No Women Policy in Pubs In Days Gone By.

[Suzy]

I was just about to post my response in a thread currently running titled, "you know you are old when.." But instead, I thought it may be interesting to start a new thread, as it didn't seem fair to hijack Ken's thread. Craig, I hope you don't mind me quoting you here - it's gold and warrants discussion.

Originally Posted by CraigS

Of course, such membership was not available to females, as they were in training to accept the fact that they would not be permitted to consume alcohol with males in a public bar, once they reached the appropriate age.

Cheeky thing!
Sad but true however
And I want answers

I remember regularly being at the Shamrock Pub in Fortitude Valley eating lunch all by my lonesome. Occasionally I was joined by a work friend- an ex crim in his 50's with the nickname "have a chat" who smelt of typrewriter oil. The bistro had a direct view of the males only public bar, it was like a tease saying "look & see what fun we're having, you 'aint coming in and where proud of it". No amount of french perfume, big hair, micro mini skirts, and red high heels ever worked in my favor at that place. You could have had the body of Elle, the face of Helena and the attitude of Angelina Jolie and none of that would have gotten you anywhere. Why? Because they were blokes and proud of it and enjoyed the control. Yep, there I sat all on my lonesome, day after day, week after week...
Once I caught future hubby with my brother in a public bar in the city, but I couldn't go inside now could I. Instead blonde bombshell K and I were outted. Spy-ing on them from a distance is only entertaining for so long, as you wonder what their laughing and talking about. "Boys night", he would say week after week, year after year. Boys night- what the hell was all that about anyway!

Your loss is all I can say.
If I were a male, and I had the choice of being surrounded with only males, or groups of gorgeous looking girls just waiting to be picked up, I know which I'd choose. Shot yourselves in the foot didn't ya.

That policy was going on until only 30 years ago. Can't believe how far we've come in such a short time.

So guys, why? What was going through your minds? Did you really want it to be that way? And girls what did you'll think of that policy? Finally, I may be able to get some answers...

[snowyskiesau]

I remember those bad old days. If the pub didn't have a saloon or ladies lounge, then the womenfolk had to stay in the car and hubby would bring them out a drink.

When I was old enough to drink, I was in the RAAF doing an electronics course and women were allowed in the base bar (canteen) but not alone (I don;t know if this was policy or for self protection). Women weren't allowed to join up in any technical job which would have made my training days much more interesting.

[Liz]

Yes, things have certainly changed for the better , and is hard to remember those days ... in fact, I cant. Early dementia, yikes?? Perhaps we did just go to the ladies lounge instead.

Women can go just about anywhere now, including the mens loos, as long as you have a reliable lookout.

[CraigS]

Well Suzy;

This one's even more controversial than talking religion with Bert. Still … us intrepid types should be able to speak freely … even in the face of fearsome moderators, ready to pounce upon the slightest of slip-ups.

(Just kidding, guys).

So .. well … err… its like this … blokes have spent many years developing finely tuned language skills. Most of these were acquired going back to the days of youthful rock-chucking practices, which also assisted us in avoiding sisters and mothers, who spoke another language.

Scientists have investigated this phenomenon and can only theorise as to the source. Some believe its related to quantum level fluctuations arising in the 'sex drive' lobe of the male brain, which cause wild, erratic behaviour whilst in the presence of women. Others say it aids in the development of the mighty 'lame excuses' gland .. a vital centre, crucial to survival when caught in tricky situations.

The evidence for the latter theory lies in the massively developed glands in the brains of male politicians (only recently discovered), who regularly demonstrate mastery over these primitive areas and in the past, they did so by enacting legislation to eliminate the root source of the problem, so that society could proceed in an orderly, tidy manner.

Bless their little cotton socks.

But alas, it will always remain one of nature's mysteries … enshrouded in a haze which can only be cured by partaking in that which satisfies the needs of the 'ten-schooners-in-one-night cortex'.

Cheers & Rgds

[PCH (Paul)]

An interesting point/thread Suzy

In this day and age we're supposed to have recognised the alleged absurdity of thinking the sexes are different, whilst ignoring the fact that we are very different in so many of our needs and ways.

We used to have, as you point out Suzy, 'male only' public bars amongst other things 'male'. These were places where blokes could go to be in the company of blokes. What could be wrong with that ?

But we decided this was all sexist tripe to much applause from lady miners, soldiers, wrestlers etc. And the women got what they wanted, at the expense of many blokes who just wanted to go to the pub and have a drink in male company and talk about male things.

And now what do we have ...? (and shockingly - are allowed by law to have!).

We have women only health clubs, wealth clubs, funeral parlours and the list goes on. And I was horrified to hear that our illustrious PM (who shall be nameless as we're not allowed to talk politics) has allocated a Minister to look after Womens Affairs Jeepers how unfair is that?

I'm really surprised that women nowadays could possibly feel in any way disadvantaged, given the number of 'women only' services available to them. I can in all conscience say that I can't remember when I last saw a 'men only' anything - apart from the toilets that is

Edit:- .... and that theory has now been dispelled now that I've read Liz's post

[multiweb (Marc)]

Wow!... Are you guys for real? You used to have men only pubs in Oz? I thought the thread was a joke until I read further. That is saaad....

