10 “Women-Only” Places where men are banned
Great things happen when girls come together. Feminist dominance has enabled women to embrace liberal views over the years. Additionally, structural changes have aided some women to fight systematic oppression and injustices.
The simple pleasures that women now enjoy like watching a girl power flick together have been welcomed with open arms. Women-only living spaces, clubs, islands, parking spaces or public transportation are now safe spaces for women to express themselves in ways that the presence of men would hinder. Below are some bastions of girl power; Girls-Only Places where men cannot go.
1. Luthan Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
With a score of 17% in personal rights in the 2018 Social Progress Index, life for women in a kingdom recognised as the most conservative country on earth is far from easy. In a city with perfect sunny weather, a woman cannot check it into a hotel and use the swimming pool or spa at her own discretion.
Such amenities are only available to men or just accessible to women whenever it is inconvenient for men to use them. But thanks to the Luthan Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi women no longer have to hold a match for equal pool usage rights. The Luthan is the first hotel in the kingdom with zero male patronage.
Everyone under the roof of the Luthan hotel is a woman and men are not welcome here. Luthan, which literally means ‘refuge’, is female owned, managed and run by women. The hotel has become an oasis for women seeking rest and relaxation after long hours of meetings and offers an open spa, with a wide range of spa treatments and yes, a swimming pool too to help beat the heat.
Women can enjoy aerobics in the gym and indulge in yoga for some inner peace. The Luthan is owned by 20 Saudi princesses. Yes you heard that right! Paradoxically, it was inaugurated by seven princes and Riyadh’s governor’s son.
2. SuperShe Island in Raseborg, Finland
There are days when a woman’s greatest wish is a one-way ticket to Themyscira; a chance to dwell in tranquillity surrounded by other powerful women. Well, Kristina Roth founded a women-only Island. SuperShe Island is based in Finland and offers a health-focused destination for female guests. It is a real-life island where men are banned.
An entrepreneur, Kristina realised that relaxation and restoration do not abide well for women in the company of men. The female only get-away Island has loads of hygge and yoga mats to impact as much peace and tranquillity to its elite forces, before sending them back into the battle for equality.
As indicated in the website, Kristina has a mission to bring together bad-ass women globally. An extended stay there has women spoilt for choice activities, which includes yoga, saunas, massages, wild swimming and relaxing nature walks among others.
3. Umoja Village in Samburu, Kenya
Umoja village is a haven of peace for many tall, beautiful Samburu women who are unfortunately encumbered by a dark past. A visit to Umoja right in the heart of the dry and dusty plains of Samburu County in Kenya will leave hearts warmed by the hospitality of happy singing women with beautiful Samburu traditional beadwork around their necks.
In a very patriarchal culture, Umoja is one of a kind village in the region where no men are allowed. It is a safe refuge for rejected and stigmatised women. The village has become an oasis of hope for every woman and girl running away from the dark terrors of domestic violence, rape, FGM and child marriage.
Umoja village is headed by Rebecca Lolosoli. She founded the village in 1991 together with 15 women all undergoing the trauma of rape from British soldiers who have training bases in the area. The women are very happy to have each other.
The Samburu women in the village are united by a unique Sisterhood bond. The village is run entirely by women, operated by women, businesses carried out by women, houses built by women and guarded by women. The village activities are also led by women. In Umoja village, men are not allowed. However, in the other surrounding villages, men may go but they must abide by certain rules.
4. Noiva do Cordeiro in Belo Vale, Brazil
Noiva do Cordeiro translates to ‘Bride of the Lamb’ in Portuguese. Everything about this little village has a feminine touch. Its houses are painted pink, orange and lilac and its well-manicured trees have cute ribbons on them.
Located 300 miles from Rio de Janeiro, this all-female establishment has over 600 women mostly between the ages of 20 and 35. They are extremely beautiful women. When the sons in this land reach 18 years, they are sent away. No men are allowed to live here. However, there has been recent appeals for single men who will live by the women’s rules.
It dates back to the 1890s. It was founded as a result of a painful suffering of a woman from the stigma of excommunication from the Catholic church after leaving a man she was forced into marriage to. She was accused of adultery.
