Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

"Ladies Night" Declared Illegal In Minnesota

Posted by samzenpus on from the oh-what-a-night dept.

aapold writes "The Minnesota Dept of Human Rights has ruled that Ladies Night bar promotions are illegal in Minnesota, as it violates gender discrimination laws. This stems from a 1994 incident where a bar patron was angered at having to pay a cover charge during such an event and filed a lawsuit."

15 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. Old issue by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't most bars already get around this by admitting anyone in a miniskirt for free?

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    1. Re:Old issue by ducomputergeek · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's called a kilt you insensitive clod!

      --
      "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
    2. Re:Old issue by Locke2005 · · Score: 3, Funny

      And there you have it folks... Scotsmen invented kilts so they could drink for free!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  2. Seems Fair. by Vanderhoth · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think it's about time someone started to reason this out.

    Where I'm living it seems like there are more girls in "Boy" scouts then there are boys now. It started off with one or two families claiming it was unfair that their daughters couldn't participate and it wasn't right to have a boys only club. There wasn't enough interest from girls to have sparks, brownies or girl scouts so it was decided to allow the few girls that wanted to join in with the boys to participate. Then we had the problem that there are no female leaders and none of the mothers would chaperon for camping trips. Of course some of the parents aren't comfortable with letting their daughters go out into the woods with a couple of men and a group of boys (understandable), but we can't exclude the girls; so no camping trips for anyone. So the parents of the boys are pulling their sons out of scouts because they claim they "don't get to do anything" and the parents see it as a waste of time and money. Two of the four leaders are talking about quitting because of all the flax they're taking. We might as well just disband.

    It really just seems like there can't be something for just boys anymore. I'd like to say I wish we could have seen the issues before hand and just not let girls in, but we would have been forced to eventually anyway and it does seem unfair to the girls that there isn't something to be a part of.

    I'm on the line about the whole thing.

    1. Re:Seems Fair. by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think its unfair to force a club not to have a ladies night, and I say this as a guy who still has to pay cover.

      Half the bars are racist towards one group or another, and they'll make any excuse to keep them out, the most popular of which is "Shoes". If I had a nickel for everytime someone was not let into a club because of their shoes, I could retire. Clubs are discriminatory, and if they don't let you in, they don't let you in. Its as simple as that. If the owners don't want me inside, than that means they are catering to a different crowd who probably also don't want me in there. So why would I go to a place where I'm hated. Simple as that, go find another club.

      In regards to the scouts, you are right in that they just shouldn't let girls into boy scouts. Boys want to be boys, and tell the obnoxious fart and dick jokes and all the other stuff that isn't appropriate around girls. To ruin it for a dozen boys to satisfy a couple girls seems unfair.

      If the girls are upset there isn't something to be a part of, perhaps they should go rally more girls to form a troop instead of trying to get into a boys only club. I don't know where people got the idea that excluding someone based on their sex is discriminatory. It's not a negative thing, it's just who its appropriate for. Likewise, I can't get a job serving at Hooters, but I'm not complaining.

    2. Re:Seems Fair. by HungryHobo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Only if they charge money to straight people and don't charge gay people.

      What's next?
      They going to rule that "White night", where they let all the white people in for free and charge the black people, is discriminatory next?

    3. Re:Seems Fair. by NevarMore · · Score: 2, Interesting

      There are lots of good reasons to have gender specific clubs at all ages:
      1) At younger ages boys and girls often have different developmental needs
      2) These clubs expose the genders to positive role models they can directly relate to. This is becoming especiallly important in the age of single parents, you need to have kids that grow up under positive role models of both genders.
      3) Most kids learn how to interact with the opposite gender quite normally all day in the real world
      4) These clubs are ultimately PRIVATE. Are you willing to sacrifice their rights for unisexing?
      5) Ever heard of "man caves" or "girls night out", I don't care what age you are, males and females are different and from time to time need their space to be around their own gender.

