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 ?

The men's... Following the Supreme Court rules 👍🏼

Yes @mushmonster how? Please enlighten us.

They've got their own clubs.

The key thing is that they ruin anything that women have.

It's like the 'she deserves the purse' movement where women were slipping money into packs of nappies etc to help out struggling new mums. Some men were so disgruntled by women helping women that they went into supermarkets and trashed the baby sections, taking any money they found.

Men hate us.

Just look at the mens US hockey team. Happy to ridicule the women's US hockey team just because they are women.

Shame on the WI

Yes @mushmonster how? Please enlighten us.

Oh dear

All the WI trans women have now relocated to mumsnet!

It’s fine to include whoever you want as a private organisation, you can allow men to join if you want anyway. No need for any proclamations, just allow anyone to join like the Mothers’ Union does - men can attend MU if they wish, we have a few who come with their wives. I must admit I find segregated clubs weird, i wouldn’t join an all female club myself

Single sex group are perfectly legal. If you don't want to join one don't. What isn't legal is discrimination which it would be to let some men in not others. They also have to adhere to the constitution and the the case of any group with charitable status their charitable aims.

Well I'm very confused because I've just read the EDI policy and it doesn't match what @Marmaladelover says in their OP. Were you looking at a previous version or am I missing something somewhere?

It clearly says that only biological women can join, that transmen can join as they are biological women and that transwomen can participate in non-member events.

Please could you quote where it says that because I have just read the whole thing (albeit quickly) and it seemed to be saying the opposite.

Yanbu.

Absolutely shocking stuff.
WHAT are they thinking???

His choice. His problem. Not a woman's problem. WE DON'T CARE.

I have been in my local WI for over 10 years , but will not be rejoicing when subs are due .
I've never agreed that men dressed as women can join and would have stopped if ever one did at the one I attend , thankfully they haven't to date . I voted against it and would continue to do so , I know within my group I'm only a few that think this.
I'm also leaving because my one is extremely cliquey , if the president and her friends like you , then great but if not , wow betide you .

For those of you who think I have misread it , i have copied and pasted the bits that concern me below.

Our inclusion of transgender women in activities outside of membership is based on our belief that being a woman is about biology and lived experience.

One of the objectives

• Highlight and celebrate the diverse membership of the WI, and ensure that our wider movement offers support and fellowship to all women, including transgender women, and others.

Aside from WI membership, we offer other ways to engage with the WI movement, locally, regionally and nationally, including being a WI Supporter and belonging to one
of our Sisterhood groups. We expect all those who engage in the WI movement to uphold the same values.

11. Transgender inclusion
The WI is an inclusive, supportive, and progressive organisation that offers different ways to engage in our movement for members and non-members. The WI provides
educational opportunities and the platform to campaign on important issues, whilst celebrating the WI’s long history of trans inclusion, and embracing the sisterhood and
solidarity of our movement.
Transgender women are welcomed to a range of local and national activities that are open to non-members, as well as our national Supporter scheme. Based on the WI’s history of trans inclusion, we believe that including transgender women in these
activities enriches our organisation to ensure we are a place for both biological women and transgender women to celebrate who they are and influence positive change in their communities.

Wow didn’t know the WI was full of progressive thought police. That said I’ve never met anyone in it.

Our inclusion of transgender women in activities outside of membership is based on our belief that being a woman is about biology and lived experience.

That's a very weaselly clever way of not actually stating "trans women are women".

Yes, being a woman is about biology and lived experience. Which is precisely why trans women aren't women!!!

Exactly

Why is there a special section about trans inclusion? I haven’t read it so maybe there are similar sections about disability etc. I somehow doubt it

Then you are extremely misinformed since the policy covers everything from age discrimination to racism to disability to gender ID. It would have taken all of 20 seconds to check this.

Or let you do it for me

Between the pro trans women leaving the WI in protest and the anti trans women accusing them of being the thought police, the WI has no chance of navigating this issue.

Groups are closing and it seems unlikely the central organisation will be able to afford to keep going in its present form.

It's very sad that an organisation which has been a lifeline to women for a century will be utterly wrecked by an issue which is basically unsolvable.

How can a man ‘live as a woman?’
If you mean by dressing as a woman, I am in trousers and a jumper, my DH is also in trousers and a jumper… are we the same sex ?
A man can’t live as a woman, nobody treats men like this as women. I was once in John Lewis lingerie dept, many years ago. A man came in wearing a dress, tights etc. he was instantly ushered into a cubicle, where he then had three assistants fussing over him and bringing him an assortment of bras. I meanwhile, as actual woman, pregnant and with actual breasts, struggled to get an assistant.

Agree. Plus only a tiny percentage of transwomen have any genital surgery. This is one of the myths, that we are talking about essentially homosexual men who like feminine things and have been castrated. When in reality we are far more likely to be talking about heterosexual men, with normal genitals

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

The WI is biological female only. There are no plans for them to change that.

Any inclusion of transgender women in activities outside of membership would also have to include other men. So 'activities outside of membership' are open to men and women.

But WI itself is female only.

I cant think a trans person is a woman when they are a man. Because they're not. But if they want to join the WI I'm not bothered.