Well no, I do realise that.

But at the moment not just those on FWR but elsewhere have no reliable safe way of organising a local meet up.

Which is really, really sad.

And for women who feel isolated, and just further emphasises that isolation.

I don’t think mnhq could or should take on to vet and run that.

I realise that, so why I said MNHQ setting it up.

ie effectively they would have to act as some sort of vetting service.

You would be able to post and see ads for meet ups based on you having been posting on FWR for some time

Although that would mean the relentless thread hijackers would be let in.

Sigh.

There just has to be a way.

I wonder in MNHQ could set up a small ads section for FWR to let women in similar parts of the country meet up?

It would be pretty risky though - you’d always be laying yourself open to the risk of TRAs placing or responding to ads. Shitty as that is.

Hi OP - sadly on facebook lots of groups that seem like they could be really nice to be part of are run by people who become facebook tyrants.

I really wouldn't let them get you down.

But I can sympathise if you were hopeing to join something that would give you connections. Many women on FWR have in the past talked about how hard it is to meeting up with other women IRL.

I also think that sadly the word woman in the title of something doesn't mean it is going to be kind, or feminist, or just women.

Not sure is this will help you but according to AI:

Based on the search results, there are two distinct entities with similar names:
Woman Fest (UK) and Womanifest (UK, based in Cheshire).

Woman Fest (UK/Glastonbury)

• Founder/Organizer: Tiana Jacout is the founder of Woman Fest UK, based in Glastonbury.
• Context: Launched as a "man-free" or women-only festival focusing on empowerment, workshops, and music.
• Company Info: Registered as "WOMAN FEST UK LTD" (Company Number 11306829), with Tiana Jacout listed as a director.

Womanifest (Cheshire)

• Organizers: A team of four female entrepreneurs from Manchester and North Wales are at the helm of Womanifest 2025 at Cherry Orchard Farm.
• Team Members: The team includes Lisa Williams (event planning/coordination), Tracy Cawthray (community and communication), and Sara Hughes (crystal healing/business development).
• Context: A wellbeing and empowerment festival for women and teen girls.

Its not talked much about on FWR but there is a distinct and quite flourishing strand of feminism that is basically about being a business.

And it may be for some women that running their own business is the best way to feel independent.

But that doesn't mean that how they interact with other women is as feminists but more as potential clieants.

I am taking a guess that the group you had joined and then been excluded from is the second one described by AI.

Is there any way locally of meeting up with other women through some sort of shared activity?

Or maybe just go to the event, ie dont bother with the facebook group as obviously it is in the hand of control freaks.

You may well find other women attending are much more interesting and worth while than the business women who have put this together.

(Though if anyone remembers the group UK Women's March I think was its name started out as an all women welcome of join a march by women became a battlefield of competing group admins, politics and of course, being kind.)

I wonder in MNHQ could set up a small ads section for FWR to let women in similar parts of the country meet up?

You may have failed on the identity bit. That usually means they include 'women' who are men - and if you disagree with this in any way then they exclude you in the name of inclusivity.

'We also have a designated Inclusive Champion who will be on hand to help anyone throughout the weekend.'

Well I'm sold. Sign me up. 🙄

I’m guessing you would be accepted if you’d bought your ticket already?

If 150 new people joined in a week then it's way more likely to just be a mod/admin oversight than that they're rejecting you personally. Unless you think there's some reason why they've kicked you out?

You don't know that though. Maybe they only allow people into the group if they've bought tickets? That would be a sensible policy. Though I'd expect there'd be something on the page making it explicit.

It is much more likely they haven't let you in because you haven't met their criteria when answering the questions than that they have randomly decided to exclude you on the basis of your name and profile picture.

🤔

Isn't intended for men, but is it inclusive of men that think they’re women?

It is clear from the Promise, they wish to celebrate diversity, regardless of IDENTITY …
Just that word alone irritates me.

OP, I've just spotted this in the FAQs:

Will there be men at Womanifest?

The festival isn’t intended for men and there are no activities for them, however men are welcome to come if they choose but the sessions, workshops will not be tailored for them.

There will be a small number of men on site in a professional/staff capacity, speaking, manning car parks and on the food stalls.

Sounds like the group is just a front for the festival.
Asking for email addresses so they can bombard you with marketing for add-ons and ‘exclusive’ extras. This sort of rather woo-ified scene is very money driven when you look behind the (hand woven from organic hemp picked under a wolf moon) curtain.

I agree, I think it is really "Mixedifest".

OP you're missing something here.

Inclusive doesn't mean what you think it means. Diverse doesn't mean what you think it means.

Diverse means that you can be any ethnicity but you must think the same as us.

Inclusive means if you don't think the same as us, we'll exclude you.

Come on! Tell us what you really wrote.

Gosh I wouldn't hand out my email address to some random Facebook group. FB is more AI clickbait than real people these days. But if you're sure they're real just send them a message and ask if there's been a mistake. Doesn't matter if you send it to the wrong mod, they can work that bit out between them.

You sound concerned, do you suspect discrimination of some kind? What do they know about you that might lead to you being rejected and others accepted? If it's discrimination and they gloat then you have evidence to use in your complaint so it's win/win.

Yeah, I'm not convinced about that either.

I had a look at their website as I've not heard of this festival before. I don't see any of the usual tedious phrases about "all women" but I don't see anything confirming just XX either.

What a shocking (and yet wholly unsurprising) situation we are now in when we can't even assume that an event that says it's for women is truly for women.

….Our promise is to celebrate diversity and ensure that everyone, regardless of background, identity, or ability, has a place in our community. Together, we will foster a space that encourages connection, understanding, and empowerment for all…

I don’t think it is just for Women.

This is all rather opaque.

I'm guessing that only people who've bought a ticket are allowed to join the group. If you've not bought one you don't look committed. So you can't join the group.
You don't know for sure others haven't got a ticket.
Why would the admins gloat? Just ask one of them for the acceptance conditions.

But if this were me, I'd want to be 100% sure the festival is for WOMEN only, before I signed up for anything.

‘At Womanifest Festival, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where individuals feel welcomed and valued. Our promise is to celebrate diversity and ensure that everyone, regardless of background, identity, or ability, has a place in our community. Together, we will foster a space that encourages connection, understanding, and empowerment for all. Join us in making this festival a truly inclusive experience for everyone!…

It doesn’t appeal to me. 😕