Of course, all things being equal, we should prefer separate gender recreation in public. But my article was primarily for those cases where all things are not equal. Where, for instance, health, shalom bayis, or economic constraints get a vote, too.
Well, I haven't actually been swimming for nearly 40 years and I don't spend a lot of time in shops. But I do walk along sidewalks and, from time to time, even drive places. Sure, the average covered surface area may be lower at a beach, but it's about איכות, not just כמות. In terms of the strength of the נסיון, I'm not sure there's a qualitative a difference.
And, not to put too fine a point on it, the average frum family man has no personal connection to women at a beach - which is NOT necessarily true of the office.
Having said that, I certainly am not recommending people spend their time at mixed beaches under NORMAL circumstances. But what about a family with unusual social or health pressures and constraints? For such edge cases, I think it's critically important to understand the true scope of halacha, and not just assume it's a zero sum game (which - of course - is not what you were implying).
Well... we can say the same thing about mixed gym and mixed dancing with your spouse. There is a Lucille Roberts for a reason.
Of course, all things being equal, we should prefer separate gender recreation in public. But my article was primarily for those cases where all things are not equal. Where, for instance, health, shalom bayis, or economic constraints get a vote, too.
Slippery slope. I would let people do quitely what they do anyway without ruling on the issue.
Excellent blog, by the way.
Thanks!
considering how the dress code at the local beach might not be any worse than what he’d encounter in the cash register line"
Don't be ridiculous. Have you been to either!?
Well, I haven't actually been swimming for nearly 40 years and I don't spend a lot of time in shops. But I do walk along sidewalks and, from time to time, even drive places. Sure, the average covered surface area may be lower at a beach, but it's about איכות, not just כמות. In terms of the strength of the נסיון, I'm not sure there's a qualitative a difference.
And, not to put too fine a point on it, the average frum family man has no personal connection to women at a beach - which is NOT necessarily true of the office.
Having said that, I certainly am not recommending people spend their time at mixed beaches under NORMAL circumstances. But what about a family with unusual social or health pressures and constraints? For such edge cases, I think it's critically important to understand the true scope of halacha, and not just assume it's a zero sum game (which - of course - is not what you were implying).