but denying people entry to something because of their gender isn't a step towards an ideal world. it's the same kind of attitude that's been causing all these problems. you can't fight fire with fire
Actually, you can. Do you know how people prevent forest fires? By setting forests on fire. It's called a controlled burn, and it's designed to cause a forest fire, a natural process that is a vital part of the life cycle of a forest, in a controlled, safe manner that prevents damage to both the forest and nearby settlements. In this case, we are preventing discrimination against women by giving them an environment where they can't get discriminated against in favor of men.
Barring enormous societal changes, men are going to continue to have more money, more success, and more power than women. By giving women an opportunity to compete in something where men cannot succeed, simply because they cannot compete, we are giving them a chance to have a little slice of power.
