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There oughta be a law!

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Method of Madness:
I read part of that, but I can't help but be bothered by the idea of "minority spaces"...the name makes it seem by definition to exclude others. Maybe I'm misunderstanding the concept.  I need to read more of it.

Papersatan:
I think the way to think about "minority spaces" is this:

If there are minority groups who are subject to discrimination at a societal level, "safe" spaces are bound to form in which individuals need not worry about filtering their identities through the majority opinion.  A space in which groups can form and try to sort out their own meaning: What does it mean to be "one of us" what are our experiences, what do we value, what don't we value, how do we want to be seen by others, how can we achieve equality.  And to do this in a place in which they are the dominant culture. 

When members of the society-wide dominant group enter these spaces and say "wait, wait.. but you guys are X." or "Hold on, but how does your reinterpretation of your own meaning change *my* meaning as a member of the dominant group" or "You can't say that, because it offends me, and makes you all hypocrites."  then you are taking away the groups' agency to define themselves and pressing upon them the dominant opinion.  You are also prone to be offensive without even realizing you have done so by assuming you understand the experiences of someone from this group because you have read a lot about it, or you are sensitive to their concerns. 

Lines:
It's a space where people can hang out with people like themselves and have a safe, carefree environment. I mean, honestly, those are everywhere when you think about it. One of my friends belongs to a group for Jewish young professionals and I went with her to an event once*. I also used to belong to a college aged bible study group when I went to church. People form little clubs with like people all of the time, it's not uncommon. People generally feel comfortable when they surround themselves with like people. It's not that they want to ostracize everyone else, it's that they just want to socialize in a comfort zone.

*I have to do a project for a class that is called "Out of My Comfort Zone" where I need to interact with a community I am generally not familiar or comfortable with. I am unbelievably annoyed with this project because I feel that it's set up in a way where I need to invade the space of others. I asked one of my friends to bring me to some of the events with her Jewish YP club and while she was ok with it, I felt so uncomfortable. Not because of the people, they were all very nice, but because I know I didn't belong there.

Redball:
Sounds like you'll have earned an A on the project.

Method of Madness:
That reminds me of a paper I had to write for my Intro to Religion class my freshman year. We were supposed to go to a service of a religion other than our own (which for me is literally any religion), and write about it.  I ended up going to a Quaker Meeting, which turned out to be 45 minutes of silence, followed by bagels and conversation.  (I don't say that to diminish it, I thought it was fascinating.)  As soon as the silence ended and they headed into the other room, I told a few people why I was there.  I was lucky, as everyone I talked to was very welcoming.  In fact, now that I think about it...I kind of want to go back and experience it again.  (This was six years ago, by the way)

As for a Jewish Young Professionals gathering, unless it was an Orthodox thing I can't imagine there was anything in it that would have made you feel excluded.  What made you uncomfortable, if you don't mind me asking?

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