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Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 1:33 pm
by Chrysoprase
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54062903
An entrepreneur is challenging a London private member's club over its "gentlemen-only" membership policy.
Emily Bendell, founder of lingerie brand Bluebella, claims the Garrick Club's rules allowing women to attend only as guests of men violates the Equality Act 2010.
The exclusive West End club counts Sir Laurence Olivier and Charles Dickens among its former members.
Ms Bendell was denied membership in March.
She is now threatening legal action against the Garrick, demanding that it opens membership to women for the first time since it opened in 1831.
Talking to the BBC she said: "I had no idea that this male-only members club still existed and I was quite shocked and surprised that was the case.
"[It's] deeply troubling on a number of levels and so I thought I could see if there was anything there could be done about it.
"These are clubs that have people who run this country as members - what is that telling us? That we are not allowing women to be part of these networks and gatherings?
"By denying women access to these networks, it is detrimental to our cause, so I think it is important.
"I hope that the members of the Garrick Club can see that the world has moved on and do the right thing."
The Garrick Club was founded by a group of "literary gentlemen" with the aim of bringing together actors and supporters of theatre.
Although the Garrick does not allow female members it employs female members of staff and a letter has been sent to Ann Robbie, the secretary of the Garrick, with a request for a reply by 5 October.
The letter states the Garrick is bound, under section 29 of the Equality Act 2020, not to discriminate against a person requiring or seeking to use its services.
The letter goes on to outline claims for direct and indirect sex discrimination in respect of its "gentlemen-only" policy.
Ms Bendell's solicitors at Leigh Day said: "Ms Bendell has a successful career and affinity to the arts and, just as any man in her position would have the opportunity to, she wishes to become a member of the Garrick Club and access the club's services.
"The Garrick is one of the oldest and best-known members' clubs in the world, but it is holding on to values that are outdated and quite simply not legal in this day and age. It provides services to the public and as such it is bound by the equalities law.
"Both the firm and Ms Bendell look forward to receiving confirmation that the Garrick Club intends to change its policy in relation to admission of female members."
The Garrick has been contacted for comment.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of this, the bit in bold comes under the heading of "yeah, right!"
This is great publicity for her
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 1:50 pm
by ASMO
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:08 pm
by Chrysoprase
I'm sure that's acceptable because of the patriarchy
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:11 pm
by Slick
Yes, I think they are great. I’ve been in most of the ones round St James’ and Pall Mall. Food is invariably shite but port is good
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:11 pm
by .OverThere
I would be interested in her views re trans people using the Ladies toilet.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:38 pm
by Kiwias
Yet is is alright for her company to produce lingerie for women only.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:46 pm
by Macropal
Kiwias wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:38 pm
Yet is is alright for her company to produce lingerie for women only.
No ones stopping you.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:17 am
by mat the expat
Getting one's knickers in a twist over someone getting their knickers in a twist?
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:29 am
by Glaston
"Leigh Day" aren't they pretty close to being Ambulance chasers?
They got over £10 million of public money for all that Iraq war enquiry stuff.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:46 am
by Niegs
Total rookie move to declare it "gentleman's only". Just have to make it so completely off-putting to women than none want to join ... like sports chat forums!
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:05 am
by Kiwias
Macropal wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:46 pm
Kiwias wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:38 pm
Yet is is alright for her company to produce lingerie for women only.
No ones stopping you.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:12 am
by Hugo
Glaston wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:29 am
"Leigh Day" aren't they pretty close to being Ambulance chasers?
They got over £10 million of public money for all that Iraq war enquiry stuff.
The cynic in me always tends to assume these types of actions are litigated because the solicitors can make money out of them rather than it being a just and noble cause.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:59 am
by Macropal
Kiwias wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:05 am
Macropal wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:46 pm
Kiwias wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 11:38 pm
Yet is is alright for her company to produce lingerie for women only.
No ones stopping you.
That's actually a horrifying image
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:08 am
by Tilly Orifice
The rationale for this I guess would be that men's clubs would function as de facto power centres, which would act to exclude women from the higher levels of whatever. This was undoubtedly once the case, whether it still is I'm unsure. Perhaps not.
Then again, I could imagine little that would be less interesting than a club that excluded women.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:34 am
by Yeeb
Won’t lie, disappointed by this Gentleman’s club thread tbh
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:16 pm
by Plato’sCave
It’s an attention seeking stunt.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:23 pm
by troglodyte
She should be allowed to join imo.
We always have the problem of who will wash the dishes after dinner. It's bad enough that we have to make the dinner....
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:35 pm
by The Druid
The point is this... "if we had no rules where would we be? France!
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 11:47 am
by eldanielfire
Tilly Orifice wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:08 am
The rationale for this I guess would be that men's clubs would function as de facto power centres, which would act to exclude women from the higher levels of whatever. This was undoubtedly once the case, whether it still is I'm unsure. Perhaps not.
Then again, I could imagine little that would be less interesting than a club that excluded women.
This is pretty much my opinion. I have no problems with men and women getting some space for themselves and some enterprise making money off it.As long a s that is all it is.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:50 pm
by C69
We still have women only areas in my local gymn.
Pathetic really, terrible double standards.
Re: Are "gentlemen's" clubs still a good idea in the modern world?
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:51 pm
by Random1
Tilly Orifice wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:08 am
The rationale for this I guess would be that men's clubs would function as de facto power centres, which would act to exclude women from the higher levels of whatever. This was undoubtedly once the case, whether it still is I'm unsure. Perhaps not.
Then again, I could imagine little that would be less interesting than a club that excluded women.
Yeah, it’s the one area where I can see the patriarchy bullshit at least making a passing resemblance to logic.
From the handful of times I’ve been in those sorts of club houses, I’d say they do act as a good networking tool. I walked away from one with at least a dozen cards of people trying to sell their wares. And I’ll admit, the meetings at those club houses have changed the direction of my career significantly.
If women want a bit of that, then fair fucks.