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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Men in women’s groups.

513 replies

gingangirly · 19/09/2025 10:43

Really unsure if I’m being unreasonable, but what do others think?

I belong to a FB group for women over 65 in my town. They have lots of get togethers, at least a couple a week. A few months ago there was a vote after a man requested to join. The overwhelming majority said no. If they want a similar group, start their own. Fair enough.

However there is a trans woman that has been welcomed with open arms. He would NOT pass as a woman, not quite a bloke in a wig but certainly you would know he was trans.

What do people think about this? Acceptable or not? I’m am totally the ‘live and let live’ but seems a bit disingenuous to ban men but not trans women?

OP posts:
AnSolas · 19/09/2025 10:47

The group has already let a man join.

FlippinFumin · 19/09/2025 10:50

I think the EA 2010 may have something to say. Trans identifying males are still males, and if you let them in you are discriminating against other men you refuse to let in.

Maddy70 · 19/09/2025 10:50

As someone who rejects anything women only (or men only) I would have no issue with it

ThreeB · 19/09/2025 10:50

Legally you’ve now created a mixed sex group and will have to permit men also

TeenToTwenties · 19/09/2025 10:52

Maddy70 · 19/09/2025 10:50

As someone who rejects anything women only (or men only) I would have no issue with it

But if you reject it you wouldn't have joined the single sex group in the first place, so your opinion wouldn't really count.

gingangirly · 19/09/2025 10:55

But as it’s a FB group, does that make a difference? It’s not like a club you pay to belong to (like the WI with subs).

OP posts:
Dumbo12 · 19/09/2025 10:55

You voted to keep men out, but have accepted a man, the man you said no to has been discriminated against. The group need to make their mind up

CrocsNotDocs · 19/09/2025 10:56

Leave now. He will destroy the group and make it all about him. He will control what can and cannot be discussed. Some members will pander to him and will turn on members who don’t do the same. He specifically chose a woman only group on purpose so he can get his lady feelz validation. He probably goes home and has validation wanks.

It took 3 weeks for my 10 year plus local women only group to implode when a TIM joined.

Anchorage56 · 19/09/2025 10:56

If they joined because they see themselves as a woman and wish to have more female friends then it wouldnt bother me.

gingangirly · 19/09/2025 11:07

I might stick around to see how this pans out, but I might not be able to keep my feelings hidden. I might be the one to get drummed out. Which wouldn’t bother me unduly.

OP posts:
moggly · 19/09/2025 11:08

What are you going to do if the first man pops on some lippy and wears an ill-fitting dress, will he be allowed in then?

Maddy70 · 19/09/2025 11:09

TeenToTwenties · 19/09/2025 10:52

But if you reject it you wouldn't have joined the single sex group in the first place, so your opinion wouldn't really count.

Sorry .... Every woman's opinion counts ... Women shutting other women down for their opinions is not feminism

TeenToTwenties · 19/09/2025 11:11

Maddy70 · 19/09/2025 11:09

Sorry .... Every woman's opinion counts ... Women shutting other women down for their opinions is not feminism

No. In a group you wouldn't yourself choose to join as you don't like single sex groups, your opinion as to whether it should stay single sex does not count.

I wouldn't join a football group. I therefore have no say in how a football group should or shouldn't operate.

Dumbo12 · 19/09/2025 11:12

Maddy70 · 19/09/2025 11:09

Sorry .... Every woman's opinion counts ... Women shutting other women down for their opinions is not feminism

If a group is stated as women only, then it becomes mixed sex if a man is allowed to join, it no longer is women only. The group has voted to remain single sex, to then admit a trans identified man goes against the democratic mandate of the group

SirEctor · 19/09/2025 11:13

Maddy70 · 19/09/2025 10:50

As someone who rejects anything women only (or men only) I would have no issue with it

This makes as much sense as saying you wouldn't have a problem with the local chess club starting to play backgammon as well because you don't even like chess.

Like what is your point?

