For many Muslim women, swimming with their children and women friends can be difficult because they must remain fully covered in front of men. So when asked by one of our Muslim leaders if we could help women in Howard County find a place to swim without men present, PATH was there. We learned this was not only a religious issue but one that affected many women who wanted to swim but were not comfortable swimming with men. After exploring our options, PATH concluded the best action would be to work with the Columbia Association to negotiate a women’s only swim time at the Columbia Indoor Swim Center. And work we did! More than 50 PATH leaders braved the cold and rain just two days before Thanksgiving to assure victory. Members of the Columbia Association Board publically thanked PATH for our dedication, making it easy for them to decide in favor of women’s swim time.
Inspired by the nature of online comments opposing the program, more than 50 people who support Columbia Association's women-only swim times came to the CA board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 22, in a show of solidarity.
The program started in October and will conclude its trial run at the end of January. It is being held at the Columbia Swim Center in Wilde Lake between 12:30 and 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays — a time when the facility has few people and when the pool being used is normally closed.
When Shehlla Khan's husband became ill, it fell on her to take their three children to the pool. But for Khan, who is Muslim, the task was difficult.
The Columbia resident said she was concerned about people watching her swim in the conservative, cover-all dress required by Islamic dress codes, and thinking: "What's wrong? Why can't you take it off?"