They try to do that where I work. Lots of clients will not schedule with a male regardless if they hurt or not. Of Course there are people that don't care if it's a male or female therapist. And some actually prefer a male therapist. But the male female thing is still a big deal for a lot of people. There have been many days when I have only one appointment for the entire day when the five other female therapists are booked up with five or six hours of massage. Often, if one of the female therapists is sick. Most of the clients on her schedule will only switch to another female therapist. Even though they may not know her or have ever been to the spa before. I worked for ten years in a chiropractic clinic, the male female therapist thing was not an issue. I've been, until recently,the only male employee ( 21 years )working with 50 female co-workers in a spa just because of the demand for females by both male and female clients.

Laura yours also is a great answer