Maybe it's a cultural thing. I noticed the same when I lived in England for a while that the blokes would go out on one end of the room and the girls in another. I'd be on the girl's side chatting to them for sure. What were they thinking?

[leon]

Well they were silly buggers weren't they Suzy.

Males are a bit like that, why I do not know, but look what they missed out on, gees we are stupid, the blokes I mean
They could have chatted with a super chick.

Leon

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

It was stupid, and I never understood why it was so.

But on the other side as Paul mention about 'Women Only':
Women wanted equality but it slid passed the half-way mark!

I personally know women who want everything equal, but still expect the man to open doors, etc. for them.

Girls and Woman can Join the Boy Scouts, but boys and Men cannot join Girl Guides.

Girls are allowed to play football (all codes) but boys are not allowed to play netball.

And on it goes.

Where's the equality We still have a long way to go.

[Barrykgerdes]

I think girls should be banned from pubs and I also believe in equality so lets ban the blokes too.

Baz

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

Equality for everyone!!...except for when we don't want you around

[astroron (Ron)]

The Boot was on the other foot also, in November 1971 just three days after landing in Australia A friend and I where asked to leave the "LOUNGE" of the Kedron Park Hotel on a Friday night because we where not accompanied by a female, yet there where tables with women sitting all around them and no males, to say the least we where amazed and confused

[renormalised (Carl)]

or groups of gorgeous looking girls just waiting to be picked up

Couldn't do that now....my back wouldn't be able to handle the weight

Not that I'd be in the pubs much anyway....I've never drank all that much to begin with I can't even remember the last time I had a beer....that's how long it's been

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by astroron

The Boot was on the other foot also, in November 1971 just three days after landing in Australia A friend and I where asked to leave the "LOUNGE" of the Kedron Park Hotel on a Friday night because we where not accompanied by a female, yet there where tables with women sitting all around them and no males, to say the least we where amazed and confused

Think yourself lucky that you weren't asked to leave the country
Barry

[TrevorW]

"Girls are allowed to play football (all codes) but boys are not allowed to play netball."

I don't know about you Ken but I wouldn't be seen dead in a netball skirt

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

"Girls are allowed to play football (all codes) but boys are not allowed to play netball."

I don't know about you Ken but I wouldn't be seen dead in a netball skirt

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Girls are allowed to play football (all codes) but boys are not allowed to play netball.

I certainly know of blokes playing netball. I think some are even on this forum.

[avandonk]

Back when I was a young lad (1968) if I went to the pub for a drink by myself I went into the public bar with the good old boys.
If I took my girlfriend we both went to the ladies lounge and I stayed with her.
One night I found myself with eight 'girls' and just me in the ladies lounge at our table. The other husbands and boyfriends had gone to the bar to play pool. When they came back a few of them accused me of staying behind only to seduce their wives/girlfriends. I thought this was a great compliment as they thought I was capable of seducing seven women at the one time in front of my girlfriend! I was wrong they were just stupid.

I agree with you Suzy they were stupid. I far prefer the company of women. There is no bull about who has got the biggest willie. It is about real life and relationships and really meaningful stuff like what the colour of the loungroom walls should be.

All jokes aside many years ago I was at a dinner held by a member of parliament and there were quite a few feminists there. One 'heavy' feminist asked me what feminism meant to me. I told her with a straight face that it got the girls and women out of the kitchens and laundries into the pubs where I could interact with them.

The host spurted his beer and the maelstrom I started was only calmed down when Jocelyn Scutt asked me point blank with a serious stare 'what do you really mean Bert!'
I explained to her that I was all in favour of equality but let us all think carefully before we all overcorrect. Jocelyn then wrote a two page spread in "The Age" and basically wrote far more eloquently than myself what I was trying to say.

It is about respect not rules. Laws can only control criminal behaviour not ignorant attitudes.

There are far more stories but this one will do.

Bert

[CraigS]

I've seen a photo of a weight-lifter wearing shorts that someone reckoned was going to turn him gay in the 'Deep Space' Forum the other day !

PS: This was in response to AstralTraveller's post … before Bert's.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

Think yourself lucky that you weren't asked to leave the country
Barry

You people payed for me to come here, and I am very happy to have stayed for 39 years

[Suzy]

Thank you guys for keeping this thread going in a good, fun and lighthearted way that it was intended to be. We can enjoy it better this way, and let's face it, it just makes you want to laugh doesn't it. Some of the things you'll have mentioned, I had no idea existed, as well as some current ones. You'll have given some really great stories.

And guys please make sure you lock those toilet doors when Liz is around!

Originally Posted by PCH

I can in all conscience say that I can't remember when I last saw a 'men only' anything - apart from the toilets that is

Edit:- .... and that theory has now been dispelled now that I've read Liz's post

Bert, that was a great story and I applaud your brilliant post. You also ended it well when you said that it does have a lot to do with respect.