Is this discrimination?

[Anonymous]

So a few days ago I was swimming so lengths at my local swimming pool. After about 25-30 minutes or so I was asked to leave by a lifeguard. When I inquired why, he said because it was womans only hour. I was quite annoyed and also embarrassed by the whole situation. I went to ask for my money back from the receptionist but she said it was on the website that it was womans hour so basically it was my fault. I checked and I couldnt see anything. She said it was on the new website which i was unaware of.

basically I was really upset and embarrassed by this whole experience. I dont want to go back to my local (council run) pool anymore so I go to a different one in the next town. What are your guys opinions on this matter? Am I just overreacting?

[ichot]

To clarify you were already swimming until the women's hour arrived or you were swimming during the women's hour?

Is this "woman's swimming hour" clearly labeled somewhere around the front desk where the entry fee was paid?

Something like "visit our website" is no good. There should be something around the lines of a time-sheet/calendar that makes it clear what schedules are.

If you really care for it, file a small claims for a refund. Discrimination? Only if they don't actually have a women's hour and wanted to kick you out.

[Asker]

There weree no labels that I saw upon entry although there could have been, but I just didn't see them. Surely the concept of womens only hour is discrimination though? This pool is run by my local council and funded by the taxpayer.

[Asker]

And to clarify I was in the swimming pool for 25 minutes or so before they asked me to leave because womans hour was starting

[ichot]

Bah, I think you have a good case for "women's hour" being discriminatory but not that they discriminated against you. They didn't refuse entry, just their scheduled event came up in a time that is not convenient for you.

For the "women's hour" being discriminatory...
If you were a girl swimming you would have been able to continue swimming and I presume that was actually the case. The other girls weren't asked to re-pay an entry fee for 'women's hour'... right? I would revisit the area with a camera and find out if they have a calendar/event schedule so customers don't get jibbed.

Write a complaint to the local government as well. Keep it formal and mature.

[Asker]

you make some good points. The fee wasn't the main thing that I was bothered by; it was £3 so I can let that one slide. My main issue is the principle. I thought we lived in a society were gender, and race segregation was not accepted. And to have it done by my own government makes it even worse to me.

[Panay]

well a 'white's hour' would be racism... so i'd say yes, definitely. Even if there was a guy's hour i'd still consider that segregation, which personally i'm very strongly against.

[Asker]

well if there was blacks only hour would that be racism? Some poeple maintain that minority groups cannot be racist. Could this somehow be applicable to sexism against men? Women are hardly a minority and government policy such as this would suggest they are no longer marginalised. I dont know what to think anymore.

[Panay]

discrimination has nothing to do with minorities, it means being unfairly prejudice towards a particular group. You weren't able to swim at a certain time simply because of your sex, while women could. That's sexism.
And yes, if there was a blacks only hour, that'd also be racism.

[EmiliaB]

Why do you need to switch pools? Can you not just go at a different time?

They should have told you on the way in, to be fair

[Asker]

Im just too embarrassed to go back.

[EmiliaB]

Honestly, you don't need to be.
I work at the gym, and the amount of people there are to deal with coming and going, they won't even remember this by this time next week :)

[nicole_SOA]

Tf? Thats the stupidest thing ever. Your not over reacting

[Josht11]

Unless there's a guy's hour then I would say it's bullshit.

[Josht11]

Now that I think about it, it feels more like discrimination, imagine a whites hours or blacks hour then it's racist same with this.

[Asker]

Considering they kicked me out purely because of my sex

[SakuraChii]

They should've given you you're money back. It's not your fault at all.

[beautifulangel76]

Definitely. I don't think you were overreacting. They should have said something before you paid.

[Asker]

Well I arrived at the pool a good 40 minutes before the womans hour.

[beautifulangel76]

They still could have said something. Do you pay by the hour or do you just pay to go?

[Asker]

Its just pay for entry I think. Its fairly cheap since Im a member of the pool/gym. Its £3 to enter.

[OrdinaryGentleman]

No? I would be pissed too. Being a lifeguard in training i am surprised there was not more information regarding this posted up and around the pool area.

[1smooth28]

I think so. Maybe it was to cater for religious reasons or something :S

[Asker]

in my most everyone is white British so i doubt it. All of the women coming in were middle aged white women.

[1smooth28]

Hmm I think you're right, it sounds dodgy lol

[trashpolka791]

That's ridiculous. You should at least get your money back after getting kicked out of a pool.

What the hell is wrong with the world nowadays?

[Youdoyouboo]

They should have said something

[TripleAce]

I think she should of reimbursed you 100%

[Dred1614]

Definitely wrong of the morons who run the pool.

[Asker]

The morons that are my local council :(

[106473]

That is discrimination.

[Anonymous]

yes it is but its ok because you are guy.

[trashpolka791]

But it's not OK that's the problem with it