Female only housing and reaction to it

[RhaenysRocks]

Haven't seen another thread on this but apologies if it's already somewhere. Ealing creating a tower lock for female only residents. NOT a safe house in the traditional sense of being hidden away but female only for feelings of security etc. Depressing reactions on SM, mostly around "what about men?" "Who's going to build it"? and inevitably the question of transwomen. Also an interesting point raised about male children and what happens when they turn 18. AIBU to think this is a good initiative and it's depressing that so many reactions are automatically ignoring the valid concerns of women who are typically more vulnerable than men and crying "double standards" rather than acknowledging that it is male behaviour that has created a perceived need for this?

Brilliant! Built for women born as women.
If it is a private charity they can house which ever minority group they choose.

I know of a charity like this that caters for women older than fifty. They have been born and lived their whole life without the advantages of being male and they are homeless..

There is a thread on this. That block isn't quite what it seems if you look into the policy properly, unfortunately. There's a load of muddying of the waters with gender and partners and passing of tenancies to male children.

There’s a thread in Feminism, I think.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5356389-women-only-tower-block-being-built

Here it is

This is wonderful. It shouldn't be needed, but it is. There's no double standard when men commit 97% of sexual and violent crimes. If they stopped doing those things, then there wouldn't be women wanting women's only living spaces.

Personally I think it gets tricky with male children. I have been sexually harassed by male teens and it was terrifying. They cornered me while saying the most vile comments...

Allowing male teens defeats the whole purpose (in my opinion), but you can't really tell someone that when their son reaches puperty they have to move out.

Also what is someone begins dating and their boyfriend stays over several nights a week?
That shouldn't be allowed either.

It's either a male free space, or it isn't.

It's incredibly complicated.

I would absolutely choose this and pay a premium for it if I was single. Knowing that when those doors closed I was statistically far safer would make me relax in a way I don't get to normally as a survivor of sexual abuse as a child and sexual assault as an adult.

If this is the case then it's a load of BS. how sad

It's a great idea but ultimately unworkable and completely impractical.

Yep female only, until some of the women get partners and move them in

So what happens when women want partners and children? And what happens when boys become teenagers then adults?

I live in “transitional housing” for women and children escaping DV. For all intents and purposes, it acts as any other rental, with the added clause upon signing the lease that no men (or pets) will enter the residence. It is a fantastic initiative, built on the (sometimes literal) blood, sweat and tears of our local Koori Elders. As with anything, it’s great on paper, but imperfect in practice. It comes with all sorts of strings attached, but it beats being homeless by any stretch of the imagination.

The reality of this is its not what the vast majority of women want. For all the problems the patriarchy causes, most women want men in their lives: sons, partners, fathers.

If the council genuinely creates a 100% male-free housing block I seriously doubt they would find enough women wanting to live there.

I don't want this way forward myself, I don't think segregation is the answer.

Never mind the teenaged boys, life will be hell once all those teenaged girls start engaging in no-holds-barred WhatApp/Snap/TikTok based bullying of one another with no distractions from said boys.

It's in the article. They live there which makes a bit of a mockery of it.

Women will soon start moving men in and having FWB’s over etc so it won’t be a female only environment if that’s what is trying to be achieved

I like the idea in theory, anything that gives an alternative to shacking up with the next abusive make to escape temporary housing is a good thing.
But the reality, especially with adult children not being able to afford move out is probably too difficult to solve without an equivalent block to move on to when boys reach 18 or a partner wants to move in.

I’d be concerned for male children, too. 18 is really too young for them to be striking out alone (most couldn’t afford to, anyway, especially in London).

Short of building a convent, there’s no way that women only accommodation will be any such thing.

Unless another block is built for young singles, I suppose. Desperate shortage of truly affordable housing for that demographic.

Surely it should just be like getting a pet dog. If you want one, you have to move out 💁
Obviously having to move out when a son turns 12 would be a hassle, but people move house all the time and it's not like they wouldn't have time to plan.

As others have said I’d be concerned about women with boys - I have two teenage sons, would I suddenly be made homeless? Good idea in practice but very tricky to do in reality.

You sound beyond stupid. Nothing like women shitting on other women. Who needs men to do it?

Surely that’s only the responsibility/ fault of their mother who has chosen to live in female accommodation though?

So all women with sons will be excluded? Up the sisterhood 🙄

I think this would only work for single women- bunch of studio / 1 bed flats. There would need to security on the door so only women enter. In principle I don’t see why that is a problem and seems like a great idea. If it involves children and partners etc then no point.

I’m sorry that the patriarchy has done such a number on you that your internalised misogyny is this strong. This is not the reality of the vast majority of women and girls only environments. I work in a strongly feminist all women office - it is the most supportive, wonderful environment I have ever been in. My daughter goes to a strongly feminist all girls school. She and her friends are happy, supportive and uncompetitive. These places have lifted us up and I feel sad for you that you have not experienced it.