AIBU to consider leaving our knitting group over its new policy?

I know a few. Gay men. Who are in general highly supportive towards trans inclusivity at all costs.

OP has no right to ignore the equality act when it comes to an actual established group. If it were just still friends meeting up that’s different. She is equally free to take her sexist discriminatory self elsewhere…as they say birds of a feather flock together. I’m sure Reform would be willing to find some new knitters for her to join.

Actually yes you can. That’s what girl guides do, and what Women’s institute do, what councils do when they run women only swimming, or women only gym classes or women only careers and networking events and many other charities, services and groups. They see that there is a need for women to have the opportunity to socialise and take part in activities that only include other women, not necessarily because of safety or religion, but because of comfort level or shared experiences.

There is nothing illegal about it or that goes against human rights.

What "diverse selection of women"? What does that mean?

Women are women.

Do you mean, for example, tall women, or red heads, or women with curly hair or something?

I don't think anything is stopping them joining, from what we've been told.

Why do you want to exclude men from your group? Lots of men knit, and on the face of it excluding them seems really discriminatory. There is nothing about knitting that is sensitive or which requires privacy.

They were gate keeping golf too and let’s face it, OP doesn’t want to exclude men on the basis of knitting but from the exact same kind of networking which is just as powerful in its own way.

Frankly sometimes you just want a space away from men. It changes the dynamics. And I do think it's fine for men to say 'oh this is the men's photography club's or whatever as well. Because men are also entitled to have a space to socialise with each other, because again, it alters the dynamics. Particularly in this instance, where the club has been set up by a few friends originally. It's not an official organisation. Sometimes, a lot of these clubs are joined by people who are quite lonely. Some people feel more confident and comfortable socialising with and opening up to the same sex, and it isn't wrong to have a few hobby groups that accommodate that 🤷 The vast majority of hobby groups are open to everyone. There is a women's book club near me. And there are things for men too. It's not that deep.

It depends how important the group is to you OP, but I'd just wait and see what happens. I think trans women knitters is probably a niche! I also think you should vote on it in the committee, as is the norm in these kind of situations normally.

Ok doke so you set up your own knitting group for whoever you like. OP set up the group she wanted to join….

And he could go when and if it becomes a knitting group.

0h I don't know, there's some very dodgy knitwear in the non binary community, some could do with joining a group.

I agree.

I have a similar hobby, as does my son, and I would hate for him to be excluded because he’s male.

YANBU

This is true. But you do have to change the name.

Which might make it less attractive to both women and transwomen....

Ofc, when you ignore 90% of the post referring to the knitting group and then quote one sentence out of context you’re going to completely miss the point,

I live in a very diverse area and I reckon I'd struggle to rustle up many non-binary knitters. I reckon you'll be OK.

So you would agree that Black people, Muslims, Wiccans, Asians, disabled people, immigrants etc.., etc.. cannot create book clubs that exclude non-Blacks, non-Muslims, non Wiccans, non-Asians, non-disabled people, non-immigrant people etc... etc... ? And my local senior centre must now allow people of all ages to use their facilities free of charge just like the seniors?

The logic is that a knitting group does not meet the legal requirements for which a single sex space is both necessary and legal. That is what is non negotiable, you can’t just say I want it to be women only therefore it meets the requirements for a single sex space.

How are they "excluded from the hobby"? They are only excluded from this group.

It will no longer be a womens group, just a group. And the op, and others, then simply decides if it's still a group they want to be in.

Why are you suddenly talking about suicide, are you suggesting that not being able to join a women’s knitting group would be the cause of someone committing suicide?

Im going to be upfront here and say that as someone who lost a parent to suicide I find it revolting when anyone weaponises it as a threat to get people to fall in line.

A knitting group that is only for women is excluding men from the knitting group.

There is no whisper of that then meaning exclusion from the entire hobby of knitting, to even write that as a serious reply shows you lack critical thinking skills.

Knitting's knitting - but we all know how the presence of a man changes how women socialise. Some women can't, and some women simply don't want to be part of a social group that has men in it. I wouldn't want some bloke mansplaining patterns to me, I'd join the Rotary if I did.

I'd like to reply but I'm afraid my answer might be a bit woolly.

But other questions I have:

• What sort of trips do you have that are knitting related?
• Do you accept people who crochet?