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| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| Mich. Gym Makes Changes for Muslim Women |
| 2006-04-27 |
| LINCOLN PARK, Mich. — A chain of fitness centers has provided more privacy for women while they work out after some Muslim members complained that men could watch them, violating Islam's standards of modesty. Some Muslim members of the gym said they joined Fitness USA because it had single-sex workout rooms. But the gym recently opened a new area open to both sexes, and from there, men were able to see into the women's section, said Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Fitness USA said Wednesday that it agreed to the changes at its Lincoln Park gym after meeting with the council and a concerned Muslim member of the gym. Last week, Fitness USA installed some panels and frosted glass that completely block off the women's area from the coed room, said Jodi Berry, administrative director for the chain, based in Oakland County's West Bloomfield Township. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #9 Womeen's Workout World. |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-04-27 22:20 |
| #8 with the exception of getting CAIR involved, I think they did the right thing. If you would like to have something changed, say something about it. I suspect most of the mebers there joined because of the women only deal, and disliked the new set up as much as the Mooslime. I still would have told CAIR and the Moos to take a hike, but only because they tried a power play. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-04-27 16:59 |
| #7 So CAIR and one (1) muslim customer met with the centre, who immediatley agreed to the redesign. Heck of a successful meeting for 1 complainee. One wonders what threats were involved. |
| Posted by: Shuns Uleating3851 2006-04-27 15:55 |
| #6 I'm with Perfesser: They joined based on what Fitness USA was like at the time. The gym expanded, and the patronesses objected to a change that was part of a deciding factor for them in choosing it. Either the old ones leave if they don't change, or the ogler newcomers leave if they do. If the gym was committed to creating a specific atmosphere, and the change violated it, then informing them was the right thing to do. Here's what would interest ME: Did the original patronesses complain privately to the owners, or did they go out and pull in CAIR right from the get go? Did CAIR threaten to sue from the start, or this was just a cordial tete-a-tete? From their past, we wouldn't think so. I think CAIR was pulled in from the get-go, but only because the Muslim wimmenfolk are so intimidated at home that they don't even feel they can protest themselves, but need a man to do it. So, did they wear the hijab when they went to see Dawud Walid? |
| Posted by: Ptah 2006-04-27 14:28 |
| #5 Another vote for letting the free market work. I know of a Jewish cook who patronizes Islamic-kosher vendors in Charlotte, NC (!) because they offer a wider variety of spices and other foods. Let the free market reign! |
| Posted by: Perfessor 2006-04-27 12:37 |
| #4 Actually, I think NS is on to something. Everyone else should quit the gym (and force Muslim ownership), but seeing as how (I assume) this is near Detroit, it's not very surprising. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-04-27 11:36 |
| #3 This is the sort of stupidity being practiced in France. Look where it has taken them. Exactly why should a few dumb ass Mooselimbs dictate societal norms for all of us ? Very dangerous. Kick their ass out of the gym. Let them organize their own gym. If I was a member there, I would quit posthaste. |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-04-27 11:24 |
| #2 The private company should serve its market. It sounds like it is reacting to one customer and a pressure group. Now it will find out how many other customers think it a wise decision. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-27 08:29 |
| #1 ". . . violating Islam's standards of modesty." It's one thing when women don't want men to see them at their worst, sans makeup, all flabby and sweaty and nasty. It's another when women don't want men to see them because their Oh, but that would be racist. Because Islam is a race. Right. |
| Posted by: Shavitch Hupeck4903 2006-04-27 07:37 |