This is going to be a quick post, because I’m still sick, it’s the first week of school so I have a lot of other things on my mind, and I’m defending my piece of crap thesis in three weeks and am freaking out about it.
Because of all this, I’m having a hard time getting my thoughts together, but I wanted to write something about the big womens-only hours at Harvard’s gym uproar.
And here’s what I want to write: everyone SHUT UP.
I’m sick of reading about this. I’m sick of reading articles entitled “The Islamic Republic of Harvard” or “Sharia at Harvard,” that make it seem like Harvard is being “taken over” by Muslims—nobody would have batted an eye if a conservative Christian women’s group had filed the paperwork for women’s only hours. I’m sick of everybody getting their boxers (or briefs…or, eh, thongs) in a twist because men aren’t allowed at the gym a few hours a week.
No matter whose idea this was, no matter who filed the request for it, here’s what this boils down to: a few hours a week, women who don’t want to exercise around men can go and use some weights or run on the track or swim without feeling uncomfortable by a male presence. As someone who kind of hates gyms partially because of their male-oriented space, I think there is a need for this and I think it’s about damn time.
So, there you go. Everything that can be said about it has been said. So why doesn’t everyone in the media just shut up about it?