The WI non-members questionnaire: quick and easy to make your point

[pattihews]

The WI is concerned that numbers are falling and fewer and fewer women are signing up. It doesn't seem to have occurred to them that women aren't keen on so-called women's organisations that accept men. Quick, easy and loads of room to say what you want.

womensinstitute.surveysparrow.com/s/wi-non-member-survey-for-women-who-are-not-wi-members/tt-xwsByTfSPd3Jomcuza74KF?

I have been a member & loved it. I had to leave due to work/family commitments. I am now able to rejoin and would like to.

Why do you say we wouldn't have joined? All you know about us is that we care about women’s rights.

The absolute madness of it all is that they specifically say they do NOT allow men in the WI 🤯

Done and I have pointed out the absolute conflict between campaigning for women and admitting male born people. I have told them that I would like to join a single sex women's organisation but the WI is no longer single sex.

Absolutely would join. I am friends with several members, all of whom are on local committees and either have been or are currently presidents. All are uncomfortable with the WIs stance on admitting those born male. They only stay while it doesn't affect their groups directly because they don't want the group to fold because it is valuable to the local members.

@viques what did you say? Looking for inspo!

Although I’ve responded to the survey it’s a bit pointless really. The WI membership has been dropping steadily for years. I don’t know what year ‘Petra’ was featured on the cover but I’d love to know how many members left that year. The more transwomen who join local groups the quicker they will die.

It’s very sad but they are too far gone in admitting transwomen for it to be saved.

I was on the committee of a new WI group some time ago. The secretary was hounded off after someone felt her DH had spoken unkindly to her, the committee split in two and then there was a lesbian takeover, which upset some of the other members. I couldn't take the stress and the drama so I resigned.

I still love the idea, but never again.

I’ve done it twice.

I used to belong to the WI , I esteemed it highly. I worked for it in its various charitable and fund raising activities, I enjoyed the social side as well, heard some interesting talks.

Then one of the officials started carting her transgender husband (or possibly wife ?) around as a speaker to lecture us on how we should be inclusive and welcome them into our spaces, including the WI but also presumably changing rooms , hospital ward etc etc. A late middle aged obvious bloke with lipstick and a flowery dress 🤢….interesting that they now longer lived together though (actually not even in the same county)., that obviously was a step too far on the inclusivity register.

Im not a member any more, which is a shame., I quite miss it.

Very good point.

I pondered, whilst filling in the questionnaire, what would happen if WI listened to us and decided that the definition of woman was 'adult human female'.
How do you row back from the position that TWAW?

I was a very active member of the WI. I wrote a thread on this topic last year.

I did not renew my membership for 2022.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4404002-The-Womens-Institute-and-inclusivity

Isnt that the point though? These are men who despise women. Closing women only spaces is a win.

i was in the process of joining properly when i read that article. There was a line about showing the others how to be proper or real women, or words to that affect, that ended my application process right there. Knob.

Nomadic lifestyle. Changing your name. Avoiding your past…

I always kind of thought I would....

I have grown up in rural villages where the WI are a feature of community and village life. My Grandma was a member and helped run the monthly craft market, my Mum was a member but has had to dip out due to caring for my dad, but she still goes to particular events or talks and has lots of friends who do go.

I sort of felt that was my future, as I move on from the playgroup rota and the pta...I've already started choir and been to a wreath arranging workshop....evenings are tricky with small kids but I'm slowly getting some breathing space.

But, I will absolutely not facilitate the validation of men who want to be seen and somehow approved of as women. I will not be used in such a way. Nor do I want to be part of a group who have clear goals to not only admit and include these men, but they want to make points about asserting that 'women' includes men at some sort of basic level, and what this means for single sex services and provision. The survey asked if I'd give them money to advance their campaigns - ER, NO!

So, this feedback could be dismissed and likely will be. But there is absolutely no reason to think it isn't relevant and important data they should be listening to. None at all.

The whole reason I was filling in the survey was because I was considering joining, my friend had tagged me in it on FB because she knew I would be interested. And I was - until I got to the last page….

The WI feel that their dwindling numbers will be down to not attracting young members and their long standing ones dying off.

I'm sure they believe membership can be found in the political left wing youth. Alternative women who are vocal about environmental issues (one of WI's cornerstone issues), TRA etc. This is about the middle class, middle aged NFWI committee believing that it's "hip" and "cool" to be TRA and appeal to a new generation.

Even their large Unofficial Facebook Group has removed all "debate" about transwomen. They're not asking core members how they feel about their Inclusivity policies. They will find themselves a total irrelevance.

www.thewi.org.uk/about-us/wi-key-messages/equality-diversity-inclusion-policy

Visit the WI link above, and at the bottom of the page look at the Glossary of Terms.

Compare how they define the word Bi-Gender for example and the word Lesbian.... It shows you exactly how much thought they gave their lesbian members compared to the agender, transwomen, pansexual ones etc etc.

I also asked if they were going to be changing their name to “The Institute” as the Women’s bit of the name will no longer be correct!

Well done Deane

Done. I'm in lots of mixed sex organisations but am unimpressed by organisations that say they are for women but accept males. Femininity and feeling like a woman is irrelevant to being one. They also made the WI sound rather dull and worthy. I have enough helping people in my job.

I told them that asking if women would be interested in propping up their finances if they don’t fancy joining when we’re in a truly catastrophic cost of living crisis had managed to make me even less inclined to go anywhere near them. And gave out to them about their policy of de facto barring multiple groups of women from membership by privileging a group of males who wish to be treated as female. (Or rather, wish to be treated as their idea of female. They’re not on board with being talked over/dismissed or - notably - receiving [what they perceive as] poor treatment from doctors, for example 😉)

It was all quite cathartic really. I find it really distressing that organisations tell lies like this & we’re all meant to go along with it. Absolute gaslighting.

@OchonAgusOchonOh
I wonder if the ICA is just quietly carrying on as usual & nobody’s been stupid enough to try it on with them 🤔 Hell hath no fury like an Irish Mammy roused etc… For all it’s the biggest women’s organisation in Ireland, it’s quiet at the NWC - they’ve not a seat on the board - of 10 - (unlike TENI). Really do wonder if, given the legal situation, they’re just trying not to draw attention to themselves & hoping not to be bothered as they know fine well what a woman is - & that Irish Law no longer protects women as a sex class.

@NitroNine - I'd say you're right. I really can't imagine the ICA pandering to this nonsense.

I'm not as optimistic as you- we have seen too many organisations fall.
I truly would have thought that the GAA would not "pander to this nonsense" but here we are.
I would have through Ivana Bacik would know what is a woman.
Or Mary McAleese.
If I saw that ex-boxer, wife-beater guy on the Late Late now, I'd probably hiss at the telly.

@OchonAgusOchonOh

I admit I associate it mostly with the Visiting Grannies of friends when I was wee - could get more like Duelling Grannies at coffee after Mass when they were discussing what their respective groups had been/were doing &/or there was a Baked Goods Situation - but I know I’ve seen some social media stuff about ICA from people who moved Home; & the latter group would no more hold with the ICA stealthily being made mixed sex than the former. It’s a pity the Irish Girl Guides didn’t take the same approach - I’m not sure if CGI are still holding out (while making the right noises): their EDI statement suggests so.