Women-Only Beaches: The Debate Continues

Every time a new women-only travel option makes the news—recently, we’ve noted the revival of women-only hotel floors , and even an all-female hotel in Saudi Arabia —the question is the same: Is this new development a rare oasis for women, or an obstacle to full equality? That question is raised again by this Agence France-Presse report about the growing number of women-only beaches popping up in Egypt. Many of the women interviewed for the story seem thrilled to have the option. “It is wonderful here,” said one, adding that the mixed-gender beaches were “unbearable.” Meanwhile, the founder of Egypt’s first single-sex beach defended the practice, arguing that he was catering to “the needs of the community.” But for me, that’s the catch: If mixed-gender beaches are so uncomfortable for women that they can hardly bear to visit them ("I have no other option but to go to a women only beach,” sai...