Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Local Men's Group

38 replies

CervixSampler · 23/05/2021 19:25

The local paper is running an article on a local men's group for those who are finding lockdown and the pandemic in general a struggle. It made me wonder if the group is open to trans men (apologies if there shouldn't be a space there). The reply I got appeared to say that trans men would have specific issues different to that of men. Yet, the WI is open to all, based on identity. Why is this and is it a thing that women's groups are now inclusive of all but men's are not? Are there any die hard men only clubs out there?

OP posts:
Wanderingstars4238 · 23/05/2021 20:06

Women calling themselves male identified should start invading men's spaces. That would get more men fighting back with us.

justawoman · 23/05/2021 19:48

And yes, it does seem like Men’s Sheds simply hasn’t had to think about the issue as it would certainly have done were it a women’s organisation.

justawoman · 23/05/2021 19:47

Men’s Sheds is a group that seems to do good work around reducing isolation and improving mental health for men:

menssheds.org.uk/

A quick look at their website doesn’t give entry criteria, but it does say that they’re a loose federation of Sheds and also that some include women.

Original poster
CervixSampler · 23/05/2021 19:47

Yes, that's my point, the inequality of this. It's got me wondering now if trans men have any specific needs that a group could meet or are they all lumped together under the trans umbrella so the group would be mixed? Is anyone looking after the needs of trans men?

I did want to join to local WI but as it's open to men then that's not for me.

OP posts:
UhtredRagnarson · 23/05/2021 19:46

What were the different needs they anticipated a transman would have that men wouldn’t?

DdraigGoch · 23/05/2021 19:46

It does illustrate that men's single-sex spaces are under no threat (quite right too, places to socialise separately from the opposite sex are valuable) while women's single-sex spaces are being invaded (quite wrong).

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 23/05/2021 19:44

The Men's Pond at Hampstead Heath had no difficulty in calling the police to assert their sex-based restrictions when Man Friday visited.

And, yes - I think it's inappropriate. I wish other groups/individuals would take a clue from that.

justawoman · 23/05/2021 19:43

The Church of England has female priests. Priest is the generic term; vicar, chaplain, minister are job titles for the specific post, just like in medicine doctor is the generic term and GP or paediatrician or dermatologist describe the job they do.

Massive detail, sorry. It’s true that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches don’t ordain women (or transmen) as priests. They rely on religious exemptions from equality legislation, as do Muslims and Orthodox Jews, who don’t allow women or transmen to be imams/rabbis.

Athelwulf · 23/05/2021 19:42

I get the point here, and think it's a good example of how unequal this doctrine/religion is.

But also, men are at risk from suicide, and I think do as you would be done by, and I respect their need for a single sex space.

I just wish men would do likewise!

I wouldn't want to stoop to their level.

JediGnot · 23/05/2021 19:41

[Uninformed opinion from a man]. Men's groups are pretty rare I think. I like to think that some would be open to trans-men. But I can't see many trans-men thinking that a men's group is going to be a good place for support, and secondly, if they were, the issues wouldn't involve (m)any men feeling less safe.

I have no evidence that trans-men are posing a threat (actual or perceived, both being relevant) to male spaces.

Original poster
CervixSampler · 23/05/2021 19:39
Grin

I was directed to local trans men's club but they didn't know if there were any.

Is the Mason's still men only? What about certain Army regiments? Priests? Pretty sure we don't have any female priests, only vicars and ministers. Female Islamic church leaders or Jewish leaders? Imagine if one day there was a female Pope!

OP posts:
MrsFin · 23/05/2021 19:28

Then come back and let us know Grin

MrsFin · 23/05/2021 19:28

Go and join and see what they say.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.