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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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OP posts:
ProfessorLadyDrKeenovay · 14/02/2026 20:48

SabrinaThwaite · 14/02/2026 18:55

The WI were happy to throw my great aunts out about 40 years ago (long standing cake related situation).

Maybe they should have just claimed a special identity and claimed indemnity.

OK you can't just drop that then not give us more details...

Catiette · 14/02/2026 20:59

ProfessorLadyDrKeenovay · 14/02/2026 20:48

OK you can't just drop that then not give us more details...

Show quote history

Totally agree.

[With salacious curiosity,] was it carnage? 😁

SabrinaThwaite · 14/02/2026 21:03

ProfessorLadyDrKeenovay · 14/02/2026 20:48

OK you can't just drop that then not give us more details...

Show quote history

They were retired bakers and used to man the weekly WI stall at the market. Except they used to bake their own cakes and sell those first (pocketing the proceeds) before selling the WI cakes.

It did take the WI about 20 years to notice.

Not sure it was carnage given they were both about 80 when they were thrown out.

MagicTape · 14/02/2026 21:28

SabrinaThwaite · 14/02/2026 12:03

@WeeBisom

I was very disturbed to read that some venues have refused bookings because the WI has become woman-only. Apparently the venue did not feel comfortable renting the room because they are a trans-inclusive space.

So apparently the Crossroads Women’s Centre is refusing bookings for the WI?

Crossroads Women’s Centre in Kentish Town is a disability-accessible, multi-racial community resource. We bring together women from different ages, backgrounds and communities to share experiences, learn from and support each other.

How terribly supportive of … erm … women?

Ah, Crossroads. Not a surprise.

Grammarnut · 14/02/2026 21:33

What an utter lot of bilge. A woman only society is both legal and what many women want. And the WI are of course trans-inclusive since now (but presumably not formerly) transmen can join since they are female. Refusing to book venues to a woman only group because they do not include men of any sort is discrimination under the EA2010. Some legal action needs taking by WIs which are now being allowed to tell men in frocks to get on their bike (the one with a cross-bar since they are men).

FranticFrankie · 14/02/2026 21:39

The guardian again- what a load of old cobblers
And- "gender at birth"..... oh behave

Grammarnut · 14/02/2026 21:44

JoanOgden · 14/02/2026 15:55

It's unclear whether these branches are upset a) because this means that Sheila who has been a member since she transitioned in the 1980s and makes great jam will have to leave or b) they have no TW members but are utterly appalled that they'd have to reject any who applied.

I rather suspect it's b).

Probably b). They might get away with pretending they don't know about Sheila, or lying. At least for a year - and you never know, the Labour government might decide to repeal the EA2010 and replace it with an act that says 'legal sex'. Would not put it past Starmer's lot to try this one.

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 21:52

WeeBisom · 14/02/2026 11:05

Ah yes, the "toxic, traditionalist" culture of making the Women's Institute for women only as opposed to a mixed-sex group. I was very disturbed to read that some venues have refused bookings because the WI has become woman-only. Apparently the venue did not feel comfortable renting the room because they are a trans-inclusive space. That's straightforwardly against the law! (Also the WI is trans inclusive as transmen can join, so this doesn't even make sense).

I was also astonished at this part of the article:

"Jules Mortimore of Wells Angels, a 125-member WI group in Tunbridge Wells that also plans to close, pointed out the ruling means transgender men could join WI groups.
“That is likely to be far more confronting and alarming for women than a trans woman,” she said."

This strikes me as pretty transphobic to transmen. What is 'alarming' about a transman? What on earth is wrong with a transman, a biological female, joining the WI? At it's core, it's just such depressing stereotypical thinking. Masculine, 'butchy' women aren't allowed in the WI, but men who wear dainty skirts and lipstick are because they are less 'confronting'.

Absolutely. I've known a transman and she was lovely, would have been perfectly at home in a women's group.

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 21:54

SabrinaThwaite · 14/02/2026 21:03

They were retired bakers and used to man the weekly WI stall at the market. Except they used to bake their own cakes and sell those first (pocketing the proceeds) before selling the WI cakes.

It did take the WI about 20 years to notice.

Not sure it was carnage given they were both about 80 when they were thrown out.

Show quote history

Complete cake carnage! Carumba!

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 22:06

ScribblingPixie · 14/02/2026 17:07

Seven Hills WI in Sheffield will also close after the current board decided to step down and no other members came forward. Clementine Dexter, vice-president of Seven Hills WI, said the group received about 220 abusive online comments after posting that they were closing. “Out of 250 comments, there were just 30 that were supportive,” she said. “The rest were really abusive and awful."
I'm reading that as 30 out of 250 comments want trans members to be allowed to join, and 220 think it should be women-only? They'll probably open up a new branch when the dust has settled.

Edited

I read the thread on FB. 'Abusive and awful' 'carnage'?

I can only see a very few comments not in bwave support. So perhaps they've deleted them. And just kept the lovely sisterly comments calling women who want single sex spaces 'terfs' and 'karens'.

