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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be uncomfortable with this aaproach?

29 replies

vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 11:34

Name changed as work related.

The company I work for have a membership with a development platform specifically for women in business. It's purpose is to help women develop and advance in business, help close the gender pay gap and promote gender diversity (from what i gather).

Sounds fair enough but my aibu is the company I work for are offering the limited number of memberships they have to everyone in the company, both men and women, on a first come, first serve basis in the name of inclusivity.

AIBU to think this should be solely for women in the company or a different development tool should be chosen if they want a scheme for everyone regardless of gender?

I have no problem with a development tool for everyone but to be offering out a scheme to men that is designed for women to help them combat the issues they experience in business purely because of sex or gender just doesn't sit well with me.

OP posts:
BillHadersNewWife · 18/12/2019 11:55

That's absolutely unacceptable. Are you planning on speaking to anyone about this?

TreeTopTim · 18/12/2019 12:26

How can it be solely for women if they are offering it to men. I would have to speak out about this.

popehilarious · 18/12/2019 12:31

Is it by female gender or female sex, though? Maybe they realise they will have to offer it to anyone with female gender and they don't want to ask personal questions about gender identity so it may as well be mixed sex?

popehilarious · 18/12/2019 12:32

Yanbu btw

SummerWhisper · 18/12/2019 12:43

Opening it up to men completely defeats the objective of female advancement to close the gender pay gap and promote more women into leadership roles, which is usually what these courses are for.

I wonder if some idiot complained about it not being 'equal' or 'inclusive' if men weren't allowed. The whole point is that women are still paid less for the same work and there are still fewer women in the board room and in management and leadership positions. Until it's 50/50 representation, it's still unequal. What an awful company to not get this. I would complain in writing and make your feelings widely known across the whole company!

Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 12:57

@BillHadersNewWife I wanted to check first that it wasn't me over thinking it.

I might speak to my union rep.

It just doesn't sit right with me.

OP posts:
Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 13:01

I get your point @popehilarious and it does bring up gender questions but then I guess if you want to access a platform specifically for women then you'll need to identify as a woman and be ok about saying that. Although I don't think there's anything to stop anyone signing up whatever gender they they are and you don't have to declare your gender to the company but I just don't think men should be actively invited to sign up for something meant to help women get an equal footing

OP posts:
ConkerGame · 18/12/2019 13:11

YANBU OP. I come across this sort of crap at my work too, drives me nuts. At my place it’s because there are a few senior men dinosaurs who would say it’s sexist to have a women’s only group Biscuit totally ignoring the fact that the reason women’s groups are needed is to redress the inbalace caused by sexism against women!

ConkerGame · 18/12/2019 13:11

Oops, imbalance

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/12/2019 13:18

If it's specifically for women in business, how can men join? I"m confused.

AllYouGoodGoodPeople · 18/12/2019 13:48

If you can no longer define what a woman is - then this is what will happen.

Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 14:15

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy I don't know. I suppose there's nothing stopping them

OP posts:
OceanSunFish · 18/12/2019 14:18

YANBU - surely organisation offering it wouldn’t be happy about this?

Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 15:00

Ocean I have no idea. I wouldn't have thought they would be.

OP posts:
ChristmasSpiritsOnThRocksPleas · 18/12/2019 15:06

I think it really depends on how it’s set up. If it’s a networking and professional development workshops type thing then YANBU. But if it’s about education about gender issues and shaping company policy then having men there would be a good thing.

Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 15:32

It's tools and training for career development as far as I'm aware

OP posts:
Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 15:33

and I gave nothing against a tool for everyone to use. I just think it's inappropriate to use a platform specifically meant for developing women

OP posts:
Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 19:25

*have. not gave

OP posts:
QueenArseClangers · 18/12/2019 20:33

You don’t work for a big ‘ethical’ company beginning with C do you OP?

jimmyhill · 18/12/2019 21:06

Do you have any evidence that any men have actually signed up for it?

Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 21:46

what do you mean by 'ethical' company @QueenArseClangers ?

OP posts:
Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 21:47

@jimmyhill no I have no idea who has signed up for it. I just know that it is being promoted as for both men and women

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 18/12/2019 21:53

Who runs the development platform? Is there someone co-ordinating it’s use externally? I think the way forward would be to let them know their product is being misused. I’d be furious if I were you.

AloneLonelyLoner · 18/12/2019 22:01

This is bloody absurd.

Original poster
vegetablesbling · 18/12/2019 22:11

well at least I'm not the only one who thinks so

OP posts: