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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Women’s institute announcement

703 replies

Itsthecatsfault · 07/05/2025 15:32

Published earlier today.

Women’s institute announcement
OP posts:
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10
spannasaurus · 09/05/2025 13:24

JamieCannister · 09/05/2025 13:19

Could a man not argue that he is being discrimated against because he is made to feel less welcome and or encourage not toajoin, because the name of the mixed sex group explicitly suggests that men like him (men who don't claim to be women) are not welcome?

Could a woman not argue that they joined because they were lead to believe it was single sex, and they were lied to?

I think the man would only be able to claim discrimination if he was actively discouraged from joining. If the WI advertised itself as open to men and women I don't think he could claim on the basis of name alone.

I think the women may be able to claim misrepresentation not sure about discrimination

FlirtsWithRhinos · 09/05/2025 13:23

NoBinturongsHereMate · 09/05/2025 13:07

They could also become a transwomen-only org and exclude women, or a trans-only organisation and exclude all.women except transmen.

What they can't do is remain a women's organisation and admit transwomen.

Ironically, (putting aside the question of whether these rules apply to associations or not) I think under the EA to be a TW-only org they'd need to be claiming exemption based on gender reassignment AND sex, and since SEX under the EA exemption rules means biological sex, that means an exemption to discriminate in favour of people with both the PC of male sex and gender reassignment.

theilltemperedqueenofspacetime · 09/05/2025 13:21

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 12:52

See that’s where we disagree. Because of all the reasons I’ve outlined (which are more reasonable, rational and well understood than you’re all trying to gaslight me into believing) there absolutely is circumstances and ways the WI could still include trans women.

I know this is all about the WI, but I'm kind of bored with Schedule 16. What's your view on Schedule 3 26-27? Can you shoehorn opposite-sex people with GR back into those SSSs, and if so how?

JamieCannister · 09/05/2025 13:19

spannasaurus · 09/05/2025 13:15

Several posters have said that if the womens institute became mixed sex they would need to change their name.
I'm not convinced that they would need to do so as long as they make it clear that they are mixed sex.
I understand that if a toilet/changing room says womens then it must be single sex but is there anything legally that would require associations to only use female/male terms if they are clear that they are mixed sex.

Could a man not argue that he is being discrimated against because he is made to feel less welcome and or encourage not toajoin, because the name of the mixed sex group explicitly suggests that men like him (men who don't claim to be women) are not welcome?

Could a woman not argue that they joined because they were lead to believe it was single sex, and they were lied to?

BundleBoogie · 09/05/2025 13:17

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 08/05/2025 19:45

Sunshine is a word often used to patronise and belittle women. The misogyny is calling from inside the house with this one.

As far as I have ever observed in my many years of existence ‘sunshine’ is mainly used as a snarky comment to a man. Like ‘pal’ is used as well.

BettyBooper · 09/05/2025 13:16

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 13:00

@BernardBlacksMolluscs PLEASE stop calling me belittling nicknames when I’ve repeatedly expressed this is inappropriate and frustrating. It’s like you are getting off on doing it to make me feel small. You haven’t really made any good counterpoints to anything I’ve said, just name calling.

I’ll repeat what I said yesterday: I thought this forum objected to women being called things they don’t want to be called. But I guess that doesn’t apply when people make points you don’t agree with, or aren’t fully aligned with. I don’t understand how anyone is supporting you on this. I’m actually enjoying people raising counterpoints, I’ve found this interesting, but DON’T call me sexist patronising nicknames I don’t want to be called.

I don’t know why no one else is with me on this. I think it says a lot about this forum.

I have read your posts with interest. I honestly have tried to see where you could have a winning argument (not least because I think it important to know if there are any loopholes that could be exploited).

But, sorry, I don't see them. You cannot logically simultaneously exclude a whole group whilst at the same time including some members of that group. As NC says it's not peanut free if it includes a peanut.

Merrymouse · 09/05/2025 13:16

WandaSiri · 09/05/2025 13:05

I suspect they mean "sharing" in the online sense - sharing a tweet, sharing a photo, etc - ie posting it. Hence "sharing" different opinions.

Edited

Interesting - so share in the sense of ‘send’.

But the meaning is still that we can then all view the same flies, not that I can see some and you can see others.

spannasaurus · 09/05/2025 13:15

Several posters have said that if the womens institute became mixed sex they would need to change their name.
I'm not convinced that they would need to do so as long as they make it clear that they are mixed sex.
I understand that if a toilet/changing room says womens then it must be single sex but is there anything legally that would require associations to only use female/male terms if they are clear that they are mixed sex.

SigourneyHoward · 09/05/2025 13:13

"I can assure you that it’s one programme. And it’s a very large organisation so I’d be surprised if they weren’t given sound legal advice"

@WhatNextCatsAsDoctors can I introduce you to the NHS, ERCC, Westminster Council, the Green Party... I can go on.....

TheOtherRaven · 09/05/2025 13:09

Yep.

The only issue is continuing to pretend to be a single sex org while not actually wanting to be one. Easily fixed, they just have to pick one. Mixed sex or single sex, free choice.

I could say I don't know what all the fuss is about, but I know exactly. 'Women have boundary. Me smash it.'

