No Chicks Allowed!

[appliance god]

I'm Posting this link for comment.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundays...9a6442,00.html

This place is where I get my hair cut. It is a Mans Barber shop. It has FHM Magazines to read while you are waiting. It has Sky Sports on TV. It is not for the ladies. It is one of the few places that we men have left.

Ladies, nothing personal but leave my barber alone!

[pbmods]

I disagree. I think that the management was in the wrong to refuse service, especially if she had been a regular (and more importantly, non-sucky!) customer in the past.

Whether or not you want to make your establishment "just for guys", you are still prohibited from discriminating. You are allowed (thank goodness!) to refuse service for other, valid reasons, but if you want only men to shop at your store, your best bet is to make the place as appealing to men as possible, and then accept that a few women who like "manly" things are still going to shop at your place (but honestly, they're not gonna be the girly girls that you're trying to get away from anyway).

[ReadyToRetire]

And, yet, when the hairdressers refused her service, nobody says anything.

As quoted in the article:
Emerson goes to a barber because hairdressers refuse to shave her hair.

Why did they refuse? Was it because they lacked the tools, the skills, or the know-how? Doubtful. Could it be that it's just not a womanly thing to do?
Most likely. And, wouldn't this also be discrimination?

Hm.

[SongsOfDragons]

Barbers = men's hair and beards.
Hairdressers = women's hairstyles.

Perfect world = this isn't. Get over it.

[RogueOne]

What about the "Women's Only" Gymnasiums? I consider those discrimanatory, too. You can't have a "Men's Only" place without getting sued out the wazoo, but Women Omly is just fine.

[LostMyMind]

RogueOne they get away with that because those places are membership access. You can have any discrimination you want in a private "club".

However a barber shop is public access therefore they could be in major trouble for refusing service base on gender. But I do have to question why in the world would a female go to a barber shop. Unless she was trying to cause problems. And I'm going to shut my mouth up right now.

[CanadaGirl]

Why would a woman want to get her hair cut by a "barber" anyway? They are usually more... experienced on mens hair, which is different from womens. I'd be scared getting my hair cut by some guy. (well... of course... unless he was one of those -ahem- "happy" guys, then by all means, go ahead, cut!)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, I dunno. It's possible she prefered to go there because she preferred a man's haircut. A lot of women do, and she clearly states she is not happy with the haircuts a woman's hairdresser gives her. Women's hairdressers aren't used to cutting barbershop type haircuts.

On one hand, I understand, that barbershops are sort of a last sanctuary where men can go and be men without women around, and I respect that. They want to talk guy talk and scratch their bellies and feel free to do that. I understand and I have sympathy for that.

On the other hand, how long is this woman really in the place? And how many female customers do they have? Come on, was she REALLY creating that much a problem for them? I don't understand why they can't just cut the woman's hair and send her on her way. It's not like she's walking into a locker room with a bunch of naked guys. A woman in a barbershop for 20 minutes is not going to turn anyone impotent or gay.

[ladydouji]

Why would a woman want to get her hair cut by a "barber" anyway? They are usually more... experienced on mens hair, which is different from womens. I'd be scared getting my hair cut by some guy. (well... of course... unless he was one of those -ahem- "happy" guys, then by all means, go ahead, cut!)

There's a difference between men's hairstyles and women's hairstyles(and the cutting need to get them) but there's no difference within the hair itself.

And did anyone else notice that the barber who refused to do the cutting was a woman herself? So there was already a woman in the shop, so if the objection to cutting the customer's hair is because the barbershop is a sanctuary for men then they've already defeated themselves.


Or the management figure they'll be less likely to get sued for refusing service then they would for refusing employment to a woman.

[JuniorMintz]

What about the "Women's Only" Gymnasiums? I consider those discrimanatory, too. You can't have a "Men's Only" place without getting sued out the wazoo, but Women Omly is just fine.

