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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

I think this 'gender equality' move is bonkers (NB: not trans)

54 replies

Mumsnut · 04/04/2018 20:52

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5578639/Police-force-severs-ties-male-voice-choir.html

OP posts:
TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 04/04/2018 20:58

Ffs. Male voice choirs are a necessary and proportionate means of creating a particular kind of music. Should they abolish string quartets because they're exclusionary to horn players?

I'm starting to feel really fucking old

bd67th · 04/04/2018 21:26

I have always envied male voice choirs for their amazing sound. I cannot join one, because I am a woman.

Sometimes, you can't have what you want. Sometimes, sex discrimination is genuinely required, and male voice choirs are one of those times.

donquixotedelamancha · 04/04/2018 22:03

Sometimes, sex discrimination is genuinely required, and male voice choirs are one of those times.

This. Ridiculous virtue signaling like this undermines the genuine circumstances where single sex activities/clubs/places are important.

CharlieParley · 04/04/2018 22:13

It is such a complete nonsense this. Nothing but virtue signalling. Male choirs have a distinct musical character, sound and repertoire, with a history that reaches back over a thousand years. It's an important cultural phenomenon. And beautiful.

To deliberately set out to destroy one in the name of equality is tokenism. A tone-deaf move which demonstrates clearly the Chief Constable doesn't understand the fight for women's rights and equality. A male choir is not the tool or even symbol of women's oppression.

AreYouTerfEnough · 04/04/2018 22:21

This is so stupid. Dh is Welsh, he won't be impressed.

Melamin · 04/04/2018 22:21

We have a local police force male voice choir. I hope they do not go the same way Sad

Waddlelikeapenguin · 04/04/2018 22:24

How stupid, pointless & sad.

AssassinatedBeauty · 04/04/2018 22:25

It's a male voice choir. Which is a particular thing. A mixed choir is not the same.

Why couldn't they have created a new mixed choir, or a female choir, alongside the existing male voice choir? That would achieve the aim of gender equality as well, surely? It seems so unnecessary to force this long standing choir to disassociate themselves from the police, and this won't do anything to foster positive attitudes towards actual gender equality.

UpstartCrow · 04/04/2018 22:25

I despair. I feel like we are being torn away from our past and history whether we want that or not.

Voice0fReason · 04/04/2018 22:27

Oh for heaven's sake! How bloody stupid is that?
I love the sound of a male voice choir. It's fine to exclude women from that.

ShackUp · 04/04/2018 22:31

I would love to see Carmen with a man in the lead role, or a brass band populated by flutes Hmm What a stupid policy.

rowdywoman1 · 04/04/2018 22:31

A ridiculous decision. Male voice choirs have a long and honourable tradition - and a fantastic sound. Equality is really not about eradicating differences Sad

powershowerforanhour · 04/04/2018 22:34

Maybe women should be allowed to join...those that have fabulous tenor/baritone/bass voices (likely to be very few in number due to different physiology). Male voice choirs are wonderful to listen to; the music should not be made to change.

MargeH · 04/04/2018 22:36

I'm starting to feel really fucking old

Me too.

TimbuktuTimbuktu · 04/04/2018 22:42

Also there is a real lack of men in singing so it becomes as legitimate from a diversity standpoint as a single sex swim session or girls only sports team.

Noqonterf · 04/04/2018 22:44

That is ridiculous. And very sad.

TheDukesOfHazzard · 04/04/2018 22:50

Agree with bd67.

Have women (anyone?) complained this is sexist? I doubt it somehow.

I expect feminists will get the blame though.

TheDukesOfHazzard · 04/04/2018 22:51

Also what timbuktu said.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/04/2018 22:56

Ridiculous, but as the choir is continuing, just not associated with the police, not too sad. It would have been very bad if this decision by the chief constable had caused the demise of the choir - no one wants the equality of everyone having nothing.

(And yes, another feminist who likes the sound of men singing).

Howyoualldoworkme · 04/04/2018 22:58

I'd like to see this tried in Wales Angry

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/04/2018 22:58

Why is the answer to "equality " always to take away instead of adding.

Talk about throwing toys out the pram

Unless women are actively blocked from forming a choir surely then there's no harm surely? Women are free to firm a choir if they wish?

TemporarySign · 04/04/2018 23:03

Was just about to say Wales!
This is ridiculous. They have an entirely different sound. Are we supposed to pretend that men and women are the same in everything now? Whatever happened to diversity being good?

AncientLights · 04/04/2018 23:14

Derbyshire police do themselves no favours in this. Of course men's voices are different & distinctive. If women want a choir they can form one. However, the main problem for the men is loss of rehearsal space as that's the only direct thing they got from the police. Hope they find a new one.

LassWiADelicateAir · 04/04/2018 23:17

I expect feminists will get the blame though

I Iogged on to post a comment saying this is being discussed on a feminist site and we all think it is ridiculous. I think comments are moderated so don't see it.

bd67th · 05/04/2018 00:09

@TimbuktuTimbuktu Yes! Singing is good for mental health and men are at a higher risk of suicide than women. Evicting a male voice choir from their rehearsal space runs counter to improving men's mental health.

There are lots of other music groups that would welcome women with open arms (orchestras, brass bands, mixed choirs, women's choirs, folk jams) so it's not like musical women have nowhere to play and sing.