5. Le Mall Car showroom in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
There are many things a girl cannot do in Saudi Arabia, and some of them are downright ridiculous. A girl, for example, cannot visit a cemetery nor read an uncensored magazine. A woman disrobing in a dressing room of an apparel store is also a big No.
The buzz then that the lifting of the ban that prohibits women from driving generated a colossal spectacle worldwide. For the first time, women were permitted to drive their machines without the fear of detention or arrests.
To spice it up, Le Mall Car Showroom, a women-only showroom in the city of Jeddah now gives women a taste of what they have been missing. The showroom, of course, has created the perfect selfie environment for women enjoying this new wave of freedom. Just recently, it even held Saudi`s first women-only car show.
6. Gandhi Nagar Women-only Railway Station in Delhi, India
There are a few things as mortifying and humiliating as being ‘goosed’ on the tube, groped on the bus or forced onto a stranger’s lap in public. In India this unruly behaviour is so pervasive, they actually have a name for it; “Eve-teasing”
It does sound like flattery, but it is just a cute word for sexual harassment in a country that has an appalling record of violence against women. While Eve teasing, men usually throw sexually charged remarks at women, harass them and touch them indiscriminately. This behaviour usually finds its unfettered freedom of expression in India’s public transport system.
To protect its women, the Indian government introduced Women-only trains that are painted in cute colours and without an iota of Eve-teasing, giving this populous nation a much-needed joy ride of solace and comfort. The trains operate in Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Madras.
The Gandhi Nagar railway station has a crew comprised of females only. It is run entirely by 28 female employees including operations stuff, ticket checkers, booking and reservation supervisors. It is the country`s first all-women station.
7. 182 ladies-only parking spots in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Finding a car park spot in busy towns often presents undesirable nightmares. It may sometimes end up in fist fights or uncouth use of language. The reservation of 182 parking slots gives a sign of relief for the women in Abu Dhabi capital in UAE. While other hapless drivers spend 44 hours annually searching for park space, these women smile all the way to their reserved parking slots.
The city’s Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT) stated that these spots are to ensure that women have their privacy and can park easily. The slots are adorned with pink signage and white markings.
The parking instructions in the areas ensure that men come nowhere near these reserved female slots. If men dare come and park in these spots, their vehicles are towed away in addition to being fined for illegal parking.
8. The Duchess Floor in Dukes Hotel, Dubai
Looking for a luxurious get-away in the heart of the Emirates? or a girls` get-away? Then Dukes Hotel in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai is the place to be. Its entire third floor is famously known as the Duchess Floor, a female — only floor.
The Duchess Floor is adorned with Liberty Fabrics, full length windows and private access to the lifts. Female guests are served exclusively at the champagne and tea lounges. It has 20 rooms exclusive to women with scenic ocean views to die for.
Debrah Dhugga, Dukes Hotel Managing Director indicated that through her travels, she was inspired by a gap for a luxury hotel catering for women, and this inspiration birthed the Duchess. She desired to create a tailored unique experience entirely for women.
9. Grace Belgravia in Belgravia, London
Grace Belgravia is an oasis of comfort in the heart of London. It is a women only private members` club. It opened its doors in 2012 and its rise has been impressive. It accommodates all women with specialists covering everything relevant to women including nutrition, beauty among others.
The annual membership fee amounts to £5,500 and a £2,000 joining fee. After paying the fees, it assigns a member an “Angel” to cater to their every whim plus the concierge service of their dreams and an experience to die for.
Men are not allowed in this luxurious abode. The secret behind Grace Belgravia`s success is that women generally enjoy each other’s company, making it the perfect place to network as they indulge in some luxurious R&R.
10. The Wing in Flatiron District, New York
The Wing is a beautiful blend of modern and mid-century decor with lots and lots of pastels on its walls is a women’s only social club and working space, which has been hugely successful.
It is a rose-tinted world at The Wing, filled with empathetic and kind hard workers plus strong hot coffee, always ready whenever needed. The Wing can host at least 200 women, and its opening ceremony was so girly, it had an actual slumber party with guests in monogrammed pyjamas.
It has a strict no man permitted rule and its library features women authors only. Its goal is to give women space where they can feel comfortable before going out to battle for empowerment.