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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it is outrageous to ban women and girls over 13 from a fun run?

328 replies

Lex345 · 14/10/2025 07:32

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kwk1204jno

I just caught this on the news-the article isn't clear on the justification for this-but this isn't OK is it?

OP posts:
SidekickSylvia · 14/10/2025 11:07

SilkAndSparklesForParties · 14/10/2025 11:05

Something I don't understand, is that marriage is not exactly a thing in the Scandinavian countries and yet we in Britain are supposedly unmarried.

I don't think that poster is who he claims to be.

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 14/10/2025 11:07

Plantine · 14/10/2025 10:37

Sure. I'm just saying you care about minor things rather than the big things. And I don't understand it. I have asked many times now what real change, for the better, it makes throughout society that this particular event accepts women running for charity? Like, what significant difference does it make? Will women suddenly be in amuch better position within society if they can participate in this particular run?

You don’t understand it? Your inability to grasp basic concepts is irrelevant to this discussion, but to answer your question as to what real change it would effect is:
Rights and freedoms are taken away from people slowly, and incrementally, you don’t wait until women are no longer allowed out in public on their own, or are required to wear a covering that shows only one eye, for example, before you challenge it.

Plantine · 14/10/2025 11:08

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 14/10/2025 11:07

🫠 ok love.

No, really...show me the law.

BlakeCarrington · 14/10/2025 11:08

Maybe go and read up on UK equality law @Plantine and then return to the thread when you have a clue what you are talking about.

Humdingerydoo · 14/10/2025 11:08

Plantine · 14/10/2025 10:55

No? Because I have never said you can't speak freely. I only expressed my annoyance with you all, seeing as you have a habit of speaking on behalf of Muslim women when nobody asked you to.

We're speaking on behalf of women

Pharazon · 14/10/2025 11:08

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 14/10/2025 11:00

So you’ve waded in on a thread about something happening in the UK, that likely contravenes UK legal protections against discrimination for protected groups, but you know nothing about the actual UK Equality Act? And you’re not embarrassed to admit it? Amazing.

I've answered @Plantine's questions regarding legislation, including links to the relevant sections of the EA2010, as have others. I'm not sure she really understands the principle of the rule of law. At one point she asked what part of the EA required that it be applied in a consistent manner...

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 14/10/2025 11:08

EasternStandard · 14/10/2025 09:30

You’re not in the U.K. and you’re asking women who live here not to talk about this?

We are pretty good at effecting change, and we will keep talking about what we want to see.

Damn straight.

therole · 14/10/2025 11:09

Having this stuff done openly, excluding women, (AND GIRLS 12+) because they'd be w...res causing temptation for men normalises and makes this behaviour acceptable. We don't need to tolerate it.

You can't see your oppression,

@Plantine the above is what is happening if you exclude women from a sport

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 14/10/2025 11:09

BlakeCarrington · 14/10/2025 11:08

Maybe go and read up on UK equality law @Plantine and then return to the thread when you have a clue what you are talking about.

Yep.

Pharazon · 14/10/2025 11:09

Plantine · 14/10/2025 11:08

No, really...show me the law.

I did. You chose to ignore my post. I can repost if you missed it though?

SilkAndSparklesForParties · 14/10/2025 11:09

SidekickSylvia · 14/10/2025 11:07

I don't think that poster is who he claims to be.

I agree, but they still need to evidence their sources.

I wonder if we could meet the poster near the Vasa Bridge to further the debate.

EasternStandard · 14/10/2025 11:09

Plantine · 14/10/2025 11:03

Why? You are not making a difference whatsoever, you're just writing some words on an anonymous forum. How heroic.

It’s certainly got you moved enough to respond to each post.

People to tend to get angry at women on a female dominated forum speaking up, it does have an impact which is great. We also get people invested in denigrating as you are, maybe change does concern you.

OneAmberFinch · 14/10/2025 11:10

Plantine · 14/10/2025 08:54

Here are my two cents as a Muslim woman:

We don't want or need saving from (usually) privileged white women that

  1. Have no real comprehension of Islam, Muslim communities, or Muslim women
  2. Seemingly have nothing better to do with their precious time than to disguise their disdain for our religion and our community behind a faux "worry" about us Muslim women, and about the ways we are supposedly oppressed and discriminated against. If you are genuinely that worried about us, how about telling YOUR men, white men, to stop harrassing us, to stop verbally abuse us, and to stop pulling our scarves off our heads? That, we would actually appreciate. Complaining about a charity run doesn't help us, or makes any difference to us in any meaningful way. If we, ourselves, really had a problem with this run, I can assure you that we, Muslim women, are more than capable of speaking up for ourselves - we don't want or need your "help", or for you to speak for us on this matter. I'm so sick and tired of women outside our community picking our battles for us...just, leave us alone! Let US decide what to fight for, not you! You have problems with female injustice and discrimination in your own communities, focus on that instead of on us.

Also, let's be honest: how many of you who are so outraged and angry on our behalf ACTUALLY had a genuine intention of participating in this run? None of you did. You clearly just want to be angry about something that relates to Muslims. Well done.

