The Women-Only Beach
Gender-equality? Not in Italy, where a beach has now been declared “men free” - bar a hairdresser and a lifeguard:
“Italy’s long-standing tradition of male chauvinism has been delivered a bitter blow with the opening of the country’s first women-only beach.
Visitors to Beach no 134 on the 50-mile stretch of coastline linking Rimini to Riccione on the Adriatic coast are welcomed with a large sign of a macho man covered with a pink cross saying “No Men”.
The sandy beach, which is also closed to children, has been dubbed the “Pink Beach”…
The man ban is accompanied by a restriction on loud disco music and traditional beach food such as deep-fried squid and chips. ” (The Telegraph)
If a similar sort of area was declared “women free”, complete with a sign with a cross over an image of a woman, the outcry would be huge. Gender equality, it seems, only goes one way.
This is an utterly revoting idea. Equality means equality, where people are treated the same, regardless of gender - the sort of thing which a women-only beach blatantly contravenes. Whilst I understand the idea and reasoning behind the idea, its execution is wrong. There should be no public area of this nature where sexual discrimination is practiced - for that is what this is.
Source: The Telegraph, The Times
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Perhaps when men can coexist with women on a beach without ogling, groping, harassing, and hassling them, then and only then will such beaches be unnecessary.
For now, though, go worry about reeducating your fellow males in how to treat human beings decently.
Then come and talk to us about when you’ve grown up enough to be with the rest of humanity.
To be fair, I’ve never been to Italy, but I AM Italian, and I grew up in a neighborhood that was populated in large part by first and second-generation Italian-Americans.
The way Italian men relate to women is horrible. I still can’t walk down the street in my old neighborhood without being harassed– and these are men who know my father and grandfather! It’s pretty bad, and from what I hear, Italy is worse.
So given that, I can understand the rationale behind this idea. I suppose it isn’t fair– but truly, I wouldn’t object to an all-male beach, either. Some people undoubtedly would, but that’s just silly.
Oh dont kid yourself! Agree with first two comments 100% - women are a spectator sport - consumed like disposable garbage in mass media on a regular basis. coupled with old fashioned chauvinism this means that whilst some things are very arguably way over the top on the equality stakes, others simply arent. donning a bikini and stepping onto a beach becomes something of a monumental feat in self awareness with the always uncomfortable concern about what pervs are sitting their trying to cover up their hard ons.
Check out the internet where voyeurs videos are posted oggling women on beaches on porn sites. Get a grip on yourselves. Preferably not your appendages. Men need to work out how to pitch above their basest instincts and then talk about equality. You get Loaded and soft porn. We get private beaches as a respite from the crap it generates. Most especially in Italy!
Yes, some men are disgusting.
But that does not warrant or make any less wrong the banning of an entire gender from a public area. That is sexual discrimination.
I understand the reasoning, but they don’t in my opinion make this kind of action excusable or acceptable.
Great news. This will send the kind of message that is needed since otherwise nothing ever changes. And good to see female commenters agree. You have women only gyms for similar reasons. Hope you dont mind if i link and circulate. Thanks
Women-only gyms are slightly different - since they are private businesses, then there is little objection [beyond semantics] that can be made. But since this is a PUBLIC beach that is being restricted by gender, I feel it is wrong.
Personally I’m all for it. So when can we have men only outside lanes on the motorways?
‘private businesses’
Youve clearly never been to the beaches in Rimini have you, where beaches are divided up like mini businesses - or where chauvinism knows no bounds. In fact when you read the article it even says ‘the businessMAN behind it’ without the emphasis! Boo hoo and bad luck.
Back in the 80s they had one on that same stretch where women were not allowed to enter the beach unless they had a 24 inch waist. So as far as this is concerned its back to the first few comments eh?
(waits for array of gob smackingly moronic comments ranging from ‘fwoor!’ to ‘yeah thats more like it’ to perpetuate the nonsense you find yourselves in).
The beach is still PUBLIC PROPERTY.
Who is behind it or what has happened in the past has no relevance to it - and neither could I care less.
It is sexual discrimination, as simple as that.
No. It. Isnt (or ‘reap my lips’, from another famous chaff thrower)
In Italy, beaches are generally divided up into stabilimenti, private businesses who charge an admission price for use of their patch of beach. It is managed by a businessman, who owns ‘the rights’ to the beach and can make it women only, gay only, vulcan only, as he sees fit.
Telling women how to look when they appear on the beach is sexual discrimination. Could we have expected you to burn your y fronts over that?
No. Thought not. So you wont find much sympathy now. Especially not since people are equally entitled to sit on a beach without being leered at. As simple as that.
The outside lanes on motorways already are men only. The inside lanes are elderly only. Thats why women enjoy cruising down the middle
So… let me understand something… Women are going to this beach because they don’t want to get ogled at…
BUT, they’re going to get a tan and make themselves more attractive so they can get ogled at outside the beach?
I think women objectify themselves more than men do. Go ahead and put your pretty lipstick on, push up your boobs, get that tan, put on fake nails, fake eyelashes, high heels so you appear to be taller.
All for the attention from men.
Oh, but don’t forget to bitch about the attention once you get what you want.
Lara
Yes, the beach is private property and therefore should be able to be restricted just to one-legged lesbians if that’s what the owner wants.
However, restaurants are also private property. Are they allowed to have a men-only policy in Italy?
That said - i know what ruthie means when she talks about Italian men - my wife couldnt wait to leave Rome a couple of years ago for that very reason.