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Original poster

Les Mills 'people with ovaries' and the Less Mills FB group

55 replies

Abra1t · 24/04/2023 08:56

I've just left the official Les Mills group on FB as I don't think my blood pressure can cope. LM sent some of their female members an email about approaching menopause and what they need to know. All very sensible and useful and I wish they'd done it years back when I was approaching that stage.

The email was addressed to 'people with ovaries'. Gratifyingly quite a few people have posted saying they find that expression reductive and they are women.

Quite a few people with testicles have told them how they don't know anything, are TERFs, etc.

I'm hearted that a number of younger women are saying they don't like the expression but won't be rejoining for a few months as I'm so fed up.

It's such a shame as LM itself is such a great resource and the FB group has some very useful posts and recommendations on workouts and help with technique, etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
Abra1t · 25/04/2023 17:36

Those are much better descriptions of their target audience!

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HermioneWeasley · 25/04/2023 17:48

So many people on the latest FB post supporting Les Mills but also saying “it’s great to see content for women”, not realising how violently transphobic that is 🙄. It’s interesting to see this intersect with real life and see how unaware the majority are of what’s going on - there’s a few GC women, a few handmaidens and misogynist woke bros, and then the majority who are confused but most trying to be “kind and inclusive”.

MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 26/04/2023 05:43

And of course, not good enough for some, someone commented they wanted a specific trans support message from Les Mills

They bloody well did it. The apology for offense apparently was only for those without ovaries going through menopause (not the women offended by the language!)

Then 3 paragraphs of

MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 26/04/2023 05:44

Sorry, pressed post.

3 paragraphs of we're a rainbow tick organisation (whatever that means, like Stonewall probably), we're committed

MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 26/04/2023 05:55

Dammit again!!

Committed to LGBTQIAA+, no transphobia tolerated, you'll be booted out of the group, and then harping on about a time of unprecedented hate and violence against trans and gender non conforming people. FFS, it's women saying no. That's all. Women, who want our language used when talking about our issues. Hate and violence indeed!

Women, no apologies for you, we've been told by our rainbow tick masters it sounded like we did so we need to make a 'really important point we missed' that wasn't the case and what's more we'll be referring to you as 'cis'

Obviously followed by more gushing comments (happy that the uppity women have been put firmly in their place) 😡

Norma27 · 26/04/2023 06:32

I have replied on there. Waiting to see if I get banned. A few women saying not to call us cis. One person demanding they take down a post signposting a ladies menopause group and that les mills is not following its rainbow tick obligations by discriminating against the lgbtqia++ in keeping the post up. Their demands are never ending.

Banoffeepie21 · 26/04/2023 06:34

@MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking I could just about tolerate what they’ve put so far, but that last statement is the nail in the coffin for me. 😥

Norma27 · 26/04/2023 07:05

Interestingly on the latest post, all the comments saying not to call us cis seem to be getting more likes than other gushing comments.

HermioneWeasley · 26/04/2023 07:14

Banoffeepie21 · 26/04/2023 06:34

@MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking I could just about tolerate what they’ve put so far, but that last statement is the nail in the coffin for me. 😥

Me too. I had already cancel,d my annual subscription, but it renews next year and I was hoping they wouldn’t fuck up again as I really enjoy and use (and benefit from) the service, but I won’t give my money to orgs that behave like this

Les Mills 'people with ovaries' and the Less Mills FB group
Banoffeepie21 · 26/04/2023 08:17

Norma27 · 26/04/2023 06:32

I have replied on there. Waiting to see if I get banned. A few women saying not to call us cis. One person demanding they take down a post signposting a ladies menopause group and that les mills is not following its rainbow tick obligations by discriminating against the lgbtqia++ in keeping the post up. Their demands are never ending.

I thought that was ridiculous. How is signposting to a menopause focussed resource offensive?

HermioneWeasley · 26/04/2023 08:39

Banoffeepie21 · 26/04/2023 08:17

I thought that was ridiculous. How is signposting to a menopause focussed resource offensive?

Show quote history

Because it only referred to women and didn’t reduce us to body parts. The authoritarianism is extraordinary. I can’t see that post any more, not sure if it’s because I blocked the commenter.

Norma27 · 26/04/2023 08:48

It’s just ridiculous. I’m waiting for the banhammer now.

Greenfairydust · 26/04/2023 08:52

This is so dumb and offensive.

Also when you consider that some women have had their ovaries removed because of cancer/as part of hysterectomies, it really is inappropriate language.

A woman should never be defined or described by her ovaries.

And we should not avoid using the word ''women'' because someone who is transitioning might take offence or whatever.

These type of advice should be worded based on the needs and expectations of majority and on common sense.

Original poster
Abra1t · 26/04/2023 08:54

When will these children grow up?

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Norma27 · 26/04/2023 09:14

I’m so pleased I didn’t renew my sub. I stayed in the fb group to see how ridiculous it could get. There is a possible man (hard to tell with filters on a pfp) mansplaining to me on there. Obviously hates being disagreed with.

MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 26/04/2023 09:58

Aaaaaand they're turned off the comments. Glad to see it's not being taken lying down though, and so far as I can see the most liked comment is the one that says I'm offended by cis, I'm just a woman!

Norma27 · 26/04/2023 10:23

I wasn’t sure if all comments were turned off or just mine! I’m not that original woman saying about not being called cis but I am one of the others!

CheeseMuffin · 26/04/2023 12:58

I've just watched Jackie Mills' intro to the new menopause workouts and she says women! I didn't watch all of it but there's no mention of "people with ovaries". Jackie is a doctor so I assume she knows what a woman is!

It seems there is a disjoint between those who are putting the programmes together and the social media team.

Original poster
Abra1t · 26/04/2023 13:45

She used to be an obstetrician or gynaecologist, I believe.

OP posts:
toastandmarmaladeandtea · 30/06/2023 09:31

They're affiliated with stonewall- the pro trans, anti woman, anti homosexual lobby group

Original poster
Abra1t · 04/08/2023 11:57

It's interesting that a number of the older women, Kaylie Gates, Jackie Mills and Diana, have all retired/will retire as presenters recently. Could just be to let the younger people get more exposure in front of the cameras, but I wonder if they find the new vibe doesn't suit them, either?

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Norma27 · 04/08/2023 12:00

That is interesting @Abra1t.
Could be the case.

Original poster
Abra1t · 04/08/2023 12:07

In general, the presenters look much younger now, I've noticed. Fine, you have to give everyone a fair chance, but I do wonder if they realise how much of their customer base is women aged 40-plus? A lot of us (I'm 59) have more spare time and money and energy for fitness now than we did in our twenties and thirties.

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CheeseMuffin · 04/08/2023 12:12

I've seen Kylie and Diana on newer releases, and Rachel still does combat. Plus Lisa Osborne is still going strong and must be pushing 60!

kittykarate · 04/08/2023 12:41

Diana and Jackie have announced that they're 'behind the scenes' and won't be in any more videos. They didn't take part in the BB 100 filming, which is really sad to me. So this next batch of videos to hit on demand will be missing them.

Kylie apparently only just announced that she's stepping back at the LA-Live, so she'll be phasing out gradually.

I'm gutted at this, as while I like Joesh, none of the other BB presenters really work for me. Do not like new man bun fella Fraser that much (yet).