Women-only space
A women-only space is a physical area where only women are allowed. The notion of a women-only space is to provide a place where women do not interact with men.
Because the point of the space is to provide a "men-free" environment, there is discussion in some circles about whether trans women should be allowed into such spaces, both from an ethical and from a legal perspective.[1][2][3] In some cases questions have been raised about the value and legitimacy of particular spaces being reserved for women.[4]
These spaces are sometimes referred to as "safe space." The goal is to provide women an area to work, free of male judgement or harassment.[5]
The concept is a form of sex segregation, and practices such as women-only public toilets, women-only passenger cars on public transport or women's parking spaces may be described using both terms.[6]
History
In 1929 Virginia Woolf published an essay entitled "A Room of One's Own". [7]
Examples of women-only spaces
Types
- Women-only bank
- Women's mosques
- Women's parking space
- Women-only passenger car
- Women's police station
- Women-only campus space
- Andaruni
- Zenana
Instances
- Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (closed after 40th anniversary in 2015)
- Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter
- Pankhurst Centre
- Maison des Femmes, Paris
See also
References
- ↑ Julia Serano. "On the Outside Looking In". Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ↑ Julian Norman (22 May 2012). "Legalities of excluding trans women from women only spaces". Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ↑ Murphy, Mary (2014). "FEMINIST SPIRITUALITY AND GENDER Lessons From Beyond Women-Only Space". Communities. 162: 38–72. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ↑ Julia Long (2012-12-07). "So I'm a feminist troublemaker for requesting some women-only space?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ↑ "Gale - Enter Product Login". go.galegroup.com. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
- ↑ Browne, Kath (Sep 2004). "Genderism and the Bathroom Problem: (re)materialising sexed sites, (re)creating sexed bodies.". Gender, Place & Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography. 11 (3): 331–346. doi:10.1080/0966369042000258668. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ↑ "Because They're Worth It! Making Room for Female Students and Thealogy in Higher Education Contexts" (PDF). fth.sagepub.com. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
External links
- Women-only space
- Respect women's-only space
- Exploring the Value of Women-Only Space
- Women-Only Spaces: An Alternative To Patriarchy
- Lost Womyn's Space