University gym "womxn only sessions"

[adulthumanfemalemum]

Went into local uni sports centre today. Posters everywhere advertising their special gym sessions only for "womxn and non-binary." Lots of blah about how important it is for "womxn" to feel comfortable using the gym. At the bottom in small print an explanation that "womxn is an inclusive term which includes people previously excluded from white feminist discourse, such as women of colour and trans women." FFS. So it's okay to use the word woman to describe trans women but not to describe actual women. And these special sessions are in fact open to anyone who says they are non-binary or a woman. So not remotely a safe single sex space. I'm so cross. I was there with 15 year old DD who is super woke with lots of trans and non binary friends. I really wanted to talk to her about it but didn't want to spoil a rare activity together by arguing.

The point isn't whether certain groups have been missed out of feminist discourse at any point in history; have they been excluded from women's sessions at this gym? I very much doubt it. So what problem are they trying to fix?

Actual equality, access and diversity goes:

"I cannot access this facility or any of these sessions because of x."

"Then we'll create an additional session that is accessible for x need. The aim is that everyone can access a session and use this facility."

It does not go: "I demand to go to all the sessions I want and will scream if I don't get it, and I don't care if this means I render some of those sessions inaccessible to others and deprive them of this resource".

That's a different problem. Inclusion doesn't solve it.

Yes indeed. That's exactly my point

And again: what do you plan to do with all the women who cannot use these lovely unsegregated mixed sex groups? (And are therefore segregated?)

I mean, it would be absolutely lovely to live in a world where no women are traumatised from DV/DA/CSA/rape, don't have to live with Autism or other disabilities, there are no cultures or faiths that ever get in the way of women's freedoms...

but since that's not going to happen this year (or next year)

are we just going to exclude those women from this lovely segregation free utopia (which actually only includes the privileged)?

How is this different in reality from the Tory bastard telling immigrants to be grateful for crumbs or fuck off out of this country?

So why did you say it didn't bother you in the slightest?

But how can they check? It literally says that the criteria is that they identify as women. If a burly rugby bloke with a beard turns up he can just say 'I identify as Susan' and they can't turn her away... the poster says as much. I hope a group of Susan's does turn up to show how stupid the policy is a bit like the weightlifter who did the same thing

I think transmen tend to pass better and most blokes probs wouldn't be too fussed as the threat dynamic is nowhere near the same.

@CaramacFiend that's true but I take issue with the fact I only see womexn and not mxn bandied around.

I've noticed it's now a 'women and non-binary' session.

So after defending the 'womxn' word to the hilt, there has now been some backtracking.

So they want women to feel comfortable in using the gym by inviting in just about anyone. Yes, that'll work......

This sort of 'feminism' has become utterly performative. The gym sessions are actually for people who want to appear fully woke so they can congratulate themselves. Women who actually want or need single sex sessions in order to feel comfortable will not be in attendance.

I've come to the conclusion that anything a wokeist says they want or believe in is in reality actually the exact opposite of what is achieved or demonstrated.

Inclusivity is Exclusion, War is peace , Love is hate, and 2 + 2 = 5