Women-only groups ignored amid battle over Augusta

[sbp]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030410-72728734.htm

As Martha Burk marches in Georgia in hopes of persuading the leaders of the Augusta National Golf Club to admit women, Curves gym, located four miles northeast of Ms. Burk's downtown Washington office, operates its fitness center with absolutely no men in sight.

They're not allowed to work out at the privately owned business.

"Discrimination is very serious, but common sense has to prevail," said Gary Heavin, chief executive officer of the Texas-based Curves, which operates 5,000 women-only gyms across the country.

"You don't tell a private company that's generally meeting a need that it can't operate. There is no shortage of other organizations and companies meeting the needs of men, or [men and women together]. This is not a place where a class of people are suffering."

Private clubs, schools, and businesses catering exclusively to women prosper throughout the nation, unhindered by self-proclaimed civil rights or advocacy groups.

So today, as Tiger Woods tees off at the 67th Masters tournament, the 1,250 women of Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., will attend classes, some with federal loans, at a school that strictly prohibits male undergraduate applicants.

It is one of 74 women-only colleges in the U.S. There are 3 all-male colleges. http://home.earthlink.net/~sbp777/smilies/dodgy3.gif

Although Ms. Burk, 61, who heads the National Council of Women's Organizations, has exerted enough pressure on Augusta National to force some members to step down, she has acknowledged the club's legal right as a private entity to exclude members as it sees fit.

So instead of pursuing equity at the all-male club through the courts, she has chosen to take a moral stand on the matter.

Augusta National says that as a private entity and under the First Amendment of the Constitution, it has the right to associate with whomever it pleases. The golf club has no explicit policy prohibiting female members.

So Ms. Burk's reason for taking on the golfing institution? If she's said it once, she'll say it again: "Because they hold the highest-profile event in golf in the Masters."

Ms. Burk's group is the umbrella for 160 like-minded organizations, many of them tax-exempt like hers. Most are wealthier, though. She operates out of one office, has a staff of four and a budget of $500,000.

At least one exclusively women's group, the Association of Junior Leagues International, has withdrawn its membership since Ms. Burk set her sights on Augusta National.

"We respect the right of [the National Council of Women's Organizations] and other organizations to speak out on issues of their choosing," the association said in a statement.

With 296 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico and England, there are some 193,000 Junior League members, none of them male.

Rules of the Young Women's Christian Association state explicitly that "the members are women and girls," while men and women are members at the Young Men's Christian Association.

Such schools as Converse, Mount Holyoke and Smith offer high-level, liberal arts degrees and do not accept male applicants at the undergraduate level.

All are part of the Women's College Coalition, which proclaims its stated purpose is to make "the case for single-sex education for women to the higher education community, to policy-makers, to the media and to the general public."

Several phone calls to the coalition were not returned.

Converse College notes on its application form that "Converse admits only women to undergraduate programs and services in accordance with its historical mission."

"We are a private college," said Eric Lawson, a spokesman for the college. "Men can enter our graduate school, but at the undergraduate level, it is all women."

The college, with $87 million in assets, according to its tax forms, received $1.9 million in government grants, primarily in the form of student loans, in 2000.

While Ms. Burk stokes the flames of the debate with her stance against the all-male golf club, a Republican state senator in Wisconsin is seeking to make it easier to own an all-male or all-female gym.

The lawmaker, Carol Roessler, filed her bill last month to support Curves, the all-female fitness centers.

"The bill is very precise in its language to apply to health clubs," Miss Roessler said. "It is simply a practicality of privacy that will encourage exercise and wellness."

[UDawg]

This is the dumbest protest. :rolleyes: This woman needs to get laid.

Then we men should be let into all womens fitness clubs and all women schools ect. You feminist can't have it both ways.

[netviper13]

The problem with this specific situation is that it's easy to build an excellent-quality health club or school...but a golf course? That takes a helluva lot of acres, money, members, etc.

[omghi2u]

Sounds like another b1tchass woman-protester that's got nothing to fight over so gotta start sh1t with the local golf club. She's got no problem with women-only business but when it's men-only...its got to go, it's too sexist and discriminating to women. Lemme guess, in her childhood, she was dumped by the most popular guy in school and that shattered her self-esteem, leaving her a loathing hatred for all men. It IS pretty clear that women like these don't want no damn equality, it's dominance that they want.

