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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Women's Networks and their constant emphasis on men

62 replies

MrsFogi · 26/01/2016 15:17

Over the years I have been active in womens networks (both work ones and wider industry/sector ones) but I am always amazed at the sheer effort and emphasis that seems to be put on attracting men/increasing male membership/getting more men to attend. Somehow networks that are supposed to focus on women end up spending 90% of their time on men. This seems crazy to me - ethnic minority networks don't seem to have attracting white people at the top of their agendas, lgbt don't beg hetrosexuals to run them. Why do womens networks seem to do this? Tbh it is why I always leave as I don't want to attend panels where men are speaking with the sole "qualification" that they "let their wife work" so "must understand working women's issues". Whenever I have mentioned this at network meetings I have been absolutely shot down in flames so I suspect I am missing something/the same may happen here on my first foray into the feminism chat forum.

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MelindaMay · 26/01/2016 22:23

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SlowFJH · 26/01/2016 21:50

I'm on my own dime right now so I can whinge and whine as much as I want. Name me one thing of genuine value that these notworks have achieved. Name me one female entrepreneur that would be happy for her employees to get together to whinge and moan and achieve precisely nothing.

MelindaMay · 26/01/2016 21:36

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SlowFJH · 26/01/2016 21:19

Have any of these networks ever achieved anything worthwhile? Just an excuse to get paid for whinging and whining.

museumum · 26/01/2016 20:57

Well you've got two choices:
either you have a women's network just for women and you talk about what women can do about equality issues.
Or
You want to talk to men about what they can do about gender equality (cause it's not all up to women to change) but men aren't naturally inclined to attend so you spend all your time talking about how to encourage more men to get involved.

Both approaches will be criticised. Naturally. Grin

slugseatlettuce · 26/01/2016 20:49

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NeverEverAnythingEver · 26/01/2016 20:49

" why not 'how not to be unconsciously sexist' courses for men?"

I said this many times to various men above me in the hierarchy.They don't seem to think it's an issue. After all they are talking to me, a woman, aren't they? Hmm

SlowFJH · 26/01/2016 20:32

Networking or Not Working?

MelindaMay · 26/01/2016 16:46

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TeiTetua · 26/01/2016 16:41

I don't get this. If the issue is "women's networks" then why does anyone care if men attend--if the concern isn't actually whether men should be allowed in or not? (Maybe, if they sit at the back and don't say anything.)

It sounds as though these are networks theoretically for everyone but actually with an all-female membership, and they want to get men to take an interest.

MrsFogi · 26/01/2016 15:37

They probably do (but not for want of trying not to) as a great deal of effort seems to be spent trying to get men to join/support/run (and don't get me started on talking about CSR) with little ROI as far as I can see Hmm.

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grimbletart · 26/01/2016 15:32

Sounds like your networks definitely don't pass the Bechdel test MrsF. Grin