[oman-l] Coeducation at SQU

[Joachim Duester]

There is no segregation, but there are areas reserved 
for women and for men. For example, the reading room 
of the Main library has separate areas with working desks 
for women and for men. However, there are no barriers 
between the areas and the books are not "doubled" - if 
a man needs a journal that happens to be on shelves in the 
"female" section, he goes there and consults it there or 
takes it to his working table in the men's section if he needs 
it for some longer time. I was puzzled to see signs for separate 
photocopiers in the reading room, and - not been able to find 
the "male" xerox machine -  went to one where a sign said "For 
women only", asking a lady if I might exceptionally use that 
machine. She just laughed at me and asked me why not - 
obviously she didn't see what my problem was, and I felt 
quite stupid ... 

I think it is a sound policy if women have the possibility to 
segregate if they want to and to have areas reserved exclusively for 
them, without forcing them to do so.

Joachim