I don't understand why organizations like these are tax-exempt. Makes me wonder if she has any other reason to protest. And who the hell funds them, they got a $500,000 budget. I bet they use that money to their own wanton needs.

[Son Goku]

Unfortunately, there is a double standard many espouse in the name of "equality" and it is but a sham to the real thing. Among the many double standards that get held these days:

- A male between the ages of 18 to 25 is required to register with selective service and could be drafted. A female between 18 to 25 is not required by law. When this was being discussed on Nightline many years ago, there was this one feminist who said "but men are dispensible, you can always get another sperm doner from elsewhere. But the women create the babies so they shouldn't be required to fight in war. The men can die, but we can not..."

What a nice attitude. Not exactly the sort of person I would want to get involved with. And this leads to another thing:

- If a man looks at or describes wimen in certain ways, he's a pig. But role reversal, why is a woman not a pig. This can go from certain sexist attitudes to some people's thinking "It's OK to cheat on your boy friend, but if he does it to you then he's a pig."

- OK, some of this might go in reverse as there are both male and female prostitutes, but some people think only of the woman prostitute or "*****". Perhaps the wimen mentioned above could also be refered to as pigs, and the men discussed here also refered to as *****s... Oh and lest I forget, money enters into this too because

- The rich man's prostitute is called a call girl who works for an escort service. The poor man's prostitute is called a ***** who works for a pimp.

- All women organizations aren't considered sexist, but all men organizations are.

- If a woman gets raped, it's assumed a man did it, if a man gets raped it's assumed the attacker must have been another man...

- What is the liklihood now compared to the past of a custody battle resulting in the ex-wife getting the children, but the ex-husband child support.

But what if the ex-husband makes a more fit parent... Shouldn't the wellfare of the child and which ex-spouse makes the better parent take precedence over the gender of the individual? What if the child wants to live with the father?

OK, this one might have improved. I haven't looked at any recent demographics...but being the mother instead of the father doesn't inherently make someone a more fit parent...

- My brother had a former girl friend claim a child of hers was his (and actually claimed the same of her husband, that despite her perjury she was still living with and sexually active 9 months before the child was born). The little part she didn't tell the court, she was collecting child support from her husband too, and only sued my brother after he was able to afford a Camaro.

The instant impression with the judge was that my brother must be a dead beat dad, and he was pretty much treated as such before the trial even began. This only changed, and the judge only changed her mind about him after his former girl friend was caught in 3 seperate counts of perjury, things she didn't exactly tell her own lawyer. The former girld friend then proceeded to have a psychotic fit before the court and started cursing the judge and everyone out. And then finally a DNA test proved that my brother could not have been the child in any way.

Of course, she didn't mention any of this to anyone until after he got about a $40,000 car and she learned of it, refused to allow him to visit the child (as he wanted to thinking that perhaps maybe it was), and he was presumed guilty (and to be the very scum of the Earth) until proven innocent...

The list could go on...

[stncttr908]

This woman is so ridiculous, there is a group there against her this weekend called "protestors against stupid protests."

I **** you not.

[LORD-eX-Bu]

Originally posted by omghi2u
Sounds like another b1tchass woman-protester that's got nothing to fight over so gotta start sh1t with the local golf club. She's got no problem with women-only business but when it's men-only...its got to go, it's too sexist and discriminating to women. Lemme guess, in her childhood, she was dumped by the most popular guy in school and that shattered her self-esteem, leaving her a loathing hatred for all men. It IS pretty clear that women like these don't want no damn equality, it's dominance that they want.

I don't understand why organizations like these are tax-exempt. Makes me wonder if she has any other reason to protest. And who the hell funds them, they got a $500,000 budget. I bet they use that money to their own wanton needs.

ooh, good rant:D looks like we're gettin' a taste of your political views:p

Let it all out:firedevil

[UDawg]

Ya Bu I was thinking the same thing. I say "good form ole chap" :D



BTW there is this little thing called freedom of association. ;) Of coure she doesn't care about that now does she.

[omghi2u]

Originally posted by [eNv]-LORD-eX-Bu
ooh, good rant:D looks like we're gettin' a taste of your political views:p

Let it all out:firedevil :lol: My views got me in so much hostility at another forum so I won't be too open when expressing them here. Especially when talking about politics and religion.

