![](”http://static.flickr.com/44/116364022_14e11279b9_o.jpg")
Saturday, 22 Apr 2006
That would be really bad, especially for muslim women in the US: They have enough temptation as it is apparently .
About 200 Muslim women who have memberships to the Fitness USA chain
of athletic clubs have signed a petition asking the gyms to honor what
they say was a promise to provide separate exercise times for women and
men.
Arrwa Mogalli, 28, of Dearborn, said she bought a $1,465
lifetime membership after being promised that a Lincoln Park facility
would be open only to women on certain days.The gym in this Detroit suburb opened a new part of the center this month to both sexes every day.
"I felt like all the money I just spent … has gone to waste," Mogalli said.
The women are asking the chain to restore single-sex exercise days
for the entire gym or to put up a divider so men and women cannot see
each other while exercising."In Islam, there are codes of modesty for both genders," said
Ammerah Saidi, 23, of Dearborn. "When you're working out, you're not
dressed modestly, and you're bending in provocative ways, so you can't
be working out with the opposite gender."
Yes, no bending provocatively please, cause then the men will get really horny and rape you right in the middle of the Gym, cause all men in unisex gyms do that. Right?
LOL. Ammerah, you have one hell of a dirty mind.
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:20 am
I have worked out with men, and even been in the same pool lane with men*GASP!* and not one has touched me. Of course I’m not a Muslim so that might have something to do with it. Not sexy enough, I guess.
(/sarcasm)
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:42 am
First the cartoons, now this.
When will these people stop getting offended, already?
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:49 am
I agree. It seems to be only muslim women who are capable of provoking men to such a degree of insanity. Me being an infidel American just don’t have the same effect when I’m working out among men.
April 22nd, 2006 at 6:56 am
Holy crap, literally.
I guess Fitness USA will cave in as soon as the request makes it up the chain of command: “tolerance, diversity, *ahem* security.”
This clash of civilizations would be much more sporting if our side put up token resistance. It’s like watching the Pittsburgh Steelers beating up on Mother Mary’s Academy of the Blind.
April 22nd, 2006 at 7:33 am
Did they join with the intention of pushing their agenda, or to get fit?
The obvious thing to do is refund the subscriptions.
April 22nd, 2006 at 7:43 am
if there were a day when they can go to the gym without having to get in contact with men and the day was canceled, in that case they have the right to request it (not that the gym would have to comply) but if the day was never canceled and it’s just that they have another new building for mixed genders, then they have nothing to scream about.
April 22nd, 2006 at 7:46 am
Oh for God’s sake, isn’t the point of this that the gym advertized something to gain a specific sort of clientele, and then after a bunch of women signed up, decided to screw ‘em and not provide what it promised?
I belonged to a woman’s only gym in Canada, and not because I’m Muslim because I belong to a predominantly male gum here in Jordan so gimme a break, but coz my Canadian roommates dragged me there with them, all 7 of them worked out there, so no hot guys would see them sweat and suffer without make up on.
I say that gym either provide the facilities it advertised, or refund customers who no longer want to be affiliated to it because the advertised service ain’t gonna happen.
April 22nd, 2006 at 8:04 am
I know am probably going to get lynched for this but I am never comfortable in mixed gyms or mixed swimming pools either. Sorry but I grew up going to ladies only beaches & ladies only gyms which also have beauty salons affiliated so working out became like waxing or getting a manicure or pedicure etc..something to do with the girls.
When I was in the US I solved the problem by going cycling or going running. Somehow that was less personal than working out in the gym & it made me feel less self-conscious.
My husband doesn’t get it. He wants us to do these things together but he accepts that am just not comfortable with it.
Oh & elengil I can’t speak for men but if I tell you that when I hang around the gym I don’t notice hot guys or that it doesn’t affect me I’d be lying to you. Big-time. I always thought it was unfair the way guys can look so hot all sweaty with no make-up.
April 22nd, 2006 at 10:13 am
I’m not sure what their complaint is.
Quote:
The gym in this Detroit suburb opened a new part of the center this month to both sexes every day.
Sounds like they still have what they want, just not in the new part of the center. In other words, they’re forcing gender separation on everyone. But it’s not entirely clear from the article.
April 22nd, 2006 at 10:21 am
Maybe she should just wear one of those sexually appetizing hejabi swimsuits. Maybe they should just make a sports version.
If she’s not comfortable, she should just find another option like LouLou did.
