The death of business women’s networking?

[TimeForDebate]

Just finished a monthly businesswomen’s networking group meetup.

Several of the businesses were based on therapies and so on for women going through cervical cancer, menopause and childbirth traumas.

And some of the women are going through or have had these experiences themselves - and inevitably conversations touched on these personal experiences, as well as building business brands.

If Self ID gains momentum, how will our conversations and confidences be affected and undermined by the presence of men who claim they think they are women?

They will become moe business-focussed, perhaps, if some present do not have or do not wish to share personal accounts of bodily issues.

I wouid see that as a good thing

They will become moe business-focussed

AuntieStella I've not attended these meetings so have no idea what they're like. Based on your experience of attending the meetings, are the ones you attend not "business-focussed"?

The ones I attend are. But it seems OP's are less so.

A group that has crossed a boundary into personal confidences is nit functioning as a business/networking opportunity.

That doesn't mean that discussion does not wander/meander, but a group that shifted its focus to women's health (to the extent it could not function without a high level of personal disclosure, and was concerned that, if ever anyone joined who did not participate, would be detrimental) is not one I wouid continue to attend.

Oversharing can in itself be a snare to professional life (I've been at some very interesting discussions about that)

I definitely don’t go to any business groups that discuss childbirth trauma

I don’t know how I’d feel about that at all.

For me the death of women’s networking groups is the predatory recruitment of women (particularly with young children) for MLMs. I struggle to find any that don’t have a selection of the usual suspects represented and I dread being cornered by them.

that's an interesting question but I'm surprised by your group

the one I attend is solely business focused - if we had to mention something personal - e.g. not working for a month due to medical treatment - then we would, but it sounds like personal issues are key to your meetings?

I share the OPs misgivings.

Womens' networks add another layer to the business-focussed meetings in one's own organisation. They are about barriers, shared experiences, overcoming hurdles and support.

Once a man (who identifies as a blah blah blah) sits at the table, the meeting becomes about helping 'marginalised groups'. The next thing you know, the organisation will be revamped and the title 'women' will disappear.

It would be more appropriate for trans people to start their own networks rather than hi-jacking womens'.

Forgot to say that I would have no objection to a woman (who identifies as a blah blah) in one of my women's networks.

So-called transmen are women and will always be. They'd be made welcome.

I note all the men who have become heads of organisations that concern women and children's welfare and rights are totally out of touch and sync with the impact of any issues on those groups.

Women should be allowed to retain their inclusivity as men do change the focus, emphasis and dynamics of a group, mainly by centring themselves and their sex.

Womens groups will eventually go underground, OP. I believe that is already starting to happen.

What’s an MLM?

Multi level marketing. Forgever Living, Younique, Tropix, Utlity Warehouse, Monat etc. Loads of them at networking meetings unfortunately.

Those seem like very valid business conversations given that they're the focus of their businesses though AuntieStella?

I'd like to think that people who self-ID wouldn't necessarily all interrupt or dominate everything either. But I've seen the opposite so far, so I'm worried too.

It'll all depend on who runs the groups and how they facilitate things.

I'll be honest and say I don't think that will be any great loss. I suspect this might be an unpopular opinion but I think that the businesses at these events are so focussed on 'womens' issues is not healthy and they certainly don't provide an environment that isn't supportive to women running businesses competing with men.