Son Goku pretty much did a better job of saying what I was thinking. And lets not even bring up the sexual harassment laws against men.

[LORD-eX-Bu]

oh c'mon, look at me, I say all sorts of stuff that gets who knows how many members here mad, you don't see me getting flamed or getting overly hostile responses from anyone(err... or anyone that sticks around:D).

We are all friends here ;)

[UDawg]

Originally posted by stncttr908
This woman is so ridiculous, there is a group there against her this weekend called "protestors against stupid protests."

I **** you not.


BAHAHAHA

[vampireuk]

This is why I hate c** buckets (feminists) they are so pathetic its unbelieveable. They do not want equality, they want to be better off.

there are some 193,000 Junior League members, none of them male.

And thats not because they are not allowed it ;) its because they guys have more than one brain cell between them. I swear these are the kind of women I could beat to death with a golf club (hey its topical!) and feel no remorse about it.:mad:

[LORD-eX-Bu]

you know what they really want...:rolleyes:

oh be nice:p

just whack em':lol: all they need is a good humpin':D

[StealthHawk]

Originally posted by Son Goku
- The rich man's prostitute is called a call girl who works for an escort service. The poor man's prostitute is called a ***** who works for a pimp.

I was under the impression that sometimes the "escorts" were just that....escorts. although many times they also provide that "special service" ;)

whereas a ***** is a ***** and some kind of sexual act is always involved with them.

[t6_shadow]

That is a private club. They don't have to admint anyone they don't want to. You guys have pretty much said it all other than that. It was one of the MANY double standards happening today that is "ok."

Think about this right. There is a black miss Amercia pagent. But what if there was a white miss America pagent. It would start a **** storm to end all **** storms. Like give me a ****ing break.

[saturnotaku]

I've been listening to the discussion of this topic on our local sports radio station. I've heard the commentary from Augusta National's president, and I'm very glad to hear him remain consistent in his opinion on this. He hasn't backed down yet, and I don't think he ever intends to either. The thing is, Augusta doesn't prohibit women from playing golf there, y'know as wives of members/guests. I know there are many, many private country clubs out there that are far more restrictive than this one. She just chose to single out this one because it's in the limelight for the Masters.

This woman needs to be drop-kicked in the head. I've noticed that women only want things to be equal when it serves their best interest. I'll bet if August National members had to do their share of maintaining the course (cutting grass, cleaning clubhouse, etc) there wouldn't be one iota of complaint from women's groups.

[PsychoSy]

- A male between the ages of 18 to 25 is required to register with selective service and could be drafted. A female between 18 to 25 is not required by law. When this was being discussed on Nightline many years ago, there was this one feminist who said "but men are dispensible, you can always get another sperm doner from elsewhere. But the women create the babies so they shouldn't be required to fight in war. The men can die, but we can not..."

I would've went Nugent all over this broad LIVE!!

"Fine, and if I come back alive from the war, the first thing you're gonna do is get your lazy, soap-opera watchin' ass in the kitchen and cook me a steak dinner with potatoes, and then after that you're gonna escort me out on the porch, set a case of beer besides me, and I'm going to drink that entire case of beer watching you bust your ass behind a push mower. And if you refuse to do these things out of love and care for the man that went overseas to ensure the Freedom of America (as well as cover the house payment with the military checks he sent home to you), I'm simply kick you to the curb and find one who will."

BTW, I wouldn't really mean these things. :angel:
I'd just say them just to piss her off even more!! :p :D

[LORD-eX-Bu]

Originally posted by PsychoSy
BTW, I wouldn't really mean these things. :angel:

awww.. you're getting soft Sy:p

[bigC]

i couldn't be happier that she has been ignored. are there no other important women's issues that she could fight for? whatever happened to equal pay, abortion rights, etc? i really think that most women don't give a rat's ass that they cannot join the augusta golf club, and would rather have burke focus attention on something important, instead of the headline grabbing battle with hootie.

[t6_shadow]

"I would've went Nugent all over this broad LIVE!!

"Fine, and if I come back alive from the war, the first thing you're gonna do is get your lazy, soap-opera watchin' ass in the kitchen and cook me a steak dinner with potatoes, and then after that you're gonna escort me out on the porch, set a case of beer besides me, and I'm going to drink that entire case of beer watching you bust your ass behind a push mower. And if you refuse to do these things out of love and care for the man that went overseas to ensure the Freedom of America (as well as cover the house payment with the military checks he sent home to you), I'm simply kick you to the curb and find one who will."

