Opening Doors at Men’s Clubs

Paul’s arguments against women’s membership in all-male clubs miserably fail to present a valid reason not to favor the city ordinance. First, he implies that because larger social problems continue to plague the urban environment, energy spent fight discrimination is wasted. This can be said of any issue, but each of us feels the pain of social inequities from different sources, in various ways. Next, Paul laughably suggests that “men are not pressing for admission to women’s clubs.” Perhaps he also wonders why so few whites clamored for desegregation durings the civil rights movement.

Finally, he worries that upon rejection women will claim sexual discrimination resulting in the forced disclosure of the “confidential information” used to determine admittance. This argument, I believe hits at the true crux of this issue. Disclosure of admittance criteria would declare to the world the true character of these clubs. Because of these clubs’ size and prominence, they do influence the transaction of business in the community and it is this influence which gives the community a right to know just what criteria are used to admit or exclude. Perhaps Paul’s pleas suggest that these clubs have something to hide.

ALAN M. SCOLAMIERI

Long Beach