WI Sisterhood

Oh I used to love the WI,! When a family member was very ill, I found so much support and goodwill. When life settled down a bit, I got quite involved, I worked on the fund raising events, helped out ar the catering ( because it is always the WI who have to do the tea tent) made stuff for the local hospice with the sewing group…..
it was also a very good place for encouraging women who had not been very confident or self assured to becoming more proficient in addressing a group, and expressing their opinion, just becoming more independent. I think this was because the dynamic was so simple, compared to organisations where there is sexual ( in both senses) interplay.

I don’t think Petra will enrich this environment . I wont be rejoining. What’s the point? There are plenty of organisations open to both sexes anyway, if that what you want, there they are. At least the men have to put the chairs away.

I did, MrsPelligrino. I’m always super-careful and I don’t even post very much. I don’t actually think I said anything different to other observations that have been made on this thread. Not a personal comment either, as I would understand it. So who knows.

Nope I know they are definitely female only. I don't see a single male on the UK or international website.

Personal comment?

What got deleted?!

If the Beaumont Society aren't behind this article, I'd be very surprised.

My first deletion

I wonder why the WI are marketing the trans movement to women. Because that's what this cutesy image of a male in makeup peaking out behind a tree is - marketing.

Its not so cutesy when its trans women wandering around the gym changing room with their penis and testicles exposed women and children.

It reminds me of my university newspaper writing about trans women in female sport and featuring a little trans girl who just wanted to be on the cheerleading team. When the reality of it was 6ft males demanding to be in the women's rugby team.

I believe the correct terminology for this is:

propaganda

noun

1. information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

I am imagining a group of elderly ladies being shown how to make banners and posters for the new activism (rather than scones and cakes).

“No Dorothea, that’s not how you spell... but your needlepoint is beautiful...”

I’m less interested in Petra’s trans activism and more interested in Petra’s ability to make a bonnet out of kitchen implements.

I’ve just had a look at the Soroptimist website - there are quite a lot of men in the photos and their code talks about diversity and working with all that share their objectives, nothing I can see about being women only, just for the empowerment of women.

Soroptimists is female only
I'm considering joining my local group
It's more direct action for women and girls around the world, than listening to talks etc

online.fliphtml5.com/gphbd/fgtw/#p=6 for anyone wanting to reading the interview.

You can finish your whole bingo card reading it...sex is assigned at birth...intersex conditions mentioned as if they have something to do with being trans...

It also claims that trans charities aren't very influential and are at the grassroots level (hahahahaha) so they need to get the WI on board to be able to have influence to take it to to Parliament.

Oh, and a bit about how sad it is that trans women have to pay a lot of money for breast augmentation if they choose to have it (so, elective then), with the implication that it should be available free on the NHS.

That won't go down well in our local WI.
They nearly had a breakdown when someone suggested having a different type of biscuit at the coffee break.
I was tempted to join after they gave Tony Blair a well deserved barracking,but our local WI is stuck circa 1954,and I've no interest in the 'prettiest tea cup ' competition.

I'm so close to joining the WI. I've been to 2 online meetings as a guest and it has everything I want/need from a group.
I'm just so far removed from them on the TWAW issue (the WI as a whole, not necessarily my local group) that I've held back on sending the form in.
I'm genuinely torn.

What is even more frustrating is DH is part of the freemasons and they are single sex the unit is either men/women.

Also it's never quite the same dynamic with men around however nice they are yes, I think that's it, the whole dynamics would change. I love the fact that I can talk to women of all different times of their lives and feel we all have the fact were women in common. I like being with the slightly older women in the group that have been through babies/ teens/ menopause and seeing there's life on the other side.

And yes, I think you're right about there being something natural about women grouping together, it feels very 'right.'

Useful for members to know it isn’t just for women any more

I heard Petra speaking on BBC News. It was all about how the WI will give this person a platform for their transactivism.

Oh FGS. I’ve just had an introductory visit to my local group (online).

Are there alternatives that ARE single sex?

Also it's never quite the same dynamic with men around however nice they are.

There's something brilliant about it just being a group of women

What is it do you think? I'm trying to work out exactly what it is.