I'm male. I cannot join the Women's Institute - but you should now if you can. Change the organisation from the inside if you can and make it what it should be

[SingleSexSpacesInSchools]

I should stick to my lane really, anyone who has followed my single sex spaces in schools topic should know I am a bloke, but.

If you were ever put off the WI previously, perhaps now, in the wake of this decision, it's the time to join and guide and hold them in this time of flux into the org that it should have been all along - and change their chairwomen whilst you are there.

Same goes for the girl guides as a volunteer or helper - go, influence them etc.

(Sorry if this is out of line, obviously not actually trying to tell anyone what to do here)

I’m thinking about it. But their acceptance of the law seems so grudging and their statement sounds like they are fully intending to continue to actively flout the spirit and purpose of the law.

You're right OP, enough of being outside of the tent!
My first reaction to the announcement was to search on Google whether there is a WI near me

On one had I agree with you @SingleSexSpacesInSchools …. It would be great to see an upturn in membership that could be attributed to this policy change. But they are doing it so reluctantly and made it clear that they still plan on centring men that I really don’t want to give them my money. A middle ground would be the hope that there isn’t a marked decline in membership of women that these zealots can blame on this change.

I can’t join an organisation that is so insistent that womanhood is something that isn’t my sex ( although they can’t say what it is )

it’s completely irrational and I want nothing to do with people and organisations which are irrational

I do wonder if this sort of depends on your locality. I do agree with you and am v. pro women’s and girls spaces. However never has a bloke darkened the door step of the rural (local WI) or girl guides even at the bigger camps, so there won’t be any changes necessary so it just reaffirms the status quo. I’m curious if it’ll have a bigger effect on others?

I'm a Guide leader and am delighted with the news. We're finally centering girls again and providing the space that they all tell us that they want and need in our Girls' Attitude Survey.

I know I am part of the silent majority, still scared to speak out as I don't want to be thrown out. Our head office team had a lot of ex stonewall staff at one point which polarised our policies. I do wonder if the use of the the 'regretful' language is in part that they are still preconditioned to 'be kind' and also to reduce the risk of bash back TRA attacks that are becoming increasingly common

I am a member and have held out because of my continued support for my local group of mainly elderly women. However the way they have announced the change today, at national level, is actually far more likely to lead to me not renewing my membership in April.

Normally I'm allergic to men telling me what to do. I come over all angry and shouty. But (Sorry if this is out of line, obviously not actually trying to tell anyone what to do here) really tickled me.

I won't join, but you're not on the Shit List.

Cheer up, OP, I think you can join the WI , whoopee!😁

They are setting up special 'Sisterhood Groups' which will be open to trans IDing men.
Posters elsewhere have pointed out that it is illegal discrimination to allow one group of men in, but exclude all other men. Like you, OP. You shall go to the ball, Cinders 😄

I know, I know - you have enough on your plate fighting the good fight down in Brighton, but it would be interesting if a man who does not ID as trans tried to join one of the Sisterhood Groups - I don't think the EA would allow them to exclude him.

...it's the time to join and guide and hold them in this time of flux into the org that it should have been all along - and change their chairwomen whilst you are there.

I simply can't wait for the Reddit headlines about entryist TERFs invading the inclusive WI :-)

I used to be in the WI and left because really it wasn't very interesting.

Every month a different speaker only about one in 4 are of any interest at all. There are only so many wreath making displays or how to cook with herb demos you can sit through. The only thing the members had in common was that they were women. Much better to join a group that is focused on your own interests.

And I know none of that is the point of the OP.

I know of a village where a sizeable proportion of the membership sacked the WI and set up their own community women’s group. This may or may not have anything to do with the WI’s stance on women only membership…

I’m not sure whether the village has a WI group any more.