April 22nd, 2006 at 10:44 am
I don’t see anything wrong with women-only days or gyms, not necessarily because of hte reasons the woman stated, but because most women simply feel more comfortable working out without the presence of men. In boston, where I used to live, one of the most succssful gym chains is called “healthworks”, is a women’s only facility, and they can’t keep up with the demand (and not, not for the reasons you might think). I agree that people should have a choice and if they petitioned for a certain day or part of the gym that should be accomodated (which it seems it has). Gold’s gym also has a women’s only day now, as do YMCA centers and pools. And none of them are muslim, so get over yourselves already.
April 22nd, 2006 at 12:42 pm
These muslim women ever hear of CURVES or WORKOUT EXPRESS? They are gyms but not just any gyms. They are GYMS FOR WOMEN.
With the added plus that they sell franchises. So if there isn’t one in their area they can buy a franchise and put one in. Sounds like they could already have a customer list of 200 and that is just the muslim women.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT!!!
April 22nd, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Well I’ve come up with a solution that’s worked for me in the past. I’ve never stepped inside a gym, sure I’m a bit on the plump side, but at least I won’t get screamed at for looking at women bending in all those juicy positions, besides that’s what I got the internet for
long live Pr0n
April 22nd, 2006 at 1:10 pm
What’s the big deal I thought America was about freedom. Let these women practice their faith as they see fit but in terms of practicality they don’t have to burden the gym they are members with I guess.
I agree with Cindy.
They can either do what she said or claim a full refund.
Meanwhile please check this. It’s long but it’s worth reading and concerns everyone
http://sudanesethinker.blogspot.com/2006/04/do-you-want-to-start-clapping.html
April 22nd, 2006 at 1:45 pm
What Cindy said.
Curves is a women-only gym with franchies everywhere. Hell, why not make some money and open one themselves in a Muslim neighborhood.
April 22nd, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Cindy and Jeff are both right……………
April 22nd, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Yes, refund their money and send them to Curves. The problem here is coming to America and then demanding that things change to suit you. This isn’t right and has to stop now.
April 22nd, 2006 at 2:41 pm
Oh No! - : Not Women And Men In The Same Room - Together
Earth to Muslim women in America, this is the good ole U.S. of A., and that’s why the average American goes to the gym in the first place - to see all that “provocative bending” and “immodest dress”.
April 22nd, 2006 at 3:05 pm
First of all, as a woman, one of the joys of going to the gym (as much as I hate) is seeing hot men bending in provacotive ways
Second, there are women only fitness centers all over the USA, in fact they are growing like weeds. Why did she join that club.
Finally, why dont these muslim women simply start thier own fitness center. This way they can keep it single sex and make sure it stays that way. She is in frigging Detroit home of the largest Islamic community in the USA. Seems like a great opportunity for someone. But then again, maybe this explains a difference between the Islamic world and the USA. We can find away to turn anything into an opportunity. All Muslims see is yet one more thing to complain about.
April 22nd, 2006 at 4:11 pm
I’m a non-Muslim woman who has a membership to Fitness USA in Indiana. It saddens me as an American to see exactly why so many people around the world see Americans as such arrogant, ignorant individuals. The USA claims to pride itself in its freedom that it supposedly imposes on every citizen in the nation, but as soon as an individual, who IS American mind you, tries to exerciese his or her rights, they are immediately shot down and looked at as someone who is trying to change everyone else’s way of thinking. If youre so proud of your country and all it stands for, step out of your narrow-minded ways and look at the bigger picture and get your facts straight before ranting and raving. Fitness USA has been around for over 50 years and there have ALWAYS been gender specific days. It is simply bad business for an organization to promise one thing to its customers and then go back on their word, period. The complaints of these woman are completely justified. They have the support of other non-Muslim woman, such as myself that want to exercise comfortably. It is, afterall, the American ideals that are instilled in us since early childhood that we woman have to look a certain way in order to look appealing to men in the first place. I encourage these woman to continue exercising their rights as individuals and get exactly what they think they deserve. Don’t ever forget that it is by accident of birth that we were are not the minorities in a country. The tables can easily be turned and it could be one of us who are trying to have our voices heard.
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:54 pm
I belong to a community association that runs three fitness clubs, two of which have areas set aside from women (but not men) to work out in private, and one which does not.
This association did several surveys, and it found that there were women who would not use the clubs if they could not exercise in privacy. They bought their memberships because of this one feature. At one point, this was all very controversial with a few men, who said that they were being discriminated against, because they could not use the women’s areas, but women could use all areas. The men demanded the right to use the women’s areas. The ladies said “No way!” and they won.
