Women's network at work

[MajesticWhine]

Has anyone successfully formed or maintained a women's network in the workplace?
We have only had ours for a few weeks and already someone is agitating for "women" to be defined and for it to be acknowledged that men and those beyond the binary can experience the menopause.
My view is that a women's network is not necessarily going to be first choice for people who identify out of womanhood. Although if events or speakers were specifically about female biology I would have no problem in the event being open to anyone who would find this of interest.
I still want it to be called the women's network. Woman/women should not be a dirty word. I have a nasty feeling this network is going to be renamed or disbanded. I was not involved in setting this up but it makes me feel sad and angry that we can't have something that is for women.

My view is that a women's network is not necessarily going to be first choice for people who identify out of womanhood.

I think they are sometimes targeted for this reason. I've seen it happen with lots of "women's" Facebook groups, that female non binary and trans people have complained about being "excluded".

I wanted to start one at my work, but i know it just won't work.

My work started one up- women's network.

By the time they got it set up it was the gender equality network.

I said I would help but they didn't want me.

First question at first session was aren't straight white men in danger of being discriminated against with all this. From a woman.

Many men nodded.

That industry has 40-50% pay gap. Very few lower paid back office type roles. Male dominated. Very few non white non male non straight people about

I would suggest having a women’s network and a gender network separately that way perhaps everyone’s needs can be met.

OP I tried to be involved and no way.

I did manage to get both sex and gender ID on an internal survey though!

OP anything like this is a red flag for MRAs and TRAs now. It’s like the bat signal goes up. Something for women! quick! Invade!

It’s not a coincidence that period poverty, women’s officer posts, the Jo Cox foundation, Girl Guides, Hampstead Ladies Pond etc etc are all the sites of huge contestation and invasion.

Sadly I no longer even bother with these things as I know they will be taken over. We are back to organising in secret.

All you say is so true WorkingItOutAsIGo.

As someone said on another thread it has all gone underground now, word of mouth, meeting in homes rather than public buildings etc.

Women are forbidden open free association with each other.

Yup! I’m off to a “secret” meeting local to me next week.

Ours has been going for years, I'm involved in the local committee for ours and if anyone of any persuasion would like to come along and do some of the admin and organisation, they'd be very welcome !

I think the reason we've managed to stay going as we are is firstly there's also a large LGBTQ+ community and secondly we say welcome to all so get round the " how dare women have anything for themselves " question. Although a lot of our offerings are around areas that women typically want training in - career confidence, impostor syndrome, mentoring - we don't badge them as women only.