Please take your "worry", anger and battle elsewhere, we don't want it from you.

You might be fine with it but I'm not. I'm not trying to save Muslim women who want to live in that kind of culture. I want it to be unacceptable in my culture (which includes any Muslim or non-Muslim women who also don't consider women as second-class citizens).

Humdingerydoo · 14/10/2025 11:10

Plantine · 14/10/2025 10:57

We don't worry about petty things like this in Scandinavia. Unless it regards baked goods, but then again, that's generally accepted as a serious topic.

Yes, we do. We traditionally don't even have single-sex schools in Scandinavia because of how much we care about integration over segregation

Plantine · 14/10/2025 11:10

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 14/10/2025 11:07

You don’t understand it? Your inability to grasp basic concepts is irrelevant to this discussion, but to answer your question as to what real change it would effect is:
Rights and freedoms are taken away from people slowly, and incrementally, you don’t wait until women are no longer allowed out in public on their own, or are required to wear a covering that shows only one eye, for example, before you challenge it.

Just because I disagree with you - who are not the arbitor of right and wrong, by the way - doesn't mean I have difficulties grasping anything. I just don't agree with your way of looking at things, or your mentality.

All those issues you mention about women and public spaces..how about addressing those specific issues, then, instead of taking this chairty event hostage in regards to something that it has nothing to do with?

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 14/10/2025 11:11

Pharazon · 14/10/2025 11:08

I've answered @Plantine's questions regarding legislation, including links to the relevant sections of the EA2010, as have others. I'm not sure she really understands the principle of the rule of law. At one point she asked what part of the EA required that it be applied in a consistent manner...

Yes, I noticed. Exactly like the poster on the FWR thread…..who she definitely isn’t btw 😂

5MinuteArgument · 14/10/2025 11:11

The concern isn’t about protecting Muslim women, who I'm very sure can speak for themselves.

It's about protecting our country from growing sectarianism, Balkanisation and exemption for some communities from UK laws. We want a strong country where all communities are treated the same, under UK law.

MaltWispa · 14/10/2025 11:11

Plantine · 14/10/2025 09:40

I think it's clumsy wording. But words can be changed, right? So if they change the words, everyone will be happy with this event, right? Including you?

No, not at all!
It's the act of actively excluding half the population and then not running another event for the same excluded group. Feels incredibly unfair and unjustified and not in line with how we generally do things in the UK.

AgreeToDisagreeSometimes · 14/10/2025 11:13

I don’t understand feminism! It’s perfectly legal to have women only running clubs but men are not allowed to have men only running clubs? There’s a bbc article from 2024 with the exact same club objective/idea but because it’s women excluding men, then that’s okay then?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx99e5ylyjpo

im a female who thinks gender equality must be fair for both genders. Not fighting for gender injustice when it favours females only.

running group

The evolution of Salford's woman-only running club from 10 to 500 members

A women’s running club founder says there is “increasing demand” for initiatives around the country.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx99e5ylyjpo

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 14/10/2025 11:13

Plantine · 14/10/2025 09:39

Honestly, tell your government to stop invading Muslim countries, and I can assure you that you'll see much less of us dangerous Muslims. Many Muslims only came to your country, because your government was, and still is, complicit in, destroying their homes and life. When you destroy someone's home and life, you can't complain when they come to your doorstep.

Ah so you’re a dangerous Muslim.
When someone tells you what they are….

IamaBluebird · 14/10/2025 11:14

You lot, shame on you, wonderful uplifting words from a poster typing in a Scandinavian country, I don’t think.

SweetTalkinWookie · 14/10/2025 11:14

MaltWispa · 14/10/2025 11:11

No, not at all!
It's the act of actively excluding half the population and then not running another event for the same excluded group. Feels incredibly unfair and unjustified and not in line with how we generally do things in the UK.

Was there demand for a separate event for women? Has anyone actually come forward and said they felt excluded?

BruisedNeckMeat · 14/10/2025 11:16

@AgreeToDisagreeSometimes I agree with you. I think it’s fine to have single sex groups if there is a legitimate reason.

This event wasn’t single sex. Girls aged under 12 were welcome. There is no legitimate reason to specifically exclude women and girls who are considered post-pubescent.

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 14/10/2025 11:17

Plantine · 14/10/2025 11:10

Just because I disagree with you - who are not the arbitor of right and wrong, by the way - doesn't mean I have difficulties grasping anything. I just don't agree with your way of looking at things, or your mentality.

All those issues you mention about women and public spaces..how about addressing those specific issues, then, instead of taking this chairty event hostage in regards to something that it has nothing to do with?

The things I mentioned aren’t happening in the UK - yet - that’s literally the point. Allowing these ‘smaller’ issues to pass unchallenged leads to bigger, much worse outcomes.
I mean, I can see that you’re reading things, but you seem to have trouble comprehending them.

Humdingerydoo · 14/10/2025 11:17

SweetTalkinWookie · 14/10/2025 11:14

Was there demand for a separate event for women? Has anyone actually come forward and said they felt excluded?

Yes, which is how this became a news item in the first place.