Local WI - how to find out?

[JellySaurus]

I'd like to try joining the local WI, but not if they centre LARPing men. I'm quite shy (hence wanting to try an organised social group ) and the idea of starting a conversation is already nerve-wracking, let alone asking a potentially contentious question ! I can do inconsequential small-talk, but anything deeper is really hard. Can you suggest how I could go about this? Email would obviously be easier for me, but it would be useful to have some phrases ready in case I have a chance to speak to members in person. They sometimes have a stall in the market.

Why not go along to their next event and find out? You can generally go to the first event free and without signing up.

What do I say?

As I understand the WI as an organisation must now be women only, no trans women. If a branch wish to continue allowing TW they have close the branch & open a new independent group.
So if they’re still advertising as a WI group they can’t admit TW.

If they sometimes have a stall you could always go there and ask in a sort of casual way if they could explain what the stories in the news about WI has been.

Assuming, as they are still going, that this branch accepts that WI is only for biological women, they should be able to say this clearly.

And if you feel they haven't been clear, and / or you want to be sure, just ask if that means trans women cannot apply for membership.

Also talking to them directly might give you a feel of the group.

Not sure if this would help you, but just a thought.

Go to the WI website and find your local chapter. Drop them an email. They likely have a waiting list though - I waited 2 years to get an invite to mine.

Just a thought , our village one meets in the day and has a waiting list. Women only, but age profile very much over 60, local town meets in evenings and has a bit younger profile. In theory open to all ages , but reality a bit different.
national leadership has been very pro - trans but has had to come in line with the law or risk being sued. Membership I feel much more ‘ terf’
but focus on fun not politics
Have you looked into’ meet ups’ op?

My local branch has apparently lost so many devasted members now men are banned that they will be welcoming new members with open arms.

To join the WI you will be asked to confirm you are biologically a woman (so far so good) and also that you agree with their policies, which apparently set out that women is a trans inclusive term. So some members may have left because of the shedding of TW members, others because they do not agree that TWAW. What a mess.

You’re making too much of this. There are no men in the vast majority of WI’s. Go to a meeting. If you don’t like it, don’t go again.

You are correct. And the very good thing about the changes IMO is that transmen are no longer excluded.

But (and for me it's a big but) the policies of the organisation are now written and the statements of WI leadership are such that they clearly wish that TW were able to remain, because these are - in their opinion - sisters and fellow women and the WI management was very reluctant to remove them. The top of this organisation feels rotten.

Our local women broke away from WI and set up their own club for women. It’s an older age profile but they have speakers and seem very similar to WI. There might be alternatives to WI where you are.

Jelly, it is worth just going and seeing if you enjoy it. If you don't want to commit, just pay £5 each meeting until you decide.

Take a friend if you want to, but I just turned up and joined in.