H 32°, L 7° | Tomorrow: 
H 17°, L 4°I absolutely love working out. Whether you blame the controversial antics of Howard Stern or the Barbie doll-like figure of Jessica Simpson, the surreal bodies of the “Real World” or the fresh faces of the OC, one thing is for certain in our culture: the obsessive-compulsive work-out fiend attitude is on the rise, and one new Madison fitness club designed exclusively for men is already causing a controversy.
State Representative Terese Berceau, D-Madison, is concerned that Cuts Fitness for Men, a club designed to fulfill a potential niche market in the uber-competitive fitness club industry, could be setting back equal rights for women. Berceau recently told the Wisconsin State Journal, “Creating all-male clubs is a step backward.”
“Exclusivity is the reason why golf clubs were men only,” Berceau complained. “The problem in the past was that facilities were separate but unequal. Where do we draw the line when we cater to the male market, which has more money to spend on a lot of these things.”
So, gender-exclusive clubs are setting back equal rights for women? That’s funny because I don’t ever remember Terese Berceau complaining about the Curves for Women fitness club coming to Madison, one of the fastest growing retail chains in the world with over 8,000 locations. Berceau seems to think that the new male-only fitness club is somehow going to lead us back to the times when all men wanted was a housewife, barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, serving him a turkey pot pie, graciously awaiting her husband’s call to grab him another cold one from the fridge and complain that his food isn’t cooked right. Oh yes, and not to mention she can’t vote either. Of course, in the eyes of a very small percentage of women such as Berceau, anyone with a penis is a woman-hating, beer-guzzling, testosterone-induced prick whose only goal is to keep women below the glass ceiling.
A recent poll by the Siena College Research Institute found that 81 percent of people in America would vote for a woman president. That is, of course, the highest position in the entire free world, but Berceau would have you believe that an all-male fitness club may crush that attitude. But I’m also wondering what Berceau would say about that the fact that more women than men attend college and get better grades on average. Oh yeah, and then there’s the fact that the leading candidate for President in 2008 is Hillary Clinton, and as far as I know, she’s a woman.
One recent column by Maureen Dowd of the New York Times titled “Where’s the Road Beef?” went on about how men are a lot like Jose Canseco, who writes in his new book that he enjoys “Slump Busters.” A slump buster is apparently when a man goes out to try to have sex with the ugliest, fattest girl he can find, in order to break a hitting dry spell in baseball. Dowd, of course, insinuates that all men are like Canseco, and refers to men as “fatheads.”
Imagine for a second a man making this statement on national TV: “Of course she can’t figure it out. She’s a woman!” No man would ever make this statement in good conscious lest he be called a sexist pig and Loraine Bobbit-ed faster than you can say “penis” (oops, sorry Women’s Studies Department). But substitute the male in that statement, saying “Of course he can’t figure it out, he’s a guy,” and it instantly becomes as acceptable as … well, an episode of King of Queens or Everybody Loves Raymond or The Simpsons, where the male characters are portrayed as dumb, incompetent dads far inferior to their female counterparts.
Let’s make this clear once and for all. It’s completely unfair for men to view all women as being a bunch of dumb, blonde bimbos like Paris Hilton just like it’s unfair for women to view all men as incompetent, wife-beating drunks like Tommy Lee. I know that most guys, including myself, would never think of treating a woman badly and view relationships with them on an equal playing field. We don’t all want to date secretaries, and we’re not all emotionless animals, too simple minded to understand the complexities of a relationship.
So to all the men and women who are tired of the ’50s-and ’60s-type mentality stagnant in the stereotypical, hate-filled minds of the male and female-extremists, I say let’s ignore them and move on with our lives.
Casey Hoff ([email protected]) is a UW student and the host of “New Ground with Casey Hoff,” live Monday through Friday, 9-11 a.m., on Talk Radio 1670 WTDY.
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yawn
This article shows why your show gets, what is it, the lowest or second lowest ratings in the Madison market.
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“So, gender-exclusive clubs are setting back equal rights for women? That's funny because I don't ever remember Terese Berceau complaining about the Curves for Women fitness club coming to Madison, one of the fastest growing retail chains in the world with over 8,000 locations.”
Yeah, it’s fine to exclude men but evil to exclude womyn.
Is it some kind of affirmative action thing? Maybe it’s just pure selfishness? Some women think that what’s yours is ours but what’s mine is mine. They’re all about the feminist thing, until it comes time to split the check.
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Here’s the thing Casey, this article makes you sound like you really are a fathead. Thanks for keeping the stereotype alive.
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“Separate”…not “seperate”
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Maybe the writers and editors for the Herald need to go back to grade school for spelling class.
Also wasn’t there just an article in here a few weeks back about how UW female students wanted their own work out room at the SERF because that one was dominated by scary men?
