Should Men be allowed in a Women's Forum?

[Brandi]

I do not have a problem with mr Silver! And if he becomes a problem then i am sure it will be taken care of (Vito will pay him a visit ). But I don't think to much of it until he becomes rude. But hey we can be just as rude too. Just my opinion.

[HipGnosis6]

Hoo boy... this is bound to get me in trouble, but I just can't keep my mouth shut.

So... the opposing side, while nobody's being horrible and demanding a ban on all men, seems to be saying "we're uncomfortable with a man in our 'locker room'. We deserve our own space."

Just the other day, I was witness to a really shameful scene. I was touring a gym that I was considering joining, and while I was there there was a sudden and very large stir. One of the members had found out that one of the trainers there was *gasp* a lesbian, and the idea that this woman might see her naked in the locker rooms made her uncomfortable. She had never been uncomfortable before, but once she found out that someone there was different from her, she had anxiety and fear.

I'm not sure how your fear and discomfort of men, even when they're showing themselves to be behaving appropriately, is any different. Inappropriate behavior on the forums is just that - inappropriate, no matter who it's coming from, and needs to be dealt with on an issue-by-issue basis and not on one that's discriminatory and originates in fear. Where I don't feel discomfited by Mr. Silver's presence here, I have to tip my hat to Kitsune for being the first to say that banning him simply because he's a man is in fact SEXIST and a form of discrimination.

Part of what I think makes TE different is that we don't discriminate. We all work to make everyone feel welcome, whether they're hardcore roadies or older ladies on their cruisers but right now we're talking about who's NOT welcome! I'm a little shocked by it; we are a fairly diverse group and I've never witnessed anything worse than a couple of snotty comments.

We don't have serious problems with harassment or with men invading our space; we don't hang a sign on our door that says "NO BOYZ", and therefore it's no fun to come bug us. Those few that do show up are met with little interest at best. The day we lay down the law is the day we ask for people to protest our negative and exclusionary behavior.

[Veronica]

Since this a public forum, you never know who could be reading. There could be lots of men out there who are just having a grand ole time over the diva cup or Brazilian waxes. AND never say that they are here.

Lots of things posted by WOMEN here make me uncomfortable. It doesn't keep me from posting or reading. It doesn't mean the topics shouldn't be posted. I am pleased with the Ignore Thread feature because I can now ignore those threads more easily. I don't want to ignore the posters, because in other threads I've valued their comments.

Heck, I could be a man for all some of you know.

V.

[Triskeliongirl]

One thing this thread did is make me realize is that despite being of the same gender how really different we are from each other. While some women are uncomfortable with men posting here (remember they can always lurk and read, so its posting we are talking about) other women find the sheer thought of engaging in the form of discrimination that was proposed, gender bias, extremely offensive. Someone on the original thread posted about not understanding why straight people might come into a gay bar. Its cuz they have empathy with the people there; they feel more like they belong there than in straight clubs that conform to different cultural biases and stereotypes. Obvisouly some men feel that here. Who are we to judge. Its like judging someone for simply being who they are, whether who they are is gay, straight, transgendered, or whatever. As long as the focus here remains issues of interest to women cyclists, who are we to ban a guy that shares our interests.

[Popoki_Nui]

Who are we to judge. **** As long as the focus here remains issues of interest to women cyclists, who are we to ban a guy that shares our interests.

I was about to say exactly the same thing. While I would prefer a women-only group, this simply isn't possible on the anonymous WWW. Things I feel uncomfortable discussing in the presence of guys, I simply don't post here. It is a little limiting, for sure. But otherwise, as long as the guys here remain respectful (as I believe Mr Silver has), and the focus is on women's issues WRT cycling, then I'm fine with it.


~Sherry.

[snapdragen]

Very well said HipGnosis!

[mimitabby]

and now i'll be the devil's advocate. Can you imagine the guys trying to have a "guys only" forum?

[Blueberry]

and now i'll be the devil's advocate. Can you imagine the guys trying to have a "guys only" forum?

There would undoubtedly be threats of a lawsuit...

[salsabike]

Lots of things posted by WOMEN here make me uncomfortable. It doesn't keep me from posting or reading. It doesn't mean the topics shouldn't be posted. I am pleased with the Ignore Thread feature because I can now ignore those threads more easily. I don't want to ignore the posters, because in other threads I've valued their comments.


V.

Exactly.

[Kitsune06]

I think for the most part, there really are a few 'mens only' things... but that's dictated more by most women's distaste for the everpresent testosterone poisoning than any real written rules...

[CyclChyk]

Bikeforums, as an example, is predominatly male, yet women post frequently. Even tho there is a "women specific" thread, it does not mean I am allowed to post only in the female one.

The internet is very public. I am sure LOTS of men read our posts of periods and sex and hormones, and a very select few would even want to post comment. I propose that if you have an issue with a man reading something you have posted, then don't post it. Share/discuss it with a girlfrend on the phone.

Segregation. Thats all it is. Miss Black USA - no whites allowed but Miss USA allows blacks........ The Masters Golf Club here in Augusta GA - all male, no women allowed (its been disputed repeatedly).... TE.com; don't post if you don't have boobs (manboobs don't count).][

ARGH I hate this seperation crap - if a guy wants to post here, and keeps his "cool" what harm is there??????

I say let 'em stay. All the estrogen that flows around here I doubt they would stay all that long anyway.

[Wahine]

Segregation. Thats all it is. Miss Black USA - no whites allowed but Miss USA allows blacks........ The Masters Golf Club here in Augusta GA - all male, no women allowed (its been disputed repeatedly).... TE.com; don't post if you don't have boobs (manboobs don't count).][

I'm a little uncomfortable now. I don't really have much in the way of boobs. Can I still post?

Sorry, I thought this thread needed a little comic relief.

[Blueberry]

I say men should be allowed so long as they contribute to the discussion and don't say overtly offensive things.

As V said, this is an open discussion board. A few of you know me in real life - many don't. Sometimes that's best for being able to discuss certain things (sore crotch issues, diva cups), but it is a *public* forum. Men can certainly read it, and never make their presence known.

Some choose to post - like Mr. Silver - and offer insightful and witty comments from sometimes a different perspective. We talk about lots of things other than cycling here (the interviewing thread comes to mind) and in that context, another perspective should be welcome!

I'd be a little suspicious if a male started giving me advice (or posting) to a diva cup thread. Short of that, and so long as their tone is generally in keeping with that of the boards, why not allow them?

[Wahine]

Well, I have to agree with Hip. I don't think we can ban men, that's discrimination and this is a public forum. Nor would we be able to police the entry of men into the forum. It's not practical and if we tried and they wanted to be here they could just lurk and pretend to be female. I'd rather have them be open about it so that I can have a sense of who's on the thread. Not that it makes a difference to me, I'll say whatever the heck I want in front of a guy anyway. If it grosses them out and they leave so be it.

If someone behaves inappropriately they need to be removed, regardless of gender.

Besides, we sort of have a built in macho-man barrier - none of those types would be caught dead on a discussion group called Team Estrogen. With a name like this it's likely that only the nice guys in touch with their feminine side, like Mr. Silver, are likely to enter in.

I didn't say anything here that other's haven't. Just wanted to throw in my vote per say.

[Irulan]

Hoo boy... this is bound to get me in trouble, but I just can't keep my mouth shut.

So... the opposing side, while nobody's being horrible and demanding a ban on all men, seems to be saying "we're uncomfortable with a man in our 'locker room'. We deserve our own space."

Just the other day, I was witness to a really shameful scene. I was touring a gym that I was considering joining, and while I was there there was a sudden and very large stir. One of the members had found out that one of the trainers there was *gasp* a lesbian, and the idea that this woman might see her naked in the locker rooms made her uncomfortable. She had never been uncomfortable before, but once she found out that someone there was different from her, she had anxiety and fear.

I'm not sure how your fear and discomfort of men, even when they're showing themselves to be behaving appropriately, is any different. Inappropriate behavior on the forums is just that - inappropriate, no matter who it's coming from, and needs to be dealt with on an issue-by-issue basis and not on one that's discriminatory and originates in fear. Where I don't feel discomfited by Mr. Silver's presence here, I have to tip my hat to Kitsune for being the first to say that banning him simply because he's a man is in fact SEXIST and a form of discrimination.

Part of what I think makes TE different is that we don't discriminate. We all work to make everyone feel welcome, whether they're hardcore roadies or older ladies on their cruisers but right now we're talking about who's NOT welcome! I'm a little shocked by it; we are a fairly diverse group and I've never witnessed anything worse than a couple of snotty comments.

We don't have serious problems with harassment or with men invading our space; we don't hang a sign on our door that says "NO BOYZ", and therefore it's no fun to come bug us. Those few that do show up are met with little interest at best. The day we lay down the law is the day we ask for people to protest our negative and exclusionary behavior.

best response.