At the third club, the members have always, en masse, opposed any effort to isolate anybody. When the association proposed building a therapy area specifically for those who are injured or recovering from illness, the members insisted that this area should be open to the rest of the club, because that way, they could help look after the more fragile members. The new area is almost complete, and it has an open floorplan.
The customer is always right.
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:56 pm
I suppose if Fitness USA promised these things they should either honor them or refund the money. However, Fitness USA states no such promises appear in the contract. Who knows what the actual story is, how promised what, or how things developed? I would take a wait and see attitude. Most likely, things will resolve themselves in a satisfactory way.
Now using taxpayer dollars to finance a Muslim women’s events on the other hand (especially where Christians would not get this sort of favorable treatment):
http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/004929.html
April 22nd, 2006 at 6:02 pm
I forgot to attach something to my last post:
How did you like that “no infidel women need apply rule?”
April 22nd, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Madison:
OH come on, companies change thier policies all the damn time in the USA to remain competitive. Again, I think this is a wonderful business opportunity, expecially in Detroit that has a huge muslim population. A state of the art fitness center aimed at Muslim women sounds like a great business ideal.
April 22nd, 2006 at 6:27 pm
I’m from the Detroit area and I actually saw the women speak on the local news yesterday. A few clarifications: the women actually understand that the company is not in breach of contract. They just want to have a verbal agreement which has been upheld for 50 years to continue to be upheld since there are such a huge number of individuals–men, women, Christian and Muslim–who joined Fitness USA for the gender specific days. Although I agree that people should never push their beliefs on anyone else, I believe these women have a right to demand that the centers maintain some tradition–especially a certain tradition that pulled in many of their customers. I mean, shit, if I gave a 1000 bucks for my membership under certain promises and then had them turn and run with it, I’d be mad pissed.
April 22nd, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Bears repeating:
But then again, maybe this explains a difference between the Islamic world and the USA. We can find away to turn anything into an opportunity. All Muslims see is yet one more thing to complain about.
I’d have said “Too many Muslims…” instead of “All Muslims…”. Nevertheless, it’s a great point. Use your brain & think!
April 22nd, 2006 at 10:42 pm
Debbie Schlussel has further reporting on the Fitness USA story:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/04/islamic_imperia.html
April 23rd, 2006 at 12:59 am
[...] (h/t Sandmonkey) Posted by BP at 12:58 am [...]
April 23rd, 2006 at 4:23 am
the local jewish community center (sort of like the ymca/ywca) and they have some hours for mens and womems sept gym and swimming. This is not just a muslim women’s issue. In America you have the choice to go to what ever kind of gym/swimming you want to just don’t try to force me into a mens only program. If some one wants to start a bus. that caters to women only who is going to prevent you. Now you might have legal problems if you tried to run a mens only thing. esp if you call it a club.
April 23rd, 2006 at 4:24 am
orthodox jewish woman believe in the same thing.
April 23rd, 2006 at 4:46 am
yochanan,
I’m not sure, when you mention swimming, if you are, in part, referring to the article I posted concerning the Muslim women’s swim or not. I am going to assume you are. In the article I mentioned concerning the Seattle pool incident, one of the commenters points out that Chassidic women have a time set aside for them at this same pool in Seattle. The difference is that non-Jewish women are not prohibited from joining in. The problem is that Muslim women don’t want to swim with non-Muslim women at all. That is taxpayer money being used to support religious bigotry. That is absurd.
April 23rd, 2006 at 7:41 am
very silly
April 23rd, 2006 at 10:12 am
In my neighborhood in Los Angeles, orthodox Jewish women also wanted to work out away from men. Unlike the fatwa-fanatics — instead of imposing their values on an existing chain — they opened their own Curves-style storefront gym.
That’s not unreasonable.
The thought of being around a bunch of sweaty Hanan Ashrawi lookaliikes… hurl.
April 23rd, 2006 at 1:24 pm
i did not know about the case were it was gov’t funded which I am opposed to. The gov’t should not be doing this.
April 23rd, 2006 at 2:37 pm
I have to admit it: once I was aroused by a woman doing her workout on a skiing machine. Her pants slipped down and revealed her thong all the way and somehow she did not notice it. The whole male half of the gym noticed this and paid attention. I considered telling her, but thought better of it because it would been embarassing for her.
Assuming she did not do this intentionally, she probably did get a little embarassed when the problem was eventually discovered. Nothing terrible happened; she did not even get raped after all that bending in a rather exposed position - LoL.
April 23rd, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Aaron,
The thought of being around a bunch of sweaty Hanan Ashrawi lookaliikes…
Yeah, isn’t Hanan Ashrawi creepy-looking. I mean, not just plain ugly but truly fucking creepy. I guess you can say she has a “memorable face.”
