I have to say, I myself am surprised at myself now taking this position.

I went through a lot to assert humanist values and the idea tht there could be friendship between women and men without there being complications due to male desire for attention/domination etc .

But when I think of all the times I've been put under pressure, followed, verbally harangued, etc etc plus several attempts at molestation, I realise that in fact my Muslim heritage which insists on separate spaces is liberatory for women.

Dale Spener, an Australian feminist did research that proved in single sex schools. girls did much better academically and in terms of self esteem and confidence; while in the mixed schools, the boys benefitted greatly and it actually held girls back.

In boys only schools, a category of males would be abused, being given the role of females ie the boys seen as 'cissies'.

I feel I have gained nothing from male/mixed company except draining kinds of interaction, confusing mixed messages and outright manipulation that took me years to see through. Ie males posing as my friend but with various hidden agendas.