Should There Be No Male Tailors, Barbers, or Gym Trainers for Women?
Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission Proposes Gender-Specific Service Restrictions
Newsreel Asia Insight #335
November 11, 2024
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) State Women’s Commission has proposed a series of measures aimed at protecting women from harassment, including unwanted advances and inappropriate physical contact. These measures include prohibiting men from taking measurements of women in tailor shops, cutting their hair or training them in gyms. What impact would this proposal have on the residents if it were enacted? I went out to collect their reactions.
“It should only be female barbers who attend to female customers,” Himani Agarwal, a member of the Women’s Commission, told PTI in late October. “We are of the view that, because men are involved in this type of profession, women are sometimes molested. They may try to engage in inappropriate touch. The intention of some men is also not good,” Agarwal sought to explain, clarifying though that not all men have ill intentions.
“A woman came for our tailoring services with her husband. When she couldn’t fasten the hook, she asked me to do it. This is common—they trust us, knowing we’re simply doing our job, “ said Mohammad Shahzad, a tailor with 26 years of experience, explaining the nature of his work.
Neetu Singh (name changed), who runs a boutique in Noida and has employed several male tailors, explained, “Most male tailors come from families where tailoring has been an ancestral occupation. They are born into that tradition and start at a very early age. Women, on the other hand, usually begin tailoring work only as adults, so the quality of tailoring work done by men is often superior. Only if a woman is extremely driven and surpasses the work of her male counterparts will she reach that level of quality.”
She agreed, however, that some women do feel self-conscious when male tailors take measurements, and that having at least one female staff member to take measurements could help these individuals. However, most women are comfortable working with male tailors, as it is common and accepted that many skilled tailors are men.
As a female customer myself, I mostly go to skilled tailors to get my clothes stitched, and in the majority of cases, it’s men who do this work.
Shahzad, while expressing his discontent with the proposal, questioned whether the Commission would also ban male doctors from examining women’s bodies for medical issues or close all co-ed educational spaces.
Gaurav Singh, who runs a salon in Noida, expressed dismay over the proposal, stating that they pursue this work because it’s a skill they've invested time and money to learn. Most skilled hairstylists and barbers cut both men’s and women’s hair, with some specialising in women's haircuts. “It’s all work for us, and we’re always taught etiquette, like asking customers if they’re comfortable before starting,” he said. He added that most women happily come for their services because they appreciate the quality of work.
He added that while instances of misconduct may occur, they are no more frequent than in any other field.
Regarding gyms, women sometimes face inappropriate conduct from male staff. My own sister stopped going to a gym after experiencing inappropriate behavior from a staff member. She reported it to the gym authorities but never returned. However, many women go to gyms every day without facing such harassment. While having female staff can enhance comfort for women, as the proposal also suggests, completely restricting male staff may not be the best solution.
According to The Global Assessment on Women’s Safety, women’s safety involves a broad range of strategies, policies and practices that reduce gender-based violence, alleviate fear of crime and provide safe spaces, financial security, self-worth and community well-being.
The UP Women's Commission's proposal, which seems to focus on creating "safe spaces" for women, raises important questions about the effectiveness of segregation. While it’s true that segregated spaces might provide a sense of immediate safety, research indicates that such segregation can have unintended consequences.
Studies exploring the psychological impacts of gender-segregated spaces reveal that they can reinforce traditional gender roles and perpetuate stereotypes, which might marginalise certain groups of women – for example, those who prefer mixed spaces or those who don't identify with gender binaries.
Studies on community recreation spaces like gyms and public parks have shown that thoughtful design, like improved lighting, surveillance and visible female staff members, contributes to a safer environment for women without the need for gender-based separation.
Further, the proposal conflicts with the right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution, as well as the right to life and personal liberty, which includes the right to make one’s own choices under Article 21.
Gender inequality and the lack of women’s safety are deeply entrenched societal issues that will take years to address. Governments have the responsibility to tackle these challenges. This involves policies that enable young women to step out of their homes to pursue education, the creation of safe and accessible public spaces, and ensuring equal opportunities for women in positions of power. However, the Women’s Commission’s proposal seems superficial, as it reflects a narrow understanding of the complex factors that truly contribute to women’s safety.
“The proposal seems poorly thought out and appears to be designed more to garner media attention than to address the issue of women’s safety with any real nuance,” Neetu Singh remarked. “If we are going to create segregated spaces in the name of women’s safety, how different is that from what the Taliban does?”
