And would you protest against Sharada Maths not allowing men to go as much into the temples as women?

There are many such cases when aachaaras have, over millennia, become atyaachaaraas (ati + aachaaraas). This is high time we weed out such atyaachaaraas from our system.

However, ultimately if one wants to establish some form of exclusive rite or club etc. (i.e. religious or otherwise), it cannot be stopped. But it cannot be perceived as far either by many.

Arun

About visual stimuli and men: If this were true, then the sculptures in (most of) our temples aren’t exactly neutral in this regard – are they? Particularly per today’s standards? Particularly when you compare them to how women dress to temple (yes even after churidhars etc.)? So obviously the rule/tradition makers somehow felt men aren’t that weak to focus on these sculptures at a temple. Otherwise the sculptures would be different in the first place. Or these kinds of outfit were “ok at an earlier point” – which would point to a way more open society. Either way, it doesn’t seem to add up. Perhaps they are considered ok, because that points at tradition/history in which case this seems like a case of logic constructed to fit/protect tradition/practice. So while men are supposedly very comfortable by these sculptures, the mere presence of women who presumedly would be in dressed to show devotion at the temple on the other hand means trouble and only trouble?

Arun

Hence while all these practices certainly has a logic to it (I would even dare propose logic constructed to fit/protect tradition), somewhere along there is an underlying presumption that certain aspects is either exclusive domain of the male, or that situation must be made most conducive to the male, at the expense of the female. To me, this alone is enough to point at discrimination. Some may not agree – so be it. You can say that is reality/truth, that doesn’t make it not discrimination – as there is certainly a lot that is unfair in the real world

Arun

And yes, I’m well-aware that traditions and rules can and do change with time. Thanks for reminding me.

..and you think this is comparable in logic to why women are not allowed in Sabarimala and Mt. Athos? If women can enter all other Ayyappa temples in Kerala, why not in Sabarimala? Previously it was hard to walk till the temple, but not the facilities have improved and there are many services.

The temple enrtry proclamation gave permission for everyone to enter. Previously, women had to wear traditional dress to go to the temple, now I see many temples allowing women wearing churidar to enter. So changes do happen and that is what is great about Hinduism.