August 5, 2008
Women's only (or mostly designed for women) hotel floors and parking areas
I've heard of women's only parking areas - those are not uncommon in Korea where the first floor of a parking garage is for women. My wife always gets mad when they tell her to go to the higher floors when I'm with her. The thinking seems fairly sexist to me - when a woman is alone she needs a special parking spot in a more crowded, better lit, closer to the store area on the first floor. But when she's with her husband, he can protect her or something so she can go park in the middle of nowhere on the 6th floor or wherever.
The reason I bring it up because of this article on women's only hotel floors. These I have never heard of before but apparently they used to be common.The author doesn't really answer the question: are female only floors sexist?
For me I guess it depends on how the idea is implemented. I mentioned the parking garages in Korea seeming a bit sexist. Then again for the women who get great parking spots...
The author does point out that at least one hotel is implementing this in what I would call a bad way:
The Crowne Plaza chain is leading the way, offering a "Women's Executive Level" to complement its male-aimed "King Executive Level." (Note the difference in the names. Ugh.) On the women's floor, you get "a variety of amenities like a Victoria's Secret robe, a blow dryer and vanity mirrors." Meanwhile, on the men's floor, you get a private lounge and "everything from free cocktails to concierge services." Hey, wait a minute!However, at Crowne Plaza men can book on the Women's Executive Level and women can book on the King's executive level. I'm not really sure why the article is titled "a floor of one's own" when the main example is not really for women only but whatever.
So what do you think? Should hotels have floors for women only (no male guests allowed I guess)? Should they have floors aimed at women and floors aimed at men?
Posted by James Trotta at August 5, 2008 2:00 PM | TrackBack
I think the 1st floor parking garage preference is a neat idea, simple courtesy like opening a door for a woman, or a man walking on the outside of a crowded city sidewalk. Unfortunately, we don't have special parking floors here in the U.S., that I know of. As far as women's only floors in hotels, seems sort of silly to me, like a girls only dormitory. Maybe they think women are going to run up and down the halls in their robes or something. Then too, why can't women have a private lounge for their guests, male or otherwise...and defintely don't need the word King...talk about sexist...!
Posted by: Sharon at August 5, 2008 10:45 PMThis is the stupidest thing I've ever heard before in my life. I guess the feminist would love it. It just doesn't seem like a money making idea if you ask me.
Posted by: Kam at August 7, 2008 2:02 AMKam, You obviously don't understand the definition of the word feminist!
Posted by: usafan at August 11, 2008 3:45 AMThe parking garage for women is a good idea for me. Basically, women can drive cars as good as men does. Maybe some of them can but still there is a research that telling us women have more difficulty of parking cars. So, if there is a parking garage for women, men's don't have to feel angry about women's having trouble with parking. But, hotels having a floor only for women? hmmm....I don't think it's a good idea. Hotel suppose to be a place for people. Not dividing people with their sex. If a hotel going make a floor for women than they should make a floor for men too. I don't see any advantage of making a floor for women only.
Posted by: Jay at December 14, 2008 5:46 PMThat's interesting. I didn't know that there were first floor parking priviliges for women. I probably didn't know because I don't own a car, but I think it's a fantastic idea. For the hotels having women only levels, it's okay i guess. If women feel if they are gonna be harrased by men, while going to their room, why not? But for the men only floors.. What kinda of man wants to stay on a floor that only have men on it?
Posted by: MikeHu at December 14, 2008 10:39 PM