Finland: Swimming hall rejects 3-year old boy: Not allowed during ladies-only sessions

Story here. Excerpt:

'The ladies-only swimming sessions have been available for one year at the Rantakylä swimming hall in Joensuu. Only women work at the facility during the two-hour swimming sessions on Saturday mornings.

"It's related to migrant integration and has received a positive reception. About 50 – 70 customers attend the sessions every week, and that's about half of our total visitor numbers," explained Pentti Ryhänen, Joensuu city facility manager.

However the popular swimming session has also caused some bewilderment. Some believe that the city should not segregate swimming times based on gender. One local mother was taken aback by the strict enforcement of the segregation rule when she tried to take her toddler son to the swimming class.

"I thought it would not be a problem because he's such a small boy. However when we got to the ticket kiosk they asked whether the child was a boy or a girl and they turned us away. Naturally I was upset," the mother said.

Facility manager Pentti Ryhänen said however that there has been little negative feedback over the single-sex swimming session. He noted that that it should be clear that boys are not allowed, even if they are very young.

"Parents are free to attend other sessions with their sons," he pointed out.'