clubs such as gyms? Oh wait. We have that already.
Maybe we could have men-only clubs such as the Auckland Workingmen’s club? Oh wait. We had to open that up to women.
Maybe we could have men-only sports such as At. Andrew’s Golf Club? Oh wait – that’s about to open up to women …
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Comment by Click — Mon 30th June 2014 @ 3:23 pm