Nerve Endings Firing Away

In a country that is culturally and ethnically diverse, it is always difficult strike a balance between protecting the interests of its minorities and appeasing them for political purposes. Immigrants to America have often found their interests respected even in face of overwhelming cultural and societal pushback. These decisions are often based in the Constitution and the laws enshrined dictate that all individuals shall be protected against discrimination irrespective of their gender, race, religion, or national origin. These protections however are always rooted in common belief of liberty, inclusion, and individual rights. Thus I find it difficult to believe that Harvard would implement a policy that has effectively banned men from one of its gyms for a few hours a week to enable Muslim women to use the facilities. “No men are allowed in the gym between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays, and between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Even the staff during those times is all women.”

Mind you, I’m all for respecting and providing for special needs of minorities but not of policies that are based on exclusion rather than inclusion. Assimilation of minorities into the mainstream are based in inclusionary policies (affirmative action, school integration) and minority leaders have always fought against granting of special privileges and instead have sought to eliminate exclusionary policies like redlining or discrimination in employment, service sector, and political processes.

This Harvard policy does not serve the inclusionary purposes because it defers to the regressive gender separation policies propagated by certain cultures. We are not talking about unisex bathrooms but fitness areas where individuals although are not conservatively dressed are certainly not prancing around naked. Of course, gym attire differs greatly among people of different cultures and as long as the university does not impose a strict dress code, everyone is free to dress as per their convenience. I’m sure you get appropriate fitness outfits that cover your hair and most of your skin (just ask Ian Thorpe). Or if Thorpe isn’t the example you want to follow, then check out the Muslim athletic wear that fulfills Koran requirements.

Regardless of what I feel about dressing women in beekeeper outfits as is the custom in certain countries, I feel the motivations of this policy was not necessarily to grant women the freedom and liberty that this country prides itself on:

The special hours allow the Muslim women, who adhere to traditional dress codes by covering their hair and most of their skin while in public, to dress more appropriately for exercising, said Susan Marine, director of the women’s center.”It’s a pretty big breach of their moral and religious code for a man to see them with their hair uncovered and it’s just not possible for them to be in a mixed environment,” she said.

When student Kareem Shuman showed up to work out at the gym on Monday, he was turned away but didn’t mind. “Knowing it was requested by women of my faith — it’s very understandable to me,” said Shuman, 21, who figured he’d just come back later for his workout.

Just not possible?? Tell me, how are you going to survive in America if you keep away from a mixed environment? I see no such problem for Muslim men like Kareem Shuman whose sensibilities aren’t affected by seeing women of other faiths. Although many argue that women actually prefer to wear a burqa instead of being forced to, I find it hard to believe. I’ve had plenty of friends and acquaintances who would shed their burqa once they were out of sight from the people usually the family, that forced them to wear it.

Religious diktats, not necessarily just Islamic ones, are known to hide behind such coercive policies and later claiming that the individuals themselves prefer it. Harvard is simply buying into these regressive policies that seek to shelter women from the eyes of the world and are counter intuitive to the spirit of an inclusionary society. Although immigrants preserve their customs and traditions, they also adopt certain traditions of their new country especially if those that are denied in their native country. Gender equality is one such freedom I think America is worth respecting for and hiding behind overtly exclusionary policies and regressive customs is not something I can stand behind.

Update: Read Confused’s post just after I finished posting mine. Basically along the lines of my opinion, but he makes a far more compelling and cogent argument.