      Your intentions are good, but no matter how much we want everyone to be equal we also have to embrace and make the most of our differences or we'll be stuck in some watered down dull society that never makes omlettes because its afraid of breaking eggs.

    4. Re:Seems Fair. by archmcd · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think it's a good thing to admit women to traditionally all-male events. Nobody likes being stuck at a sausage party.

      Still wondering when /. will allow women to register, comment and vote in polls.

      --
      I'm not an expert, but I play one on slashdot.
    5. Re:Seems Fair. by archmcd · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I was only joking around. In all seriousness, there are differences between men and women. (Trust me, I've seen a woman naked once. Then my mom screamed and kicked me out of the bathroom.) Even beyond biological differences, there are different ways men and women think and react to certain situations. These differences are natural, and we as a society need to stop pretending they don't exist and being afraid to acknowledge them. I know that I can't carry a child or breastfeed, and I know that women can't write their name in the snow with their own piss (at least not without getting it on their shoes). Cultural differences between men and women are the result not just of societal traditions, but also of these innate differences. It's also a proven scientific fact that women don't build muscle in the same way as men, which is why mixed-gender contact sports are a bad idea, and why certain clubs or events should remain gender specific. Even if they are forced to allow mixed-gender membership by some leftist idealist judge or politician, they should not have to change or eliminate certain parts of what they do to accommodate women.

      --
      I'm not an expert, but I play one on slashdot.
    6. Re:Seems Fair. by Vanderhoth · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I kind of thought you might be joking, but I wanted to make sure I was clear on my position.

      Anyway, I agree with you. I see no problem with letting Women participate in Male clubs/events and vice verse, but we shouldn't have to make special accommodations to do so. To me it seems in my situation the parents want their daughters to be treated as equals, but don't want them treated equally. The only solution is to not treat the girls like the boys, but to treat the boys like the girls.

      I.E. no one gets to go camping because the girls can't go.

    7. Re:Seems Fair. by Vanderhoth · · Score: 2, Interesting

      As a woman...

      I agree with you.

      And that comes from the biggest tomboy in the bunch, someone who probably would have made all the boy scouts in her year in school look like the wusses they were given the opportunity. But I didn't want the opportunity. I can be what I want to be and do what I want to do without ruining the boys' chance to be boys. They need their clubhouse with "No girls allowed" tacked on the side and they should have it!

      (And as an aside, ALL parents, whether your troop is integrated or not, are a royal pain in the ass anymore. You're just another babysitter. Makes me sick.)

      I am glad you agree.

      Honestly the situation isn't the fault of the girls. The fault lies squarely with the parents, if even one of the mothers who wants their daughter in scouts instead of guides were to step up and go camping and/or hiking for the weekend the whole problem would be a non issue. Too bad my wife wouldn't go. She hates bugs and trees, sometimes I wonder about her.

      I don't mind being a "babysitter". I get to have just as much fun as the kids. I probably learn just as much from them as I do for anyone else.

    8. Re:Seems Fair. by konohitowa · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother... sister, sorry.

  3. Wow by DaMattster · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I consider myself with more democratic and somewhat liberal tendencies but this has just gone way too far. Ladies Nite is a tradition and if some cheap bastard doesn't want to shell out a miniscule cover, let him go elsewhere.

    1. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      The joke I heard was on the comedy channel. It was a female comedian. "Who gets to make fun of who?"
      "It's actually really simple."
      "If you're a White straight male you can only make fun of other White straight men."
      "If you're Black you can make fun of other Blacks and White people."
      "If your Hispanic you can make fun of other Hispanics and White people."
      "If you're a woman you can make fun of other women and men."
      "If you're gay you can make fun of other gays and straight people."
      "I have a Black father, Hispanic mother and I'm lesbian so I have all my bases covered."

    2. Re:Wow by xous · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I thought "Ladies Night" was a clever device with which to attract women which in sufficient quantity (and quality) would attach male customers. The presence of said women would result in the male visitors to spend more on drinks and add value to the cover charge.

      Seems like the women pay by subjecting themselves to the male company.