Gender separation in Judaism

In Judaism, especially in Orthodox Judaism, there are a number of settings in which men and women are kept separate in order to conform with the rules of acceptable behaviors, and to prevent men and women from having inappropriate relationships. 
It's extremely rare that the other branches of Judaism do this.
==Reasons==
The main reasons for gender separation in Judaism are:
* Prevention of premarital sex from occurring. Although sex drives and sexual desires vary by individual, everyone is expected to refrain from it. 
* In men, prevention of erections and spilling semen. What triggers sexual arousal in each man varies. Seeing woman dressed immodestly must be avoided, and if a man finds something else that causes him sexual arousal, he needs to avoid that, too.
==By setting==
===Synagogues===
During prayer services in Orthodox synagogues, seating is always separate. A mechitza is sometimes used to separate men and women, and often to block the view from one section to the other, though mechitza heights vary by synagogue. 
In other branches of Judaism, everyone sits together.
===Bar Mitzvahs and Jewish Weddings===
At many Orthodox Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and Orthodox Jewish weddings, seating at the ceremonies and receptions is separate, sometimes with the help of a mechitza. During Orthodox Jewish wedding ceremonies, the groom is escorted to the chuppah (Hebrew: "canopy") by both fathers, while the bride is escorted by both mothers. 
In other branches of Judaism, everyone sits together, and the bride and groom are escorted by their parents. 
===Swimming===
In Orthodox Judaism, men and women swim separately. The laws prohibiting mixed swimming are derived from the laws of tznius. This is due to concerns that most bathing suits are inherently immodest, and do not meet tznius requirements. Most women dressed in a bathing suit to a swimming pool are not meeting the requirements of tznius, and an Orthodox Jewish man who comes to a swimming pool where women are dressed immodestly will see this, and possibly experience sexual arousal.
Many swimming pools in Jewish communities have separate hours for male and female swimming to accommodate those who follow Orthodox Jewish laws. Some women following the laws of tznius will wear a long T-shirt style dress over their bathing suits that meet tznius requirements, considering this to be sufficient for swimming in the presence of men. 
In other branches of Judaism, everyone swims together. 
===Dancing===
Most Orthodox Jews do not participate in mixed dancing, due to the possibility of "accidental" physical contact. A mechitza is sometimes used to separate male and female dancers at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and Orthodox Jewish weddings.
In other branches of Judaism, everyone dances together.
===Transportation===
Many followers of Haredi Judaism have taken on the practice of separate seating while traveling. These range from abstaining sitting next to a member of the opposite sex to having separate vehicles altogether. EL AL Airlines in Israel has future plans to fly single-gender flights for Haredi Jews following this practice.http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3654758,00.html
==Socialization with members of the opposite sex==
In Orthodox Judaism, it is preferable that men keep conversation with women to a minimum, since a seemingly innocent conversation can lead to inappropriate topics of conversation.
The Pirkei Avot (Hebrew: "Chapters of the Forefathers") says that "a man should avoid talking to women. He should keep conversation with his wife to a minimum. How much worse is it then to talk to other women?"
The yetzer hara (Hebrew: "inclination to do evil") encourages a man, including a married man, to enjoy casual conversation with women, prefer conversation with women than men, and to feel joy whenever he is put in a situation in which he converses with women, even when he has not sought out the occasion. Though such conversation in itself is not considered inappropriate, it can still lead to unacceptable behaviors. A man should even avoid too much conversation with his female blood relatives, but the rules are less strict.
==References==
Category:Orthodox Judaism