NoBinturongsHereMate · 09/05/2025 13:07

spannasaurus · 09/05/2025 13:00

There is a way WI could include transwomen and that is by becoming a mixed sex organisation but that would mean any man could join

They could also become a transwomen-only org and exclude women, or a trans-only organisation and exclude all.women except transmen.

What they can't do is remain a women's organisation and admit transwomen.

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 13:05

WandaSiri · 09/05/2025 13:03

I don’t know why no one else is with me on this. I think it says a lot about this forum.

What it says is that we can be arsed to do a bit of research and have at least basic reading comprehension.

Generally very uncalled for. But I was l talking about no one being with me on it being inappropriate @BernardBlacksMolluscs keeps calling me belittling nicknames.

WandaSiri · 09/05/2025 13:05

JamieCannister · 09/05/2025 13:02

Interesting that you deliberately chose to go out of your way to use the term "different points" to refer to what is being shared.

Normal English would be "we are people sharing opinions on a forum".

I believe that you deliberately and misleadingly chose to use "different points" in order to imply entirely different things are being shared, not one thing being share (opinions).

But of course all of this is irrelevant because the EA specifically says share A (singular) PC (singular).

I suspect they mean "sharing" in the online sense - sharing a tweet, sharing a photo, etc - ie posting it. Hence "sharing" different opinions.

WandaSiri · 09/05/2025 13:03

I don’t know why no one else is with me on this. I think it says a lot about this forum.

What it says is that we can be arsed to do a bit of research and have at least basic reading comprehension.

JamieCannister · 09/05/2025 13:02

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 12:49

Words can mean different things in different contexts. And there’s no point trying to ‘catch me out’. It wouldn’t be a victory anyway, we are people sharing different points on a forum. There are no winners or losers.

Interesting that you deliberately chose to go out of your way to use the term "different points" to refer to what is being shared.

Normal English would be "we are people sharing opinions on a forum".

I believe that you deliberately and misleadingly chose to use "different points" in order to imply entirely different things are being shared, not one thing being share (opinions).

But of course all of this is irrelevant because the EA specifically says share A (singular) PC (singular).

spannasaurus · 09/05/2025 13:00

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 12:52

See that’s where we disagree. Because of all the reasons I’ve outlined (which are more reasonable, rational and well understood than you’re all trying to gaslight me into believing) there absolutely is circumstances and ways the WI could still include trans women.

There is a way WI could include transwomen and that is by becoming a mixed sex organisation but that would mean any man could join

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 13:00

@BernardBlacksMolluscs PLEASE stop calling me belittling nicknames when I’ve repeatedly expressed this is inappropriate and frustrating. It’s like you are getting off on doing it to make me feel small. You haven’t really made any good counterpoints to anything I’ve said, just name calling.

I’ll repeat what I said yesterday: I thought this forum objected to women being called things they don’t want to be called. But I guess that doesn’t apply when people make points you don’t agree with, or aren’t fully aligned with. I don’t understand how anyone is supporting you on this. I’m actually enjoying people raising counterpoints, I’ve found this interesting, but DON’T call me sexist patronising nicknames I don’t want to be called.

I don’t know why no one else is with me on this. I think it says a lot about this forum.

spannasaurus · 09/05/2025 12:58

@WhatNextCatsAsDoctors you've said several times in this thread that many legal experts share your opinion. Could you link to any barrister, lawyer or law firms explanation of why what you say is correct

TheOtherRaven · 09/05/2025 12:58

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 12:52

See that’s where we disagree. Because of all the reasons I’ve outlined (which are more reasonable, rational and well understood than you’re all trying to gaslight me into believing) there absolutely is circumstances and ways the WI could still include trans women.

Yes. The circumstances would be to no longer say they were women only and a single sex association.

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 09/05/2025 12:56

more reasonable, rational and well understood than you’re all trying to gaslight me into believing)

Grin see? entertaining

and I did go back and look at the Morecambe and Wise Adre Previn sketch which makes me laugh out loud every time so that was good too sunshine.

https://vimeo.com/479336770

plus I'm now going to write to the charities commission to air my concerns that the WI aren't adhering to their charitable aims.

so a productive few hours really.

Morecambe and Wise - Andre Previn (The full sketch)

This is "Morecambe and Wise - Andre Previn (The full sketch)" by mark kirkham on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

https://vimeo.com/479336770

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 12:52

BettyBooper · 09/05/2025 12:14

I would wager that this is down to a desperate attempt to find a loophole rather than any actual uncertainty...

See that’s where we disagree. Because of all the reasons I’ve outlined (which are more reasonable, rational and well understood than you’re all trying to gaslight me into believing) there absolutely is circumstances and ways the WI could still include trans women.

PachacutisBadAuntie · 09/05/2025 12:52

NoBinturongsHereMate · 09/05/2025 11:21

You have delighted us long enough, @WhatNextCatsAsDoctors. Let the other TRAs have time to exhibit.

Miles behind but properly laughing at this

NecessaryScene · 09/05/2025 12:51

we are people sharing different points on a forum

Okay, that made me laugh. I see what you did there.

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 09/05/2025 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WhatNextCatsAsDoctors · 09/05/2025 12:49

Words can mean different things in different contexts. And there’s no point trying to ‘catch me out’. It wouldn’t be a victory anyway, we are people sharing different points on a forum. There are no winners or losers.