/spinal shivers and willies
April 24th, 2006 at 6:12 am
First off let me thank Madison for her comments - thanks for bringing some clarity to the situation. Ammerah happens to be my sister and I had just been told all of this less than an hour ago….I work on the road and don’t really see my family much. Anyways, as Madison has pointed out this is really mostly a contractual dispute. Ammerah, my younger sibling, has always been outspoken and brave enough to stick up for what she thought was right and fair - for ANYONE - not just herself or women or Muslims. Truth be told she never thought that it would become such a big deal…So to all the authors on this site that take this as an opportunity to bash a PEOPLE that wish to be treated only fairly and to be allowed to practice their chosen religion in a country so great that such a freedom is allowed, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to take a trip to Washington D.C. and refresh your sense of what it is to be an American - Which in my eyes means carrying a hugh burden of responsibility to make sure that the freedoms afforded to us not just as a country or a people, but as human beings, are not treaded upon nor revoked but also never misused as a poster child for ignorance and intolerance. None of you know her…know that she is an English teacher or that she was born right here in the United States - all you see is what she wears on her head. Being American means having to take off the blinders and take in the whole picture….I would also like to point out that this “rant” is not out of anger but out of hope that atleast some people will stop and really, seriously consider that this country, that I personally love so much that I spent the better half of 5 years in it’s military, is not full of flag toting nationalist, but normal hard working people from all walks of life and proudly enough all over the world - making it not just the most successful country in the world but also the standard in which others are judged and compaired…Though I have addmittedly gone off subject slightly, I really feel that what my sister is trying to accomplish and how it is needlessly being attacked as harshly as it has been is really just overkill and simply is giving some bored Joe or Jane an opportunity to regurgetate thier own brand of hate and thier fear of the everchanging status quo……Besides, how would any of you like to be told a $1400 dollar lie?……Thank you
April 24th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
The greatness of America lies in the moral strength of the phrase “All men are created equal…” not “The customer is always right…”
Can I open a gym and have Muslim-free days? Black-free days? Handicapped-free days?
Some people are ‘uncomfortable’ with male teachers for young children; or with male nurses. Can we discriminate against men in employment? Can we discriminate against men in housing loans/property rentals?
April 24th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
louLou said:: “I always thought it was unfair the way guys can look so hot all sweaty with no make-up.”
But women do!
If a woman doesn’t, then she’s likely to scare the hell out of a man at the one moment when it really matters!
April 25th, 2006 at 7:42 am
LOL what a sad collection of retards you people are,
I say we form a angry mob and “depose” of any gym that dares to agree with these Woman.
Why?
Well Of course we muslims are the taint of the US “Glass wearig” “Hip outfit” and 80’s style Gym sweating and bending that makes Americas Culture what it is.
Pfft get a life, cant muslims do anything these days without being harrassed by the RIff Raff goons. I hear some Jews are protesting a markey selling Porn..errr Pork, guess you better go beat them across the head.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:08 am
alif says:
“But women do!”
Maybe but we don’t FEEL hot. I don’t know many women who feel at their most glamorous & irresistable when sweating in the gym. If they did then the entire beauty industry would go out of business.
“If a woman doesn’t, then she’s likely to scare the hell out of a man at the one moment when it really matters!”
You mean men don’t go temporarily blind at those moments?
April 25th, 2006 at 8:20 am
So true,
I love these type of Anti-Muslim Jewish uncle sam made sites and comments.
Oh Internet what entertainment shall you bring me next
April 25th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
I have to make a confession here. I get horny when I see women in the Gym that I want to sleep with them. Seeing women boobs hopping up and down in the gym or watching them pulling up bars turns me on. Oh my god, they are really sexy in the gym. Sense of sight is stronger in that case then sense of smell.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
Yeah I agree, most of all Jewish Woman there throbing boobs, and nice flat an tender Arse makes me so horny when I see it all in the Gym *drools*
LOL get a life people
April 26th, 2006 at 6:18 am
I really don’t see the point of this. Most people who read this blog simply want to diss anything, and it would give them plus plus points to diss Islam. It’s funny really.
Some people want a gym especially for ladies, let them have it. I wonder Sandmonkey if you’re so smart and righteous, then how come you didn’t comment on the segregation of some public schools in Chicago and New York?
I wish that you people were open minded to accept other points of view in life.
I’m not going to defend anybody, because I don’t believe in a religion really, but I’m doing my part towards humanity in trying to at least spread the idea of co-existence…it would make this world a much better place I guess.
