Why are the WI now policing thoughts?

[Marmaladelover]

I posted about this on the feminism board but I am posting here because I think members of the WI who are not on that board need to be aware of what is going on

Last December the WI finally agreed somewhat reluctantly did to the court ruling to not allow transwomen (men) to be members. That said people were appalled at their statement saying the WI believed “Transwomen are women”, this was shown by the threads and polls on here at the time.

The WI have just written and published the updated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
which now states that

• Transwomen are women
• The WI offers support and fellowship to Transwomen
• That transwomen enrich the WI
• That all members must accept these values
• That all speakers must accept these values.

Link to policy https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/720327/NFWI-Equality-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Policy-April-2026.pdf

Moreover they have issued a new form that every member must sign in order to remain a member . (Photo of this attached when approved by mumsnet ) This says the member agrees with all policies including this one . Failure to sign the form means you can no longer be a member.

I really hope the press pick up on this post. If you are a member of a WI then please draw attention to this to your other members.

Even members of political parties and churches do not have to say they agree with every teaching or manifesto to be a member.

I thought the WI had come to its senses and albeit reluctantly were going to follow the law. This is a new low for them. I am not being unreasonable am I ?

Just like mumsnet for posters to focus on the wording not the fucking fact that women can no longer have anything without men being involved.

It is absolutely shocking that WI prefer to keep the men happy rather than actually support women by providing a space free from men where women can support and do things together, which WAS the entire point of the organisation.

After their recent legal stance about men not actually being women, I was thinking of joiining our local branch. (I am 59, so the right age group.)

These new guidelines have put me right off. Will not be joining now.

🙄

There’s an awful lot the WI could do about protecting other characteristics in this policy eg encouraging membership from ethnic minorities. But no , even the introduction centres men right left and centre.

I think you are misreading it.

That bit appears at the end of a section of core values, which says:

• Upholding the core values and ideals of the WI which are fellowship, truth, tolerance, and justice.
• Utilising educational opportunities to continue learning.
• Being welcoming and inclusive, and forming friendships.
• Speaking up against inequity and promoting meaningful change in society.

So I'd read that as either a reference to the first bullet (listing four things described as "values"), or as a reference to those four bullets.

The latter interpretation is supported by this bit later on:

Being a WI member means:
• Upholding the core values and ideals of the WI which are fellowship, truth, tolerance, and justice.
• Utilising educational opportunities to continue learning.
• Being welcoming and inclusive, and forming friendships.
• Speaking up against inequity and promoting meaningful change in society.

I still think it's a bit of an overreach to bind all WI members to, for example, use educational opportunities to continue learning, or 'speak up against inequity' (not defined as far as I can tell).

But it's not the same thing as requiring all members to have the same philosophical beliefs on gender. Especially as the policy itself prominently requires the WI to recognise and include diversity of belief.

I'm no defender of the WI generally on this topic. But I don't think this policy says what you say it says.

So are WI: (1) now a mixed sex group and admitting all men; (2) admitting transwomen but not other biological men (in contradiction with the law); or (3) complying with the law but requiring members to sign up to ‘doublethink’?

from your OP think it’s (3)

very strange stance.

an organisation requiring members to state agreement with ALL policies, even if those policies are about what biscuits to serve at meetings, seems repressive at worst and lost in the woods at best.

Have you actually been keeping up?

The WI no longer admits TW because they are men.

This policy says that TW may attend certain events as non-members where other non-members are welcome anyway.

There are plenty of areas which women have for their own. There are plenty of WI events which will be free from men.

Painting a fairly generic standards policy (which covers disability, race, and gender ID) as "coercive control" is offensive and should be called out.

They could decide to be mixed sex if they want to but that's not what they want. 'Barry' is a man, he can't participate in WI activities because 'Barry' knows he is a man, 'George' is also a man but last year at the age of 53 'George' decided he is actually 'Georgia' and despite a penis and a life time of male entitlement both 'George' sorry 'Georgia' the WI think he is now a women. They don't want to be a mix sex group they just want to let a few chosen special men in and redefine the meaning of women.

the women’s institute is now the people’s institute.
Cowardly fuckers.

I agree.

And also, can people stop being offended on behalf of other people?

No it's not.

Has anyone actually bothered reading the policy?

Trans men can be members (because they're women).

Trans women cannot be members (because they're men) but they can attend events open to non-members the same way any other non-member could.

I’m glad they’ve got such an inclusive policy. I know my friends who are members all think so too. Will be joining when I retire. If you don’t like it, start your own club.

And as for being coercive control.🙄

My guess is that the number of non-member events will rise exponentially.

There is no other reason to compel members to sign this.

They were pissed off at being forced to exclude the men and this might be a way they can appease them without being in breach of the law.

It's pathetic.

It is controlling to force members to agree with this policy to remain members of the WI.

yes thanks, I did. And their DEI policy clearly states that they believe that transwomen are women. It makes them sound like a completely out of touch organisation. They’re very reluctantly agreeing to stick to the single sex rule of law, which will put off many many women. (the actual biological variety, not those who identify as one)

absolutely this.
They don’t want to follow the law, they’ve been forced to.

banging the drum in support of men joining women’s groups. Jaw dropping.

Who do think think started the WI? Big clue it wasn't men. Why can't they start their own club?

It’s not coercive control.

The WI have decided that their membership requirements and you can join or not join at choice and you can agree or disagree with their stance.

What I hope is someone steps up and starts another biological female only group so there is choice.

Time will tell if the WI have misjudged this massively for the national collective or a few by their membership figures moving forward.

I am sensitive to this kind of stuff having once taken issue with the Brownie / Guide ‘law’ and requests to swear allegiance to the monarch and do church ‘parade’. When was 9 or 10 I think. It was a bit much.

Thanks for this

Bloody hell, it's creepy as fuck. These women in charge are maniacal. How cruel to do this to women for whom this club was a lifeline.

So they are going to include men as guests. They really need to keep to the right side of the law and make sure these pissing men piss in the men's toilets.

I really cannot sweat about this. I agree with them, in the case of transwomen who live as women daily.

It is not like is sports.
Or Caitlin Jenner been chosen as woman of the year, after being a woman for one year.

how does a man 'live as a woman'?

Is that something to do with stereotypes? I just want to check I'm 'womaning' properly?

Is so bloody offensive to suggest that a man can be woman or live as one! It doesn't matter what colour lippy he wears , he's not a woman.

If all the real women left the WI and formed a group called the Biological Women's Institute then the original one would collapse due to lack of membership fees ( and no members).