There’s something wrong with a society that celebrates female-only gyms but slams a men-only barber for doing the same. That’s what’s happening to Robbie’s Chop Shop in Adelaide, a space where men get a sharp cut, talk footy, and connect with their mates. It’s built around tradition, identity, and simplicity. Now it’s under fire and in the news for sticking to its purpose: serving men in a space designed for them.
This time it’s Robbie’s Chop Shop, a proudly men-only barber in Adelaide, which found itself in hot water for doing exactly what countless other female-only businesses have done for years: catering to one gender.
The controversy? A woman was reportedly denied a haircut and asked to visit the salon next door, which is also owned by the same folks and guess what? It welcomes everyone. Robbie’s, meanwhile, is a tribute to old-school masculinity: it’s about clippers, fades, blokes stuff, and male banter. It unapologetically caters to men. But apparently that’s controversial in 2025 and a huge no-no. This grinds my gears. Let’s call it what it is: a double standard.
Women Have Fernwood, Curves, and More
Look around the fitness space: women have access to entire chains dedicated to female-only training environments. Fernwood Fitness is perhaps the most well-known, with over 70 locations across Australia, offering women privacy, community, and comfort.
We don’t take issue with that. In fact, we support it because there should be places where women feel safe and supported. But shouldn’t men be allowed the same: to be able to relax in an environment, to feel at ease and not be judged?
Shouldn’t guys have male-only barbers, gyms, or even group classes that let them show up, be themselves, and connect with other men, free from judgement or controversy? Of course. It hurts no-one and helps men, particularly younger men.
The Real Issue
This isn’t about exclusion. It’s about space. Just like women benefit from women-only gyms or gals-only wellness retreats, men especially young men struggling with identity, community, and mental health — need outlets where they can unplug from pressure and plug into a brotherhood.
Every guy knows the dynamic changes when women are in earshot. Language changes, as does behaviour and the tone of conversation. And if any female reading this thinks the conversation devolves into some misoginistic, sexist rant, they’d be sorely mistaken. When men are in an only-male environment, they relax, and even become — shock, surprise — become more vulnerable. They’ll talk about their fuck-ups, and their fears, not is some teary Dr Phil-Oprah way, but like blokes do: with humour, self-depreciation and framed in an amusing anecdote.
It’s not about pushing others out. It’s about making sure we don’t keep pushing men aside to appeal to inclusivity. If we believe in equality, then we need to make room for both. Men can have a space and younger men need a space.
The Bottom Line
Men deserve spaces. Full stop. Barbershops like Robbie’s are more than just a haircut. They’re part of a culture, a community, a rite of passage. Trying to shut that down in the name of “inclusivity” ironically excludes the very group it’s meant to support.
Let’s not pretend that one-sided inclusion is progress. If we’re going to have Fernwood, we can have Robbie’s too.
📸 robbieschopshop and featured image generated by ChatGTP
