Swimming sessions.

[geoffrey]

A young boy aged 15 heard that his friend had drowned and another had a narrow escape after falling into a tidal river from a small boat. His sister had already been taking swimming lessons at the weekly all-female sessions at her council-owned swimming pool and his parents persuaded him and his friend to do the same. One day they set off to the pool with has father to book them in for the all-male sessions 'as they were not going to have girls from their school laughing at them while they were learning'. However, they were informed that they did all- female but not all-male sessions.

His father complained to the council about this discrimination only to be told that there is no demand for all male swimming lessons but they cannot prove it and it is believed to be totally untrue.

His mother then wrote a letter to the council and was amazed to receive a reply stating again the falsehood 'that there would be no demand male-only swimming' and adding the amazing comment 'that it may encourage homosexuality'.

What can this boy and his friends and the boys father do, if anything? 'They cannot claim sexual-orientation discrimination as they are not that way inclined but it is simply gender discrimination.

P.S. Almost all cases of gender discrimination we received used to relate to discrimination against females but now it is about equal. However, issues concerning discrimination against boys and young men seem to be more complicated to deal with.

[Kati]

Re: Swimming sessions.

These links may be useful

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/y...-rights/gender

Unlawful sex discrimination happens when someone is treated unfairly because of their gender. Women, men and transsexual people can all experience sex discrimination.
Sex discrimination also includes treating someone less favourably because they are married or in a civil partnership: for example, by not hiring married women.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/y...ublic-services

This section is about your right not to experience sex discrimination as a consumer of services provided by public bodies.

• For more information on consumer rights such as product guarantees and trading standards issues, visit the DirectGov website.
• For more on the responsibilities of public bodies to avoid discrimination, see Public sector duties.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/y...ng-your-rights

If you think you may have been discriminated against, you need to consider your options carefully. You may decide to bring a claim in court or in the employment tribunal, or you may consider that your complaint can be better resolved another way. This section provides information to help you make these decisions and guide you through the legal process.

[littlebert8]

Re: Swimming sessions.

If the boys are concerned about having "girls from their school laughing at them while they were learning", then they could perhaps attend a mixed session at a pool outside the area. Not ideal, but it would solve the problem.

I would also question why they are concerned about girls laughing at them and not boys?

Frankly, I doubt that the non-provision of single-sex swimming sessions for males would in itself be discriminatory and the council are under no obligation to prove the absence of demand. On the contrary, the council would have to prove that there were a demand and need for male-only sessions, or it would be discriminatory to the women who are excluded.

Individuals do not have a 'right' to single-sex swimming provision, so I see this as more of a political issue than a legal one. Perhaps the best course of action would be to identify other boys/men who want this and lobby your local councillors - at least bring to their attention the rather bizarre response from the council officers.

[teaboy2]

Re: Swimming sessions.

If the boys are concerned about having "girls from their school laughing at them while they were learning", then they could perhaps attend a mixed session at a pool outside the area. Not ideal, but it would solve the problem.

I would also question why they are concerned about girls laughing at them and not boys?

Frankly, I doubt that the non-provision of single-sex swimming sessions for males would in itself be discriminatory and the council are under no obligation to prove the absence of demand. On the contrary, the council would have to prove that there were a demand and need for male-only sessions, or it would be discriminatory to the women who are excluded.

And likewise they would have to prove that there were a demand for female only sessions, or it would be discriminatory against males!

Individuals do not have a 'right' to single-sex swimming provision, so I see this as more of a political issue than a legal one. Perhaps the best course of action would be to identify other boys/men who want this and lobby your local councillors - at least bring to their attention the rather bizarre response from the council officers.

See above - It works both ways!!

[littlebert8]

Re: Swimming sessions.

See above - It works both ways!!

Of course. but thats not the point here - the OP is not objecting to the boys being excluded from the women only sessions. By all means pull the council up on that, but it won't solve the problem that the boys say they have - that they don't want to swim in the presence of females.

The law says you must justify the exclusion of a based on sex, not that you must provide single-sex provision.

[teaboy2]

Re: Swimming sessions.

I know that, i was merely pointing out it works both ways!