It's really not reasonable to compare a women's gym to a barber shop. Women's gyms are great because you can work out without feeling like everyone around you is going to be noticing your boobs bouncing around or staring at you while you're in your swimsuit or something. Co-ed gyms are great for those who choose to use them, and if a bunch of guys wanted to start a Men's only gym for themselves, all power to them.

But at a barber shop? Please. Frankly, if the barber shop were a place where guys were having various things waxed and they *really* needed the privacy, then fine, go ahead and make it men's only. I really don't need to see anyone getting their ass waxed, thank you very much. Other than that, really. It's JUST HAIR. If you don't want to chat with the girl in the waiting area, don't! Chances are she doesn't want to talk to you either! Just watch your ESPN and enjoy the comfortable silence.

I don't get uncomfortable when there's a guy waiting next to me for a haircut... maybe I'm ignorant, but what is the big deal? If you want to run off and start your own "Boys Only" social club, then fine, but why can't the woman just get a haircut and be on her way? I just don't get it.


"Boys Rule! Girls Drool!"

[Ree]

I think a lot of good points have been made.

It's true that, for the hairdresser to also refuse service doesn't seem to bother her as much, so it's a bit of a double standard, now, isn't it?

I also wonder why it's OK for gyms to be women only, but not "men only". I know why women want to have their own gyms, but why is it OK to say "no men allowed", but not OK to say, "no women allowed"?

It's also true that the "barber" was a woman, so the "sanctuary from females" argument doesn't hold water.
I can see the point from the "guy's sanctuary" perspective, though, if that had not been the case.

When guys get together, they sit around and talk about 'guy' stuff. They share raunchy jokes and make comments that would probably get them a poke in the ribs or a cold shoulder from the women in their life.
They just blow off a little steam.

Allow women into that little 'inner sanctum', and the next thing you know, there's a complaint of sexual discrimination or harrassment because some guy told a raunchy joke with her sitting there, or made some comment that she was offended by.
I've seen it happen.

I'm not saying that will always be the case, and women can't be as raunchy as the guys. I'm not really even saying the shop was right to refuse service.
People should be free to get their hair cut where they want if the service there suits them.

I'm just looking at it from both sides, I guess, because I don't really think this should be turning into a debate.

[Broomjockey]

I'd also like to state that the whole "private clubs can have whoever they want for members" thing, a few years ago, a lot of men's clubs, places specifically for men to go and smoke, drink, or whatever they wanted in a relaxed atmosphere, were sued by women for sexual descrimination, and forced to allow membership to women.

And if women's gyms are so they don't feel ogled and judged, what about us poor guys who are out of shape? I should get my own gym too, because every time I've set foot in a gym I've felt weighed, measured, and found wanting by the guys who spend a ton of time in there.
It's gotten to the point where I feel I need to get in shape before I could go back there.

[trunks2k]

I used to go to this barber that was around the corner from my old aparment. It was a kinda old-fashioned barbershop run by these two guys from Italy. I was sitting waiting to get my haircut and sifting through the dozens of magazines finding something to read. I ended up finding several playboys, penthouses and the like. Definately a mens barber shop.

[JuniorMintz]

And if women's gyms are so they don't feel ogled and judged, what about us poor guys who are out of shape? I should get my own gym too, because every time I've set foot in a gym I've felt weighed, measured, and found wanting by the guys who spend a ton of time in there.
It's gotten to the point where I feel I need to get in shape before I could go back there.

LOL! Well, I know how you feel about needing to be in shape before you actually *go* to the damn place... frankly I hate the gym and have found myself just jump roping and doing yoga at home.

Maybe there should be a "Fatties Only" gym? No beefcakes allowed! I'd totally sign up for that gym!

*pokes babyfat and sighs*

[Mixed Bag]

The only men-only place I'd really like to have is a clothing store--no explanation (other than that I'm straight), you either resonate with that sentiment or you don't.