"Only Women Under 45 with College Degrees Allowed"…Chinese Netizens Debate Swimming Pool Membership Criteria

"Educated People Possess Personal Qualities"

A swimming pool in China has sparked controversy by setting the condition of "women under 45 years old with a university degree" for membership recruitment.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 31st of last month that a swimming pool named "2049 International Swimming and Diving Center" located in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, allowed only women under 45 years old holding a bachelor's degree to register as members, which triggered intense debate. The swimming pool announced this membership condition and stated that the registration fee is 576 yuan (approximately 108,000 KRW).

[Photo by Pixabay]

The swimming pool explained this membership condition by saying, "We believe that people with education have higher IQ and personal qualities and understand social order well," and "Accepting such people can help prevent unfortunate incidents such as theft." The pool does not have locks on the lockers in the changing rooms, so selecting highly educated members is considered helpful for safe operation.

Local netizens responded with disbelief. Online comments included, "If you don't have a bachelor's degree, can't you swim?", "This is blatant discrimination," "Better education does not guarantee better moral standards," and "Install proper locks on the changing room lockers."

On the other hand, some argued that "Just as customers can choose businesses, businesses can also choose their customers. If it is not illegal, there is no problem," emphasizing respect for the business's operational policy.

However, a legal expert mentioned the possibility of violating the "Consumer Rights Protection Act," which stipulates that "all customers have the right to fair transactions."

Notice posted at a gym in Incheon that sparked controversy [Photo source=Online community capture]

Earlier in June, a so-called "No-ajumma gym" that banned the entry of "ajumma" (middle-aged women) also sparked controversy in Incheon. At that time, the gym posted a notice stating "No ajumma allowed, only cultured and elegant women permitted," and even presented specific criteria distinguishing ajumma from other women. As the controversy grew, the gym owner claimed that a significant portion of so-called "problematic customers" came from a certain age group of women and expressed that they had suffered many damages during the gym's operation because of them.