I want to create a meetup group for women but confused about pronouns/gender/inclusivity

[piddocktrumperiness]

I'm thinking of setting up a group for women. A sort of women empowering women type of thing where there would be shared best practice be it in business, health, fitness, relationships, investing, personal growth and charity. I want it to be uniquely for women as I believe the lens is v different. I want it to be a safe space really too. I think men have had the advantage for many years through their clubs and networking circles that have marginalised many women.

Also it's the kind of group that I personally would like to be a part of.

It'll hopefully be a micro community of friends and wing women if needs be, social events with some structure too.

How do I do this without coming across as gender discriminatory because the gender/trans debate is so prolific and I'm finding it all v confusing

Unfortunately you will court a lot of controversy doing this, OP. Women are not allowed their own groups anymore. I wish it wasn’t like that, but it is.

I want it to be uniquely for women as I believe the lens is v different. I want it to be a safe space really too

People will tell you that this isn't so and that no safe spaces are needed from male-bodied people.

I would suggest not going public with a group as it's difficult nowadays to make a public group then exclude people who aren't natal women. Instead, I would keep it low-key and just try to pick up people socially and organically so that it's simply a private friendship group.

It sucks, but I can't see any other way to make this work atm - not without putting yourself and your family in the firing line.

It's a shame as I'd love to join that kind of group too!

Do you mean on the meetup app? I've been to a few all female meetup groups and they seem to manage to exist without controversy. I think a small meetup groups isn't going to hit the twitterati unless a vocal tra decides to take it on as a cause. If I were you ide just set it up on meetup as a women's group and don't mention anything about how you're defining the term. Hopefully it won't come up as an issue. The group sounds great!

Thanks everyone!
I sensed it would be tricky :(
@ValancyRedfern Can I just use the term 'Women' in the name then? and call it something like "women empowering women" or something along the lines?

If you mean transwomen are not welcome, then say it.

Do you know any transwomen or are you making judgments based on what you've read on here?

You just say women and take the shit for it and stand up for it.

I would suggest not going public with a group as it's difficult nowadays to make a public group then exclude people who aren't natal women. Instead, I would keep it low-key and just try to pick up people socially and organically so that it's simply a private friendship group.

Completely agree. Great advice.

Not I'm not saying that, I'm just wondering if I want a group for women, that I may get men who self identify for example blurring the lines.

I do know only a couple of trans-women to be honest and respect that the trans community do have issues they want to deal with but I still think that they are unique to them and the LGBTQ+ community at large, and that issues that many cis women face and have historically faced because of their sex, are unique to cis-women.

If you mean transwomen are not welcome, then say it.

It sounds like the OP wants a women only group.

I think it's sad that it is this complex if I'm honest.
I think it's sad that many cis men have these network circles, social clubs and years of advantage knowing that the incidence of transmen or women identifying as men joining their circles is v rare.

Not the other way around

Please don't use the word "cis" anywhere in your description as you are much more likely to be targeted by TRAs and their "cis" identifying female friends, if you try to keep males out.

"Cis" is gender identity ideology terminology. It doesn't respect different beliefs. Most of us reject it here on FWR.

How are you setting it up? Is it local real life? Online?

A microcommunity of friends- people you already know and their friends?

Really depends on how and what. More details pls

I'm not saying I'm excluding a community particularly I'm saying that the issues faced by both are different and have been different which is why there is alot of inequity between genders and a lack of safe space for one sex in particular

Noted @Ereshkigalangcleg

Please not cis, OP, women are women.... I would be concerned about contacting you online if you refer to women as cis .......

Cis??? Fuck off

Can I suggest that you avoid the terms ‘cis’ or ‘cisgender’ when setting up your group, OP?

I know people say it’s ‘just a description’ but many feminists would be put off, since it’s an unnecessary prefix - women are simply adult human females, we don’t need a further label. It also implies that the user believes in gender ideology & the old-fashioned stereotypes that go with it.

It's likely to be local, face to face ideally but I suppose there may be an opportunity to host things online, if they seminar type things or if the pandemic complicates things

A micro community of women that create friendships. I don't have that many people but could try. I wanted to stat the group so that I can find like minded people too

@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn I agree and apologise

It’s a lovely idea.

[quote piddocktrumperiness]@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn I agree and apologise[/quote]
Thank you - I apologise too for the cross-post when you’d already acknowledged the other responses on the subject! I hope this goes really well for you.

Sadly, I think you'll be targeted.

I'd just call it whatever you want, but restrict membership by requiring new members to be vouched for by an existing member/moderator. & be careful who you make a moderator.

Anything with 'woman' in the title is TRA catnip.

You either tackle that head on, or call it something very boring without the word 'woman' in the title, & quietly refuse membership to anyone who isn't a woman, in an attempt to stay under the radar.

& yes, it absolutely sucks that you can't just...be a group for women. & need to even consider this.

Not everything has to be inclusive. It drives me mad.

Can you advertise something like that on here? That way you'll get people with a similar mindset. Or are people cautious about meeting others through mumsnet?

@CorvusPurpureus

That's a good idea- thank you