The Women's Institute faces revolt ...

I do see your point here. Wear a dress and do housework. I don't do these things very often. So does that make me a man no.

What else can we live as @Viviennemary ? And how?

No male can live as a woman what they are doing is living a male idea of what a woman is.

The idea that a man can 'live as a woman' does sound very old fashioned. What does he have to do to 'live as a woman'? Wear a dress? Do the housework? Paint his nails?

But why? I mean, I am no threat to kids. Take my word for it. Just as women are supposed to take males word that they are women really honest guv. If adults can be excluded from childrens clubs, males can be excluded from womens groups. As a straight white woman, should I throw a tantrum and sue if I’m excluded from a group for gay black men? Or should I just accept that group is not for me as I don’t fit the demographic? Why should women have to allow men into their groups?

Gwenhwyfar · Today 10:35
"Women who join the Women's Institute presumably wanted a women'sgroup. Why can't they have that, even if it makes men sad?"

Same for all those men only golf clubs then?
It's not really the same as a domestic violence refuge or a rape crisis centre, is it? There's no real reason why it has to be just women

I entirely sympathise with men wanting some men only associations.

Nope, not usual at all. Over 60's is for over 60's.

so Basically as a white straight woman I would be very welcome in a group for black gay men? If not, why not?

"So there is a kids club near me. Should I be allowed to join? If not why not?2

Safety reasons I suppose.

"Why are you so against people of either sex having groups that are just for them?"

I'm hardly the only person against men-only golf clubs. There have been court cases against them.

"In you world an Over 60's group should include the under 60's a group"

Usually people of any age can join age-based groups as the age is just an indication.

@Viviennemary how does one “live as a woman”? Do please explain it to us? Or do we need a male with a trans identity we can learn from?

Reading this thread it's hard to believe we have moved on from Victorian times. And I thought I was old fashioned. Maybe people who don't/can't have children don't want to discuss breast feeding. Anyway trans peple are allowed to join if they are living as women.

Yes, but by chance. I have male friends too. I wouldn't appreciate not being able to join my local golf club if I was female and a keen golfer.

Considering Golf Clubs do have men and women members this is a poor example.

I have male friends too - what a shock, I imagine most of us have you are not special or unique in having male friends - however, I still want activities, groups, etc., that are female only.

Freedom of association is a human right.

So there is a kids club near me. Should I be allowed to join? If not why not? Why is it so hard for some people to understand sometimes groups want their own spaces with people of the same sex, age, race, sexuality etc. not everything has to include everyone.

Another one expecting women to justify why they want to have a group that is just for them.

Why are you so against people of either sex having groups that are just for them?

In you world an Over 60's group should include the under 60's a group focusing on a particular disability should include those who don't have that disability, a group for a particular religion should include those not of that religion.

"There are many reasons women enjoy hanging out in female only groups. Have you really never done so?"

Yes, but by chance. I have male friends too. I wouldn't appreciate not being able to join my local golf club if I was female and a keen golfer.

I totally get things like women only gyms and spas where women can be physically vulnerable.

Yes, otherwise they'd be unlawful wouldn't they?

"The reason is that women want a women only association and that's a good enough reason."

So it's a good enough reason for men only clubs? Men only Freemasons, etc.?

It's not really the same as a domestic violence refuge or a rape crisis centre, is it? There's no real reason why it has to be just women.

The reason is that women want a women only association and that's a good enough reason.

Schedule 16 allows for that in the same way it allows for an over 60's club or a lesbian book club, or indeed a society that is only open to trans people.

Well, apart from the vast majority of the members wanting it to be women only, of course.

"Women who join the Women's Institute presumably wanted a women'sgroup. Why can't they have that, even if it makes men sad?"

Same for all those men only golf clubs then?
It's not really the same as a domestic violence refuge or a rape crisis centre, is it? There's no real reason why it has to be just women.

My post got deleted. I'll try again.

The "innocent old TW type shown on the WI magazine cover" is a late-transitioning heterosexual male.

Similar to Debbie Hayton who wrote about it here:
https://debbiehayton.com/2022/05/16/my-autogynephilia-story/