April 26th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
Carefull pheras, your talking to a bunch of zionist/Republic. When you get the idea of co-existence to be taught to these raving lunatics, call me then we can go and talk to the nazi’s next.
April 26th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Lol. Very funny. I think it’s a result of years of a long-forming identity crisis. I never really believed in extremists nor in “ideological” clashes; I simply consider both parties ignorant and nobody has a point.
There used to be a time where one has to fight for his/her principles, but I think those days are over, one needs not to prove his point anymore, we’ve become so independent, even introverted that nobody really cares about what others think, and the concept of “right” and “wrong” have become very relative, and in some cases they simply don’t exist.
I think the easy way out is to fight and rant and to curse and scream. The hard way is to co-exist; because it requires both patience and intelligence. Trying to be sarcastic for a “higher purpose” (which is hate and intolerance in this case) is a waste of time, energy and emotion.
But we’re humans after all, and some of us will wish that we knew back then what we will know in the future. And when that happens everyone will bring himself/herself to her own knees. Perfect self-judgment.
April 26th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Update:
The gym has apparently acquiesed to the Muslim women:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/04/weakness_usa_dh.html
Disturbingly, Schlussel claims:
“As we noted, one of the extremist women, Ammerah Saidi, wrote on this site that, “If it (America) falls to Islam, so be it.” (She also refused to denounce extremist terrorist groups that murdered hundreds of Americans and others, apparently defending them.)”
April 26th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
“your talking to a bunch of zionist/Republic. When you get the idea of co-existence to be taught to these raving lunatics, call me then we can go and talk to the nazi’s next.”
Whatever. Geez, people, get a grip. This isn’t really a religion issue. Or a republican issue or a democrat issue. And it certainly has nothing even remotely to do with Israel or zionism by even the most creative stretch of the paranoid imagination.
This is a contractual dispute, as someone upthread so rightly pointed out. If these gals signed on for a membership and were verbally promised certain services, then the gym should provide those services or else return their money and encourage them to join an all-women’s gym instead. Plain and simple.
I fail to see why anyone felt the need to bring their religion into this at all.
April 27th, 2006 at 2:00 am
Coppertopp said:
“This is a contractual dispute, as someone upthread so rightly pointed out.”
First, according to critics, this was not promised to them either in their written contract or even in a direct verbal fashion. It was understood to be common policy at the Dearborn, Michigan gym. They were asking that something new be implemented, for the sake of their Islamic beliefs, at another gym.
These women were protesting something that had apparently never been promised or even regular policy at the Lincoln Park facility.
You seem to have the funny notion that common policy constitutes a contract of some sort, Coppertopp. If that were the case, businesses could never change any policy or procedure that was objected to by even a single customer. Business would come to a standstill.
The truth is that, in the real world, businesses change policies all the time - that is why there are written contracts in the first place. If the written contract does not suffice then don’t purchase the service. If you don’t like the gym your with, then stop being a customer of that gym and go to another one (or start your own). Stop forcing your beliefs on other people who are satisfied with the services offered.
Jesus H. Christ, I can see a gym trying to get rid of one old exercise machine and put in another, somewhat different, one: “But that was my favorite exercise machiiiiiiiiiine! We had a contraaaaaact - ’cause we’ve had that machine foreeeeeever.”
April 28th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Hi tommy,
I haven’t read the contract in question, nor was I sitting in the room to hear what the sales people did or didn’t say to the ladies in question. (I *have* worked in a gym before and I think it highly likely that it was mentioned in sales pitch, but I couldn’t prove that one way or another). So, I honestly couldn’t say whether the ladies are correct in their assertion that the gym had promised them the services. My only point was that *that*, namely what services were or were not promised, was the issue at hand here. Not the ladies’ religion. My point was that the ladies should *not* bring their religion into it, because their religion has nothing to do with it. No one is forcing them to work out with men, and therefore, their right to freedom of religion isn’t being violated, so I felt that trying to bring religion in as an argument as to why the gym should provide the service was inappropriate and beside the point. What needs to be determined is what services were actually promised either verbally or in writing and what the gym’s obligations are, and if they promised it and changed their minds, they should refund the money. That is all.
And I was cranky because the person I quoted (who would not be yourself) was implying that anyone who didn’t agree with the ladies was in on some big Zionist republican plot or some such. Ridiculous. And I stand by my assertion that this dispute has nothing to do with the republican party or the Jooz.
And please don’t patronize me. Thanks.
April 28th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
OK. Point taken. I agree if someone is promised services even verbally in a contractual manner, it should be honored.