BTW, I wouldn't really mean these things.
I'd just say them just to piss her off even more!! "

I would really mean saying that. If a guy works all day and his wife doesn't then she should come home to a clean house and some dinner. Now before you get all pissed off there femnazis if a WOMAN should work all day while her husband stays at home she should come back to a clean house and dinner. It works both ways but if either partner is "stay at home" he/she should do the house work. That is just me tho. :)

[Son Goku]

Originally posted by StealthHawk
I was under the impression that sometimes the "escorts" were just that....escorts. although many times they also provide that "special service" ;)

whereas a ***** is a ***** and some kind of sexual act is always involved with them.

Well this is debatable (especially to how much that special service might be solicited), though personally I'm one for calling a spade a spade. I see no reason to call a rich man's call girl something rather polite by comparison while calling a poor man's call girl something rather debasing. As far as I'm concerned a call girl is a call girl, regardless of whether the clientel is loaded or not. :wink:

Actually much can be mentioned here. For instance the differentiation between "white coller" vs "blue coller" crime, and where the people accused of each can end up/their respective sentences. And yet many acts of white coller crime do arguably cost society more then many acts of blue coller crime, as I remember certain uniform crime reports suggesting when I took crimminal justice 101 many years back.

I remember watching on 20/20 some years back how some people in a "white coller prison" were complaining how horrible it is that they can't always get a tennis court when they want, as answer to one of the worst things in their incarceration. Umm...lets talk about some burly man named Bubba trying to give you unwanted sex...and then lets talk about the horrors of "prison" life shall we?...

"Fine, and if I come back alive from the war, the first thing you're gonna do is get your lazy, soap-opera watchin' ass in the kitchen and cook me a steak dinner with potatoes, and then after that you're gonna escort me out on the porch, set a case of beer besides me, and I'm going to drink that entire case of beer watching you bust your ass behind a push mower. And if you refuse to do these things out of love and care for the man that went overseas to ensure the Freedom of America (as well as cover the house payment with the military checks he sent home to you), I'm simply kick you to the curb and find one who will."

This is another thing. If a wife chooses to stay home with the children and keep house, she's called a house wife.

However, if a man chooses to stay home with the children, perhaps watches them grow up, and keeps the house while there; he can be refered to as a lazy arse biatch that needs to "get off his fat duff, and get a job".

Why should it be acceptable for a wife to choose whether she wants to work or stay home and raise the kids, if it is not acceptable for the husband to make the same choice? Yes someone needs to make the money and be the bread winner (or both) and someone needs to help with the raising of the kids, be it in the house or in day care.

But if equality is to be the name of it, why shouldn't both choices be open to both, and the details of what practicably needs to be done worked out amongst the 2 of them, without either party being judged and critisized?

[StealthHawk]

the answer to all your questions is social prejudice.

society has and always will have lingering prejudices based on stereotypes from the past. society will always foster elitism as long as the elite are in control of it.

[marqmajere]

It's a private club meaning they can let whoever they want in and keep whoever they want out. If I owned a private club, I'd prolly say, "No persons over 6'2" allowed on Wednesday and everyother Fridays.". Know why? BECAUSE I CAN. I own the damn place and therefor have every legal right to shun away any persons I see fit. If they want to bitch and gripe about it, let them. It wont change anything. Yet for some odd reason, they believe it will.

I love it when women complain about not being treated fairly. What's the first thing they do when we throw them into the "mens bracket"? They say "It's too hard. We cant do it. Make special rules and build special centres so we have our own league/areas, etc." This not only goes for golf, but for every other sport/activity there is. The army. Basketball. The list goes on and on. Have you ever tried to get a small buisness loan at a bank? If your a man, you can recieve the MAXIMUM of $50,000. If you happen to be female, that limit raises to $250,000. It's not right I tell you. There are certian things men can do better than women and certian things women can do better than men. I think we should respect that fine line and leave all this crap at home.

[StealthHawk]

Originally posted by marqmajere
There are certian things men can do better than women and certian things women can do better than men. I think we should respect that fine line and leave all this crap at home.

that's God's honest truth. the quicker people accept this fact the better off we will all be.