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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Reflections on trans presence at a Dykes Who Hike event

414 replies

13RidgmontRoad · 13/09/2026 08:15

For those who don't know DWH, it's an informal mainly Instagram-promoted event and the organisers, two women in their 20s, arrange (relatively accessible) hikes in locations mainly in SE England. Cost to join is £2 a ticket. Yesterday was the first one I've been on, which was 17 miles (Newhaven to Brighton). Around 130 people attended.

There were 5-6 TW on the hike that I could see; two older chaps, one in a dress and heavy makeup, the other looking very much just like a bloke in men's clothing. Four younger ones who looked like the wind might blow them away.

Older blokey one was very annoying - lots of mansplaining on the Whatsapp group, selfies and borderline inappropriate jokes, generally ignored.

Two of the younger ones peeled off about halfway through as they couldn't cope with the rest of the distance. Remaining younger ones were a couple and kept themselves to themselves. They were rather timid and socially awkward, which was a bit of a contrast to 130 hale and hearty lesbians in hiking boots.

I felt like most of the women there just gave the lot of them a wide berth - bit of polite chat then forward or back to join other women.

The (lovely) organisers are quite young and there's absolutely no way either of them would come out and bar TW. I imagine they'd be terrified to take a view. So it seemed very much like weary acceptance. It was rather interesting to observe.

OP posts:
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oviraptor21 · 13/09/2026 17:48

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:27

Honestly, will you just pull yourself together. You're trying to argue that hiking trails should be single sex spaces. Good god.

No-one has said that trail is a single sex space. Where are you getting that from as it would be ludicrous.
What people are saying is that the group should be single sex. I suspect legally it's in a grey area. If it was called Women Who Hike then it would have to be single sex. I don't know whether the recent Supreme Court ruling and subsequent EHCR guidance defined terminology such as lesbians and dykes to be single sex too.

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:46

WellThatsNotAGrowthMindset · 13/09/2026 17:45

Does not appear to be much to reflect on.
One hiking group accepts all
One doesn't
OP finds it interesting that first group has some LGBTQ attending in small numbers, either keeping themselves to themselves or being overtaken
Seems like the second group need support
Some of you could join that one and find like-minded hikers

I think most of them would fail when it came to the "not heterosexual" part.

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:45

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:43

Harsh. Aren’t you supposed to #bekind?

I am being kind to you.

WellThatsNotAGrowthMindset · 13/09/2026 17:45

Does not appear to be much to reflect on.
One hiking group accepts all
One doesn't
OP finds it interesting that first group has some LGBTQ attending in small numbers, either keeping themselves to themselves or being overtaken
Seems like the second group need support
Some of you could join that one and find like-minded hikers

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:43

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:42

It must be so bizarre to go through life like this. Do you have anyone in real life you can get support from? Genuine question because you don't seem very well.

Harsh. Aren’t you supposed to #bekind?

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:42

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:39

Oh no, silly me getting my TRA mixed up again. Must be my silly little lady brain teehee

It must be so bizarre to go through life like this. Do you have anyone in real life you can get support from? Genuine question because you don't seem very well.

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:41

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:38

So no thoughts on the other two groups I mentioned? You seem very single minded.

What other groups?

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:39

Oh no, silly me getting my TRA mixed up again. Must be my silly little lady brain teehee

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:38

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:36

The thing is, there are so many women who are for inclusion of trans women, especially in non-heterosexual spaces, that they massively outnumber the amount of women who are against them. That is why lesbian events that exclude trans women are so sparsely populated as the GC hiking group shows.

So no thoughts on the other two groups I mentioned? You seem very single minded.

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:38

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:38

You said, and I quote…

It isnt for GC lesbians who feel aggrieved, threatened or offended by the presence of trans women in such a space.

so not for all lesbians then?

No, I didn't say that. So you're not quoting at all.

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:38

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:38

You said, and I quote…

It isnt for GC lesbians who feel aggrieved, threatened or offended by the presence of trans women in such a space.

so not for all lesbians then?

She didnt say that. I did. Keep up, babes

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:38

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:35

Ah, so it’s only for some lesbians then?

Yes lebians that don't hold beliefs they find to be discriminatory or just plain vile. Or at least can put them aside enough to hike.

