I recently read an article in the free magazine publication 'Y' entitled One Step Forward Two Steps Back (by Paul McLoughlin) and thought I should share it and my reactions here.
This article is discussing the recent announcement by the Muscat Municipality of a new law, which states that all gyms, swimming pools, sports facilities and massage parlours are now to be segregated into male and female-only facilities (this excludes facilities located inside 4 and 5-star hotels). Ummm.... What?!
Yes, that is correct, what was once the norm for adult men and women attending these facilities, no problems (well, none that are advertised...), now big brother has stepped in to change the system.
Now before some of you jump down my throat about my view, there are people here in Oman - both locals and expats - who wholeheartedly agree with me.
So, why is it such a problem? Well, firstly the article states that these facilities were given very short notice of the change. I'm not sure of exactly what time frame was given but without adequate time to make any necessary physical changes to the facility or time to inform all the people with memberships, how can the process occur smoothly?
The second issue is because it is segregated it means men and women now have allocated times they can attend the gym (for example). I don't know who has dictacted the timings but what has been decided is from 5am till 8.30am is men only, from 8.30am till 6.00pm is women only and then from 6.00pm till close is again for men only. This, as the article states, works in favour of men who work and yes, this is a male dominated workforce but does not account for the women who work.
And finally, with the changes many of the wives of working expat men now can't go because their only mode of transport is to get a lift with their husband (there is no public transport system in Muscat and taxis are not safe to take as a lone female).
So, these all add up to disgruntled members and a major loss of income for many of these facilities (many have already had requests for refunds of memberships because they can no longer attend). One Executive Director contacted the Municipality to push the point across for the lack of benefits of segregation but his request was declined and the law must be enforced.
I'm sure some of you are thinking "well why not just take up membership at one of the hotels instead?" Most of the local gyms have a yearly membership of around 120 rials (approx. AUS $360), this is the same amount for a monthly membership to a hotel gym, making it completely unaffordable!
In support of a cancellation of the law and return to pre-segregation measures, the author of the article writes: "We [Oman] have set lots of examples in the relationship between men and women, for example, if you go to a hospital you are likely to be treated by a female and vice-versa. This means that people approach one another with care. These areas of mixed relations in the public sphere continue without any problems. I myself am conservative, but I am not offended by seeing men and women in public - in cafes and restaurants." As a female from a western country, this remark just seems so quaint to me! I find it hard to understand that men and women aren't allowed to just be; to interact without all these rules and regulations. And no, I do not agree that laws and beliefs like this, has made this a better society as a result of it.
I am finding this confusing and don't know why the Municipality feels the need to enforce such a law. This really is one step forward and two giant leaps backward!
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