Out of curiosity, why is equality an ideal for women, but a defensive issue for men?
Equality to me is generally concerned with the rights of others becoming equivalent to the rights of the straight, white male.
It does suggest that everyone's rights be "the same," but by "the same" it refers to the rights of straight, white men.
Focussing on the difference strictly between men and women here, why do some men use the term "equality" to deny women of beneficial specialised treatment, instead of it's purpose, which is the
improved treatment of women.
There are a variety of clubs and businesses that cater specifically to men, for which even if not explicitly denied service, women do not patronise. Much like there are similar services for women. Both of these includes some more technical or very specific stuff (gender-specific clubs, segregated washrooms) but are primarily businesses that concern themselves with one sex (clothing stores, for example) for which there is a clear and obvious reason for their exclusion of the other sex. You can enter and shop these businesses despite your sex, but you need an interest in items designed for the opposite sex.
For the most part, there are not issues that are relevant to these types of businesses. They do their business and go unquestioned for good reason. However, there is the odd occurrence where a business, without specific or obvious reason, excludes a gender. Rightly so, it is questioned. Why is then, that in defence of a business with no logical reason for denying an entire gender, do men attack a business with a very clear and obvious reason for denying a gender? And what does it have to go with equality?
I don't go into SpaLady, or women's clothing stores, because they offer no services for me. There are
men's fitness clubs if it's an exclusive gym experience I want, men's washrooms should the need arise, men's clothing stores (and hell, if I really want women's clothing, I can go in and buy it).
If both men and women have fitness clubs designed specifically for their sex, why "in the name of equality" are we attacking only women's rights to their own club? It's one of the few things that both men and women have of their own.
I just find that some men use "equality" as a defence
against women having comparable rights. It's less about equality for them, but more about asserting control and maintaining dominance. "Don't like that you can't get your haircut there? Well then we're going to take away your gym... but don't worry, we're keeping ours."
It's very misogynistic in my opinion, and worse, it's using a misplaced sense of equality to justify the misogyny.