Helleofabore · 19/09/2025 11:18

Dumbo12 · 19/09/2025 10:55

You voted to keep men out, but have accepted a man, the man you said no to has been discriminated against. The group need to make their mind up

This. ^^

DurinsBane · 19/09/2025 11:20

FlippinFumin · 19/09/2025 10:50

I think the EA 2010 may have something to say. Trans identifying males are still males, and if you let them in you are discriminating against other men you refuse to let in.

Are they still legally (I’m not talking biologically, I know the answer to that one!) male if they have applied for and got their new birth certificate that they can get when they transition?

SirEctor · 19/09/2025 11:23

DurinsBane · 19/09/2025 11:20

Are they still legally (I’m not talking biologically, I know the answer to that one!) male if they have applied for and got their new birth certificate that they can get when they transition?

For the purposes of the Equality Act (which is what allows you to have single-sex groups in the first place), yes, they are still legally men. That is what the FWS case was about.

Anchorage56 · 19/09/2025 11:24

gingangirly · 19/09/2025 11:07

I might stick around to see how this pans out, but I might not be able to keep my feelings hidden. I might be the one to get drummed out. Which wouldn’t bother me unduly.

Why wouldnt it bother you unduly? Are you not that bothered about the friendships? If there are one or two that go that you do like and wish to remain friends with then perhaps you can meet up just with them.

NecessaryScene · 19/09/2025 11:24

DurinsBane · 19/09/2025 11:20

Are they still legally (I’m not talking biologically, I know the answer to that one!) male if they have applied for and got their new birth certificate that they can get when they transition?

The FWS Supreme Court judgment we've just had ruled that certificated sex is not relevant to the Equality Act. The EA2010's law about single-sex organisations is based on real sex.

Helleofabore · 19/09/2025 11:25

Luckily for us, Akua Reindorf KC has clarified a point that has been repeatedly doubled down on within this thread.

Starts between 34-35 minutes in, but the entire session is good with Naomi Cunningham, Akua Reindorf, Ben Cooper and Sarah Vine.

Either way this is the transcript that I tidied up, although there could be typos.

This is the bit about associations and whether there can be an association with women and males who identify as female.

"But everybody has to have ALL the protected characteristics in question."

And then

"What you can’t have is a group for people with two separate [protected characteristics] …where some people have one protected characteristic and others have a different one".

"Because then let's say you have a group for lesbians or women and men who identify as women, trans women, it's not a… it doesn't satisfy the condition of being a single sex association. A single protected characteristic association for women because not everybody is a woman. It doesn't satisfy the condition for being um a single characteristic association for people who have the protected characteristic of gender reassignment because not everybody has that protected characteristic ."

"So you can't have that kind of an association. So you can't have a so-called trans-inclusive association. I mean as Maya says, you can always have two associations that join up and do things together. There are ways around it. But fundamentally, what we have started to call sumptions law is wrong both for services and for associations. um "

"Of course, if it was possible to have a self ID service or association, For Women Scotland simply would not have won the case. Because this is what the Scottish government wanted to do. They wanted to have transidentified males in a quota for women."

Hope that might be helpful if you need it OP.

SirEctor · 19/09/2025 11:27

OP, I suspect that since it is an informal group and you surely can't be bothered with the hassle of taking legal action, you could try making your case (which is correct) but be prepared that it might cause a big argument and ruin the group anyway.

It's a real shame and it shouldn't happen, but realistically I'm not sure what you can do apart from make the argument and create a separate group with the women who agree with you.

Helleofabore · 19/09/2025 11:29

I think it will depend on how many are in the group. Under 25 people is, if I remember correctly, considered a friendship group and the EA is not applicable.

Either way OP, if others didn’t like the decision, you could start your own group and only recruit new members through word of mouth with someone vouching that the new member is known to them and female.

theilltemperedmaggotintheheartofthelaw · 19/09/2025 11:30

If there are fewer than 25 of you, you can pick and choose who joins, without falling foul of sex-discrimination rules.

deadpan · 19/09/2025 11:35

I wonder what they'd do if a trans man asked to join 🤔

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