ScribblingPixie · 14/02/2026 22:16

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 22:06

I read the thread on FB. 'Abusive and awful' 'carnage'?

I can only see a very few comments not in bwave support. So perhaps they've deleted them. And just kept the lovely sisterly comments calling women who want single sex spaces 'terfs' and 'karens'.

Show quote history

It looks as if they've deleted 150 messages and limited who can reply 🙄

moto748e · 14/02/2026 22:17

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 22:06

I read the thread on FB. 'Abusive and awful' 'carnage'?

I can only see a very few comments not in bwave support. So perhaps they've deleted them. And just kept the lovely sisterly comments calling women who want single sex spaces 'terfs' and 'karens'.

Show quote history

Jeez, what are these people like? 😡

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 22:30

ScribblingPixie · 14/02/2026 22:16

It looks as if they've deleted 150 messages and limited who can reply 🙄

Show quote history

Gosh I'm shocked are you shocked thats so shocking.

ArabellaScott · 14/02/2026 22:35

It is actually quite hilariously po faced, from a soi disant 'wholesome' 'kind and accepting' poster.

Is it actually one of you lot taking the piss?

😂

TheActualQueen · 14/02/2026 23:08

SabrinaThwaite · 14/02/2026 12:03

@WeeBisom

I was very disturbed to read that some venues have refused bookings because the WI has become woman-only. Apparently the venue did not feel comfortable renting the room because they are a trans-inclusive space.

So apparently the Crossroads Women’s Centre is refusing bookings for the WI?

Crossroads Women’s Centre in Kentish Town is a disability-accessible, multi-racial community resource. We bring together women from different ages, backgrounds and communities to share experiences, learn from and support each other.

How terribly supportive of … erm … women?

🙄

KTheGrey · 15/02/2026 11:05

SabrinaThwaite · 14/02/2026 21:03

They were retired bakers and used to man the weekly WI stall at the market. Except they used to bake their own cakes and sell those first (pocketing the proceeds) before selling the WI cakes.

It did take the WI about 20 years to notice.

Not sure it was carnage given they were both about 80 when they were thrown out.

Show quote history

Excellent entrepreneurialism. Rats to the WI.

MassiveWordSalad · 15/02/2026 11:33

I don’t need to read the article to say that a long-standing international publication should be completely embarrassed to run it 🙄 Fucking ‘carnage’ 🙄🙄🙄

MassiveWordSalad · 15/02/2026 11:38

Also, were the Grauniad to ask some of the more average WIs (not the trendy ‘progressive’ ones) they would probably find that it’s just business as usual and there is a sigh of relief that they can refuse if a man ever wants to join.

nicepotoftea · 15/02/2026 11:46

I don't understand why they can't just set up a similar organisation that allows men to join.

Greyskybluesky · 15/02/2026 11:58

MassiveWordSalad · 15/02/2026 11:38

Also, were the Grauniad to ask some of the more average WIs (not the trendy ‘progressive’ ones) they would probably find that it’s just business as usual and there is a sigh of relief that they can refuse if a man ever wants to join.

Absolutely. There will be plenty of women who don't want to challenge the view that TW should be able to join the WI. Peer pressure/group pressure can be difficult to go up against. Now these women won't have to "out" themselves for the terrible crime of thinking a women's organisation should actually be for women.

womendeserveequalhumanrights · 15/02/2026 12:56

Oh dear. I can rewrite the headline for them:

"People idiotic enough to fall for the Emperor's New Clothes wheeze fed up that sensible people have pointed out the Emperor is naked"

Such a non story, and so what if they become mixed sex groups. Good, that's the point, not to deceive women into participating in men's fetishes.

womendeserveequalhumanrights · 15/02/2026 12:58

Women saying no to fetish driven men = 'carnage'

Rape Gang Inquiry about thousands of children being raped, some by 600 men, and trafficked abroad, police taking no action or helping abusers = total silence.

The Guardian is not a reputable news outlet any more.

I can tell you there's a lot more evidence to support the fact of widespread rape and torture of girls in the UK than there is for women being upset about AGP men not being allowed in the WI too.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 15/02/2026 12:59

Why don’t they just set up a completely mixed sex organisation and call it the Women’s and Honorary Women’s Institute? And carry on doing what they do? Most men wouldn’t be interested. Some might though. And they’d be equally as harmless or as creepy as the average “trans woman”.

Original poster
RoyalCorgi · 15/02/2026 13:58

Does anyone else get a sense of diminishing returns with all this stuff? For years trans activists have engaged in hyperbole: Misgendering is literal violence. Better a live daughter than a dead son. Terfs are denying our right to exist. Right-wingers are committing literal genocide.

Eventually, it becomes rather exhausting, doesn't it? I've a feeling that even the average well-meaning Guardian reader when confronted with the word "carnage" to describe having to exclude men from the WI is likely just to roll their eyes and turn the page.

OP posts:
CriticalCondition · 15/02/2026 14:01

I'd like to see a merger between the Transwomen's Institute and The Women's (Honorary) Official Organisation.

Welcome to TWIT TWHOO.

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