U3A - is it “full of middle-class snobby, cliquey women”?

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I am thinking of joining University of the Third Age. Any members, past or present, out there who think this description is reasonable or unreasonable? Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

My uncle used to lecture for U3A. He was not snobby at all and he enjoyed it immensely. He had incredible skills in his field and an encyclopaedic knowledge. Truly one of the brightest men I have ever known. They were lucky to have him and, from what I gather, greatly appreciated this. Give it a go. No harm in trying.

My parents love it. Anyone can suggest new groups. My mum has set up at least 3 based on her interests and is having a lovely time. Real mix of activities : all sports imaginable at various levels, cultural, games, learning etc.

You can join officially once you are no longer in full time work. So if you retire or partially retire age 50 you can join.

My parents joined when they were new to the area and have made loads of friends.

If you can overcome your own predjudices and sense of inferiority you might be able to enjoy it without being a PITA for everyone else.

Whatever happened to open mindedness? Try it, if you don't like the people you don't have to go again.

My Mum has been involved in setting up and running groups for U3A and is still a member. Lots of different interest groups, monthly meetings etc. In her time she has run a stately homes group, garden visits group, a strolling group, board games group etc. If she wanted to do something she just started a group that tied in with her interest if one wasn’t available. She used to complain that most members were a lot older than her but now she’s in her late 70’s that’s not so much of a problem.

This sounds brilliant. I am going to look it up.

My dad does U3A and he is solidly working class. He said the groups do skew towards more middle class members, but he hasn't struggled to find ones that suit his interests (languages and photography).

You can join officially once you are no longer in full time work. So if you retire or partially retire age 50 you can join.

I'm wondering what the typical age range is? Maybe it's very variable, obviously will depend on what the activity is.

My mum is a member. She is both middle class and snobby, but not very good at cliques.

If there is some evidence that people feel that way about a group, then it’s likely that there is an element of snobbery in some quarters. MC people would refute it, but that’s probably because MC people don’t recognise their own snobbery - it’s the water they swim in.

As a working class person who works in a predominantly UMC world, I’m fascinated by the unconscious nature of people who favour RP accents and middle class signifiers rather than someone’s character, experience or integrity.

An example would be our vicar, who moved to our deprived working class area from missionary work overseas. He used to preach The Guardian from the pulpit and signalled all the hand wringing values of the left and social justice. But who among our former mining village did he surround himself with and put on the PCC? Those with an RP accent, who had professional qualifications and those he could play cricket with when he set up a local team to play the local Indian men’s team. He had no time for the actual stalwart working class parishioners, or women. He was a snob, and a misogynist to boot, but would probably vehemently deny it.

Of course this unconscious snobbery doesn’t apply to all MC people - but you can’t say it doesn’t exist.

An example would be our vicar, who moved to our deprived working class area from missionary work overseas. He used to preach The Guardian from the pulpit and signalled all the hand wringing values of the left and social justice.

OT, but sounds like an example of someone with the 'luxury belief' syndrome.

PIL both members. Not MC in the slightest or cliquey. Religious though so they often pick groups centred on that but do other stuff too. Are in their late 70s, never at home, have a better social life than me (30 odd) and look/act 10 years younger! Go for it!

I've never heard of this before. What a good idea though. I will suggest it to my PILs.

Years ago John Prescott said that we're all middle class now.
So no worries!

I normally go along to things I think I might enjoy and just smile and be friendly towards people, I find not pre-judging others works for me.

As each group is run by and for local people, it’ll very much vary from group to group. I’ve just joined - I’ve only gone on walks so far with a group who go twice a month for a longish walk and optional pub lunch. I’ve been twice. Everyone has been really friendly.

My retired mum has joined, and she comes across as middle class but is a total lefty. She’s made lots of friends there.

We advertise the public events at the university I work at to our local U3A and lots of members come - big interests in history, arts, literature. They have mostly been lovely! Definitely skews middle class and white (but that's also the area) and lots of retired teachers as someone above said. But they are interested and open minded people, keen to learn new things.

My dad is mixed race and joined his local group earlier this year. He says it's fantastic and by all accounts he is incredibly popular with the ladies. (he's 75)

i’m membership secretary to a U3A in Wales, so not very big, 60 members. It consists of mainly retired here from England, a few snobs but mostly just middle class. There’s english U3As that are far bigger with far more interest groups, some have 500 members.

U3A - is it “full of middle-class snobby, cliquey women”?

How can you possibly say that you’re not judging the members before you get there when your thread title is this? Who are you quoting from the part in inverted commas?

Your reply to previous posters is rude (the ones you didn’t like what they said). Good luck to you.

I have recently taken over as membership secretary for a U3a branch of about 460 members. We have monthly meetings with speakers and a large range of interest group. More women than men but that is rather inevitable given the age range. Some married couples but also singles, divorced, widowed and those like me who belong without their spouse/ partner.
As with any group based on an age or a particular interest there will be those you have a lot in common with and those you don’t but it’s not that difficult to rub along together most of the time!

I’m in Cardiff U3A. There were 30 of us in a walk yesterday. It’s a pretty big branch. And I’d say about half and half Welsh through birth or big chunks of their lives and retirees from England on that walk.
Edit for a misread in the post I quoted.

My late Dad was a keen member of U3A. He was quite middle class but was not snobby, cliquey or a woman.

Haha. My mum went and didn't make any friends. She said everyone was very 'english' ie snobby and reserved. She's Irish and very very outgoing but got shut down by anyone she tried to befriend. Very weird. I'd think it would be somewhere where people wanted to meet new people and have interesting conversation?
This is in a very liberal middle class area so in a more conservative one it'd probably be even worse!?

Most of the nice things we have in this country are thanks to the efforts of "middle-class snobby, cliquey women" - public gardens, public health, toddler groups, PTAs, feminism, charities, birth control, the vote. Long may they reign