Should I kick up a fuss with my Grandfather?

[Pursang]

As succinctly as possible: my GF is a senior (as in position, not age) member of a small charitable organisation made up of over 60s (mainly over 70s really), male and female.
For the past couple of years I've been typing up a monthly newsletter / notice / agenda type thing for them, and I'm becoming increasingly irate at the overt sexism inherent in this organisation. Male members are referred to as 'Brothers', women as 'Ladies' . Refreshments are always served by the Ladies (stated in the newsletter). Ladies are not allowed to enter the meeting room, let alone sit in on proceedings. There is not a single woman governor, officer, or on any of the committees.
I've brought this up a lot in the past with my GF in a kind of jokey way, but never really pushed it. It's not really as bad as it sounds written out, the women are a valued and aren't treated 'badly' iyswim.

But do I sit him down and point the sexism issues out a bit more seriously? Or should I live and let live? After all, the members seem happy enough with the set up. It really does grip my shit though.

You could say you're sorry but you'd rather not be involved as you do find it a bit hurtful to you as a woman?

Your GP may not have realized that something all the club members seem happy with, might actually be seen as upsetting in the wider world.

I think he deserves the respect of your honest opinion ... if you put your case politely the worst he can do is think you're being silly.

I think that could be a good strategy - say that you don't feel on your conscience that you can continue to type the newsletter because it makes you feel that your Grandfather and the other men of the group regard women like you as being of less value. If he is open to discussion about how you feel, then you may be able to make some inroads. Of course that may not cut any ice with other male members of the group, or indeed many of the women who may not personally see any problem with being in a servile position or excluded from decision-making if this is a role they have assumed for some time.

It's your grandfather's right to hold bigoted views. It's your right not to collude with them.

Also, depending on the charity, it's size, if it receives any public or charitable trust funding and/or employs any staff or volunteers, they may be skirting the margins of charity law and/or terms and conditions of funders by reserving certain roles based on gender. It would be the same if it were on basis of ethnicity or other "protected characteristics," as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Alot depends on the structure and funding of the organisation, but it might be worth pointing this out if you think they might be brushing up the wrong side of the law.

If they're getting public funding, they are certainly breaking the law.

If they're not, they can do as they like. But as Kritique says, you don't have to go along with it

If you type up a monthly newsletter, why don't you include an article about the sexism of the organisation?

Thanks for the replies. No, they don't receive funding - it's more about raising money for a 'chosen' small local charity, which changes every year. The shame of it all is that they do some fantastic work, it's just the politics are stuck in the past. Think I will have a polite chat though, but at worst I suppose it'll just peter out eventually as the current membership are all knocking on, and seem unable to recruit younger members (I wonder why?!). If I had the time or the inclination, I'd be half tempted to join myself and start an in-house revolution .

Best of luck with that chat.

thundersboltsandlightening that's a great idea! I don't set the content myself, but I know for a fact they have a regular slot for guest speakers on all sorts of subjects. Perhaps I'll suggest that they get someone in to talk about feminism. Then perhaps they may come to the conclusion that some changes need to be made on their own.

And wtr to the newsletter, I'm loathe to say I'll stop doing it mainly because if they had to get it done professionally it would cost hell of a lot more than I'm charging, and I also feel that I've made a little inroad myself being the only woman on payroll, iyswim. Might open the floodgates a little?

You could just change it as you type, much as you'd correct spelling mistakes or bad grammar. He may not even notice, or if he does you could be all innocent and act like you thought he'd be pleased that you are catching mistakes before it goes out to the public.

Sounds a bit masonic/oddfellows.