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:38

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:36

I imagine lesbians who don't wish to hike wouldn't want to go tbh.

You said, and I quote…

It isnt for GC lesbians who feel aggrieved, threatened or offended by the presence of trans women in such a space.

so not for all lesbians then?

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:36

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:34

There always gonna be some idiots in a group. Some women opposed the suffragettes getting the vote? Some women campaign against abortion. So by your logic, the groups of women fighting to stop abortions are also doing the right thing? All these groups campaigned to give away women’s rights. Are they all correct to do so? If not, why not?

The thing is, there are so many women who are for inclusion of trans women, especially in non-heterosexual spaces, that they massively outnumber the amount of women who are against them. That is why lesbian events that exclude trans women are so sparsely populated as the GC hiking group shows.

chirrupybird · 13/09/2026 17:36

Their info definitely says anyone gay, bi, trans, etc, etc. Why wouldn't you expect to find all those people on a hike, some weren't very athletic or you didn't like, so what.

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:36

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:35

Ah, so it’s only for some lesbians then?

I imagine lesbians who don't wish to hike wouldn't want to go tbh.

MarieDeGournay · 13/09/2026 17:35

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 13/09/2026 17:32

So why call it a Dyke event then if any man can just turn up?

Cos words can mean anything, and specifically words that refer to women can mean anything including 'including men'.🙄

If it's not a group for lesbians, why can't they be honest and call it something else?

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:35

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:27

Not if she doesn't believe in inclusion of trans people or self identification as this group clearly do. It isnt for GC lesbians who feel aggrieved, threatened or offended by the presence of trans women in such a space.

Ah, so it’s only for some lesbians then?

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:34

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:28

Not only because "men" want to be in women's spaces, but because lots of women have fought very hard for their inclusion in such spaces. Biological women are trans women's fiercest allies.

There always gonna be some idiots in a group. Some women opposed the suffragettes getting the vote? Some women campaign against abortion. So by your logic, the groups of women fighting to stop abortions are also doing the right thing? All these groups campaigned to give away women’s rights. Are they all correct to do so? If not, why not?

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:34

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 13/09/2026 17:32

So why call it a Dyke event then if any man can just turn up?

Because the lesbians who organise it - as the Dykes Who Hike - wanted to? Do they need your permission? Are you a lesbian?

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:33

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 13/09/2026 17:32

So why call it a Dyke event then if any man can just turn up?

Because the lesbians that set it up believe TW can be dykes. Simple as that.

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 17:32

ThisFunSheep · 13/09/2026 17:19

I am not comfortable with this. After I was assaulted my therapist suggested joining an all women's social group to help me get out more without getting constantly triggered.

A women's walking group would be ideal, but just don't exist as far as I know.

When those who are visibly men join women's groups that's gone.

It's also extremely self centred of them. They could join an LGBT or mixed group of which there are plenty.

I don't claim I always know who is a trans woman. If it was someone not obvious I wouldn't necessarily care especially if they were there with someone else. It's those thinking they have the right to be there who are the issue.

This is an LGBT+ group - explicitly so and set up with that purpose by inclusive lesbians. And very popular by all measures. There is a single sex only hiking group too - who could do with some more members so you could always join that one? Or set up your own.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 13/09/2026 17:32

alcovecupboards · 13/09/2026 14:36

To a public hike? I imagine so yes. Unless you think public paths are single sex spaces.

So why call it a Dyke event then if any man can just turn up?

chirrupybird · 13/09/2026 17:31

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 16:47

So why are they using “Dyke”? That is a term for a lesbian or a drainage ditch. I don’t think they’re campaigning for drainage ditches so why use dyke if the group is not just for female homosexuals? Is this another word the trans activists have co-opted to mean what they want it to mean?

More a flood protection than a drainage ditch.

Lexibletheflexible · 13/09/2026 17:28

Rollingpinofdoom · 13/09/2026 17:26

FWR was set up because men wanted to attack women’s single sex spaces? Just when I thought I couldn’t love the place more.

Not only because "men" want to be in women's spaces, but because lots of women have fought very hard for their inclusion in such spaces. Biological women are trans women's fiercest allies.

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