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Original poster

An update to the WI Announcement thread. My DH just got a reply to his application to join them.

966 replies

Another2Cats · 12/05/2025 19:49

This is not a thread about a thread, but recently there was a thread about the Womens Institute announcement that they would not be implementing the SC ruling anytime soon.

I was reading the thread at the time and, entirely jokingly, I suggested to my DH that he should apply to join the WI and see what they say.

So he did just that (he totally gets the GC point of view) and I posted about this at the time:

Another2Cats · 08/05/2025 19:45

I just got my DH to send an email to them:

Hello,

My name is Xxxx (very obviously masculine name). I just read your transgender policy and understand that you accept men.

I am a man and would like to join the local WI group in [xxxx city] (the nearest branch for me is in yyyy [suburb of xxxx city]).

Should I just turn up next Wednesday evening and sign up?

I'm really waiting with bated breath to see what sort of response there is.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5330297-womens-institute-announcement?reply=144143149
.

Well, it turns out that they sent a response this lunchtime.

This is their reply (although with contact details redacted):

Good morning,

Thank you for your enquiry. Our policy states that “WI membership is open to all women who live as women, including transgender women.” If you fit within this statement, you will be more than welcome to attend. I am afraid the WI is not open to men.

Kind regards,

[Redacted]

[Name Redacted]
Federation Secretary
[Two cities - well, a city and a town - redacted] Federation of WIs CIO
[Address redacted]
[Telephone number redacted]
Office hours: Tues, Weds, Thurs 9am – 1pm

Please note the new email address – [Redacted]
.

I don't know, is this something that DH should take up with the EHRC now that he has it in writing?

Women’s institute announcement | Mumsnet

Published earlier today.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5330297-womens-institute-announcement

OP posts:
Thread gallery
32
ArabellaScott · 12/05/2025 20:11

Can I join if I identify as a woman 50% of the time?

ArabellaScott · 12/05/2025 20:09

Ruh-roh.

atoo · 12/05/2025 20:08

Perhaps the right thing to follow up with is to claim to be a man, living as a woman?

Justme56 · 12/05/2025 20:06

I asked ChatGPT what living as a woman meant and in amongst the answer is this gem:

Body Language

  • Socially conditioned gestures, posture, and movements that are considered “feminine” (e.g., crossing legs when sitting, softer hand movements, smiling more often).
BernardBlacksMolluscs · 12/05/2025 20:05

as a recipient of emails from people enquiring about joining our WI, I do have a certain degree of sympathy with the poor woman replying to the OP's husband. In her shoes I'd be going to my county WI adviser in the first instance in the hopes of getting someone higher up the chain to deal with it.

I think what the OP's husband is doing is fine, but do remember that you're dealing volunteers who are in general a force for good in their communities. it's the organisation that's gone bonkers, not the members.

BellissimoGecko · 12/05/2025 20:04

‘All women who live as women, including trans gender women’ - WTF?? What if you’re a woman who doesn’t live as a woman? What does that even mean???

ToBeOrNotToBee · 12/05/2025 20:03

This is completely and utterly hilarious

SlipperyLizard · 12/05/2025 20:03

Well done your DH! He should definitely pursue it further, if WI is a mixed sex organisation then it cannot rely on the single sex exception on the EA 2010 and so is unlawfully discriminating against him by not allowing him to join when it allows other men in.

I’d be happy to assist with any letter/email (I’m a lawyer, not quite the right kind but I understand the principles of why the WI is wrong!).

Then we can all do some gardening for him to engage some GC heroes & sheroes to take them to court.

TheSlantedOwl · 12/05/2025 20:02

Me too 🍺

He could reply asking them to say what living as a woman means, as a PP has suggested.

BonfireLady · 12/05/2025 20:01

Another2Cats · 12/05/2025 19:49

This is not a thread about a thread, but recently there was a thread about the Womens Institute announcement that they would not be implementing the SC ruling anytime soon.

I was reading the thread at the time and, entirely jokingly, I suggested to my DH that he should apply to join the WI and see what they say.

So he did just that (he totally gets the GC point of view) and I posted about this at the time:

Another2Cats · 08/05/2025 19:45

I just got my DH to send an email to them:

Hello,

My name is Xxxx (very obviously masculine name). I just read your transgender policy and understand that you accept men.

I am a man and would like to join the local WI group in [xxxx city] (the nearest branch for me is in yyyy [suburb of xxxx city]).

Should I just turn up next Wednesday evening and sign up?

I'm really waiting with bated breath to see what sort of response there is.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5330297-womens-institute-announcement?reply=144143149
.

Well, it turns out that they sent a response this lunchtime.

This is their reply (although with contact details redacted):

Good morning,

Thank you for your enquiry. Our policy states that “WI membership is open to all women who live as women, including transgender women.” If you fit within this statement, you will be more than welcome to attend. I am afraid the WI is not open to men.

Kind regards,

[Redacted]

[Name Redacted]
Federation Secretary
[Two cities - well, a city and a town - redacted] Federation of WIs CIO
[Address redacted]
[Telephone number redacted]
Office hours: Tues, Weds, Thurs 9am – 1pm

Please note the new email address – [Redacted]
.

I don't know, is this something that DH should take up with the EHRC now that he has it in writing?

If he's happy to do so, definitely!

IANAL but it's a very clear case of sex discrimination. If they let in some males, they can't then exclude your husband because he's male.

Daleksatemyshed · 12/05/2025 19:59

I love your DH, WI or not, I'd still be happy to buy him a beer one day

Toooldforthisbollocks · 12/05/2025 19:59

I want them to clarify what “living as a woman” means.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 12/05/2025 19:58

🍿 🍿

ValerieDoonican · 12/05/2025 19:57

I don't think I have a well thought though answer for you but my first thought was he could ask them what "living as a woman" means , because he wants to work out whether he would count as a woman under their definition.

But it would certainly be interesting to see what the EHRC made of this!

MinnieCauldwell · 12/05/2025 19:56

I guess transgender women could mean transmen, women living like men but actually women? Its not very clear they mean transwomen.

BangFlash · 12/05/2025 19:55

This is perfect.

it’s much easier to argue that they’re discriminating against your husband due to his lack of trans status than it is for women to claim they’re disadvantaged by the inclusion of a man.

they can’t let in one flavour of man and not another. I’d imagine he needs to complain to them and follow their process then he can escalate it if he gets no joy.

I assume (hope) it’ll be sorted soon enough but it makes a good daily mail article.

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