To be disappointed in Sting

[Wherearewegoing]

And the rest of them that it’s taken bad publicity to cause then to take a stand. I used to think that Sting was a decent bloke (and I had a crush on him in my earlier life) but I feel very disappointed that he became a member in the first place.

And call it what it is; a sexist, misogynistic and discriminatory practice. Not an ‘anomaly’. Shame on them.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/30/garrick-club-women-female-members-stephen-fry-sting

I agree. They’ve had votes on this in the past and none of them took a stand then. It’s only now it’s generating bad press that they care. Notice all the other men’s only clubs are keeping a low profile at the moment, will probably scoop up a fair few ex-Garrick members if they have to face the horror of letting women in.

I dont really understand why there cant be mens only clubs. I support women only clubs/groups?

It sounds like they’re threatening to leave because they know that negative publicity will be bad for business, not because they really believe that there’s something wrong with the club.

I think it makes the lot of them look pathetic. They want to pander to the press and be seen to do the right thing, but they were all happy with the way it was before anyone said anything. And tbh, I don’t blame them for that bit, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with single sex organisations, but they should either have the integrity to stick up for their right to have a boys club or leave and join a different club instead.

I completely agree. Feels a bit like wanting to have cake and eat it…

‘The horror of letting women in’ 😂 Just imagine it!

The issue with these is that they are places for men at the highest levels of elite careers to socialise. These careers are typically hard for women to break into and see women under represented at the top level. It is suggested that these places give men a leg up, access to the right people and when appointments are made people are more likely to appoint people they know and are chummy with.

If the judiciary held a disproportionately high number of WI members I’d agree.

Maybe they do?

Order!
Order!
Order!

Cake!
Cake
Cake!

Order in the cake room!

Yes,, and??

Thats what happens in life, in all jobs and all levels of life

But thats not essentially the argument here, its about whether there should be sexed clubs and groups for people and I think there should be if its private, otherwise it cant be argued the other way

And going back to your point, you think Joe the plumber from Acacia Avenue is a member? What about Tony the layabout? How come there isnt a clamor for it to be opened to any one if the argument is about people getting together to give people a leg up in life?

Anyway, who was it who said that I wouldnt want to be a member of any club that would let me in?

The point is that Joe and Tommy could be members. Sharon and Dina (trying to imagine what working class women’s names you’d come up with) Also please provide the female equivalent of this club?

Oscar Wilde @ soupfiend.

Are trans women allowed to be members I wonder?
Didn't caitlin jenner hold onto 'her' membership of a men only golf club?

Grouch marx

No idea. I am clubless myself

I really couldn’t care less about the Garrick club being men-only.

And yes, I work high up in an industry where the male bozo’s might socialise there.

Not Oscar Wilde, Grouchy Marx

LOL at auto correct. GROUCHO

Could be Groucho, its shrouded in mystery!

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/04/18/groucho-resigns/

Jan Morris was a member of a ‘gentleman’s ‘ club; no one asked ‘her’ to resign as part of embracing femininity. actually I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘she’ was a member of the Garrick , being a famous writer.

Perhaps they could invite Susie/ Eddie and that would make up the quota.

I can't imagine why women would want to be members there tbh 🤣

The general rule is that a single sex club when that sex is underrepresented is fine. A single sex club that excludes the under represented sex-not fine. So a father's only playgroup- fine. A men only let's drink port and decide who's going to be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer-not fine. So my local church's Daddys and Kiddos Saturday Breakfast (yep, it's a thing) is absolutely fine. The Garrick Club? Not so fine.

Whose general rule is that? Yours?

@soupfiend No. Discrimination law. Obviously hard to prove in some cases, but there you go.

They should start a women's only one and have monthly cross-club socials.

I'm not sure if women being allowed to join the Garrick club would solve some of the main issues with it. Its just spreading the elitism slightly wider (and I have nothing against elitism or exclusive clubs in themselves, its uncomfortable when for example it includes judges heading enquiries and the people who are the subject of enquiries and their lawyers etc etc)