When biological males, other than little boys with their female relatives, are able to encroach on women's spaces, all women are affected. I'm a Muslim woman, and the separation of men and women is very important, and no one needs to be removing a single item if clothing. That doesn't mean it's more important that Muslim women have space…
When biological males, other than little boys with their female relatives, are able to encroach on women's spaces, all women are affected. I'm a Muslim woman, and the separation of men and women is very important, and no one needs to be removing a single item if clothing. That doesn't mean it's more important that Muslim women have spaces where biological males aren't permitted than it is for women as a whole. If they're there without awareness and the consent of women, it's abusive and wholly unacceptable. I don't think it's helpful to make distinctions between different groups of women, we are all women and objection to the inclusion of biological men in our spaces needs no other justification.
Yes. This caused real consternation in a few hospital wards I've been in and was handled very poorly. There were a few occasions when 'family' members were on a ward and ignored visiting times and stood openly staring at women in states of undress. Very ill, sometimes dying women (and then their relatives) started to get very anxious, wouldn't leave bed in nightgowns and pulled curtains round, as no one would address the issue. We were of all religions and none - and it was a place there was a lot of camaraderie and kindness. It was a few ward staff one time who eventually realised women were upset and refusing to change for bed (or get up or use the bathroom) until the guests had left. All ward timings went and there was a very strange tense atmosphere. Then there were language barriers. It got very racist and unpleasant and made me (and a few others) weep. I couldn't understand how divisive that got and so quickly. People can be astonishingly selfish. I thought it was universal that this was respected and crossed all religions and cultures.
I still don't understand it but I suppose it's partly people who have no contact with anyone outside their own lives, community or experience and suddenly having to realise there are other people and mutual respect must be negotiated.
It galls me that the NHS of all places, and hospitals didn't realise there were really vital reasons why women have their own spaces of safety and sanctuary in hospitals or in community care.
When biological males, other than little boys with their female relatives, are able to encroach on women's spaces, all women are affected. I'm a Muslim woman, and the separation of men and women is very important, and no one needs to be removing a single item if clothing. That doesn't mean it's more important that Muslim women have spaces where biological males aren't permitted than it is for women as a whole. If they're there without awareness and the consent of women, it's abusive and wholly unacceptable. I don't think it's helpful to make distinctions between different groups of women, we are all women and objection to the inclusion of biological men in our spaces needs no other justification.
Yes. This caused real consternation in a few hospital wards I've been in and was handled very poorly. There were a few occasions when 'family' members were on a ward and ignored visiting times and stood openly staring at women in states of undress. Very ill, sometimes dying women (and then their relatives) started to get very anxious, wouldn't leave bed in nightgowns and pulled curtains round, as no one would address the issue. We were of all religions and none - and it was a place there was a lot of camaraderie and kindness. It was a few ward staff one time who eventually realised women were upset and refusing to change for bed (or get up or use the bathroom) until the guests had left. All ward timings went and there was a very strange tense atmosphere. Then there were language barriers. It got very racist and unpleasant and made me (and a few others) weep. I couldn't understand how divisive that got and so quickly. People can be astonishingly selfish. I thought it was universal that this was respected and crossed all religions and cultures.
I still don't understand it but I suppose it's partly people who have no contact with anyone outside their own lives, community or experience and suddenly having to realise there are other people and mutual respect must be negotiated.
It galls me that the NHS of all places, and hospitals didn't realise there were really vital reasons why women have their own spaces of safety and sanctuary in hospitals or in community care.