In this thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1520563#post1520563 KentP brought up the subject of senior discounts, which got me thinking about a couple of issues that really chap my hide.
Why are certain types of discrimination deemed acceptable? Here, I’m particularly talking about reverse age and gender discrimination.
I cannot understand the acceptability and legal justification of “senior communities”. I’m not talking about nursing homes here, I mean entire subdivisions and apartment complexes that have a minimum age for all residents. Here in the Phoenix area, we have several of these. Some of them are so strict that if a resident plans to have a guest (grandchild, etc.) stay for more than 2 weeks, they have to get a permit from the association.
Is this not discrimination? Granted, there probably aren’t a lot of 30 year olds looking to buy their first home that would want a neighborhood with an average resident age of 70, but if someone does, how is it justifiable to prevent them from buying that home based solely on their age?
I understand certain seniors not wanting hordes of screaming 13 year olds blazing up and down the street on their scooters. Hey, I don’t want that either. However, I can’t see any legal or moral justification for barring people from moving into a community based on their demographic data.
If I developed a subdivision and set a maximum age of 60, AARP would have me in court before the ink dried on the first zoning permit. What’s the rationale for making the converse acceptable?
Another thing that galls me is a fitness center chain called Naturally Women. As I understand it, it’s a traditional gym a la Bally’s, but they only accept female members. I work out at home; so their policy doesn’t really impact me, but how can they engage in such blatant gender discrimination and not be called on it? I understand women don’t like to be gawked at by guys in the gym, but how can the owners justify barring men access to a commercial facility?
If I tried to open an all male gym, NOW would have me in court before I could even sign the lease on the building and also make certain I was vilified in the court of public opinion. Yet, an all female gym is apparently okay?
Have we not progressed to the point in American society where all people are supposed to have equal opportunities? Can anyone give me a reasonable justification for this kind of discrimination?