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So when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that “separate but equal” was inherently unequal, they were wrong?
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To the above poster, apparently they were wrong if we allow other clubs like Curves. However, I believe a private club should be able to do what it wants, and allow whatever members it wants. That is what makes it a private club! You cant’ have it both ways though. Make up your feminazi minds.
This article makes a great statement on the attack on men that occurs constantly now, especially in our daily sitcoms (thanks for bringing that up).
One point i disagree on however is “the obsessive-compulsive work-out fiend attitude is on the rise” Have you looked around? Most people are still fat as hell. Instead of working out, they complain about the beauty standards of society.
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Yeah sitcoms are sexist…towards women. How many fat and ugly men have gorgeous wives that in real life they would never have a chance of getting. It’s a fantasy world for “normal” men who want to be able to get hot wives. Pretty much every sitcom on the air today has a fat lazy husband with a knock out wife. Where would these men ever have a chance with them?
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I have no problem with private clubs doing whatever they want. But in reality why is there even a need for an all male club? Isn’t that essentially what all clubs are now anyway? I can understand that some women feel threatened at clubs and how there would be a need for a Curves type establishment. But what are the guys getting away from at the all male club?
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“Where would these men ever have a chance with them?”
Yer absolutely right - those men need a LOT more money to have those hotties!
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so wait, it is sexist that a woman chose to “marry down” and be with someone who might not be as attractive as them? I’m sorry, i guess i should know my place as a normal guy, forgive me for approaching someone so far superior to me.
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Don’t be such a heeb.
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“Don’t be such a heeb.”
Maybe you’re not aware, but calling someone a heeb is to Jews what calling someone a nigger is to African Americans, or calling someone a spic to Hispanics. It’s offensive and rude, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
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It’s clear to me that all these feminazi women want is to have something to complain about. There is obviously a double standard when it comes to having an all male and all female club, you cannot even begin to dispute that. I do agree that this may not be a very good business decision, because most clubs are dominated by guys anyway, but that does not make it wrong. If this debate goes any farther, I want one of these hypocritical women to start attacking the promoters of curves as well. And by the way, quit bitching about incredible women and average guys… It does happen.
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I have to address the comments of the previous poster.
I am not sure why one would think it is a bad business decision? As I understand it the club mentioned in the original Wisconsin State Journal article (Cuts Fitness for Men) is doing rather well. I believe that they have plans to open two more in the Madison market this year. Further more there are 170 locations open nation wide with an anticipated 700 by years end. As it mentions there are a group of men in this country that do not work out at all. (80% of all men do not get 30 minutes of exercise three times a week)
Look around the world today things have become much more specialized and individual. Who in their right mind 10 years ago would have ever thought that there would be television channels so focused on a group such as the Golf channel or Home and Garden? In truth the health and fitness industry has been separated for a very long time if not from the very beginning. There have always been health programs that are designed just for women or just for men. Even in the more traditional clubs there have been programs set up with gender in mind. Circuit training is not a new concept clubs have had them for years. Why is that? Because Men and Women have different bodies, thus have different needs and goals in regards to health and fitness.
The top reasons that guys list as why they don't exercise are:
1- Time(two hours in the traditional club verses 30 minutes)
2- Intimidated by the large club atmosphere (equipment, intimidated by there coed members that can lift more weight then they can, to much of a social environment)
3- No personal attention to help them with there fitness program
4- I don't see anyone that look like me (size and shape)
5- Age and type of the members at traditional clubs (most are already fit and into a routine and have a good knowledge base in regards to health & fitness)
It seems a little unfair with all the female only clubs available that the fact that a men's only club enters that market would case such a controversy
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You incorrectly stated: “That's funny because I don't ever remember Terese Berceau complaining about the Curves for Women fitness club coming to Madison, one of the fastest growing retail chains in the world with over 8,000 locations.”
Rep. Berceau spoke out very strongly against the “Curves” bill that allowed women-only clubs, just as she spoke out against men-only clubs. She led the vote against the bill. You make it seem otherwise. You didn’t even bother to do the slightest bit of error checking did you?
You can check out Rep. Berceau’s comments against the “Curves” bill in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 30, 2003, Madison Capital Times, April 30, 2003, and Wisconsin State Journal, May 20, 2003
I believe you owe the representative a public apology.
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Casey-
Unbelievable! Casey, why do you think the reporters asked Rep. Berceau about the men’s-only clubs? Do you think the reporters arbitrarily chose Rep. Berceau to ask her about an arbitrary topic?
No!
Rep. Berceau was in the papers for speaking against Curves! It’s comical that that is the one example you chose to bring up. I agree with “Tom.” A public apology is in order.
Adam