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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Would this women's social group put you off joining?

142 replies

purplestrip · 23/06/2026 14:31

In my local town there is a group called the town's name girls collective. Its supposedly a social group for women to come along and take part in various activities like running, yoga or crafts as to make new friends. Sounds good right but on their socials they make it very clear that anyone who doesn't think transwomen are women are not welcome and presumably men themselves who imagine they are women are welcome. They also have a whole list of prerequisites of any potential joiner's political views such as being pro-Palestinian, opposed to ICE, pro asylum seeker, pro-refugee to be welcome yourself and that if you ignore the suffering of people in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Iran and Myanmar then the community is not for you. If you think women's spaces should exclude males transwomen then this is not the community for you and so on.

Now for what it's worth I agree with most of their politics but I am gender critical but I also think that not every interaction has to be founded on complete political alignment and that they are actually being quite exclusionary.

Personally I'd be put off attending myself and I wonder how many other women they are driving away with such a confrontational set of requirements. I don't know if they have any males who go to their group but I do think its somewhat ironic that a group set up for women prioritises male inclusion over those of women they don't happen to agree with on everything!

OP posts:
Dabralor · 23/06/2026 18:48

Tbh the trans thing doesn’t fuss me nearly as much as the list of political and ideological positions I’d have to prove I have. Sounds a bit intense for a community group. I’d just want to chat about things on the telly whilst having a knit, I’m not needing to discuss ICE.

Biscofffan · 23/06/2026 18:49

This sounds like 'Heathers" for so-called grown ups. Or the Freemasons. Do they have a bizarre joining ritual involving crochet, sticky-backed plastic and swearing allegiance to Sam Smith?

WearyAuldWumman · 23/06/2026 18:50

I'd give it a wide berth. I don't expect fellow hobbyists to share my political views.

CassOle · 23/06/2026 18:52

Biscofffan · 23/06/2026 18:49

This sounds like 'Heathers" for so-called grown ups. Or the Freemasons. Do they have a bizarre joining ritual involving crochet, sticky-backed plastic and swearing allegiance to Sam Smith?

High School Film GIF by Arrow Video

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WearyAuldWumman · 23/06/2026 18:52

CurlewKate · 23/06/2026 16:47

It calls itself a “girls collective”? Are you sure?

I'm doubting that they're girls, somehow.

Dabralor · 23/06/2026 18:53

EyesOpening · 23/06/2026 18:46

That's not a social club, that's a job at Lush.

Yes, this.

‘can I buy this pongy bathbomb please?’
’not until you state your position about the Judean Peoples Front, love’

mylifeisexams · 23/06/2026 18:55

EyesOpening · 23/06/2026 18:46

That's not a social club, that's a job at Lush.

😂

yes fuck that OP. Can you start your own group?

hahabahbag · 23/06/2026 18:58

Personal choice as it’s a private organisation, start a rival organisation perhaps. I wouldn’t join because I hate organised groups!

thebrollachan · 23/06/2026 18:59

ChamonixMountainBum · 23/06/2026 15:25

Just rock up with your Harry Potter book under your arm while wearing your IDF t-shirt.....

I have an excellent one with the slogan 'Guns 'n' Moses'.

onlytherain · 23/06/2026 19:13

They won't be discussing anything though, will they?
"I am against ICE."
"Me too."
The end.

The town name mixed-sex echo-chamber fun bunch.

disturbia · 23/06/2026 19:19

purplestrip · 23/06/2026 14:31

In my local town there is a group called the town's name girls collective. Its supposedly a social group for women to come along and take part in various activities like running, yoga or crafts as to make new friends. Sounds good right but on their socials they make it very clear that anyone who doesn't think transwomen are women are not welcome and presumably men themselves who imagine they are women are welcome. They also have a whole list of prerequisites of any potential joiner's political views such as being pro-Palestinian, opposed to ICE, pro asylum seeker, pro-refugee to be welcome yourself and that if you ignore the suffering of people in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Iran and Myanmar then the community is not for you. If you think women's spaces should exclude males transwomen then this is not the community for you and so on.

Now for what it's worth I agree with most of their politics but I am gender critical but I also think that not every interaction has to be founded on complete political alignment and that they are actually being quite exclusionary.

Personally I'd be put off attending myself and I wonder how many other women they are driving away with such a confrontational set of requirements. I don't know if they have any males who go to their group but I do think its somewhat ironic that a group set up for women prioritises male inclusion over those of women they don't happen to agree with on everything!

They sound a bundle of fun and laughs....I don't think

user293948849167 · 23/06/2026 19:50

No it sounds awful! No way would I be joining any group that thinks they can tell me how to think.
Reminds me of primary school “you can’t be in our gang if you support X football team” 😂

13RidgmontRoad · 23/06/2026 20:31

I hate this sort of thing. I'm a butch lesbian, and a Jew. I'd love to participate in more women's social events. I spend a good proportion of my time online being targeted by events that look promising but mention either TWAW or Palestine or both.

Now I think I have fairly nuanced views on both TWAW and Palestine and lots of other things and I'm happy to speak to anyone but if that's the first thing I spot on the poster for your event then (reasonably?) I assume I'm not welcome.

Emilesgran · 23/06/2026 20:55

TransParentlyAnnoyed · 23/06/2026 15:55

It's about creating a safe space for everyone. Sounds great.

If you have different opinions then just don't air them. Be respectful, and there won't be an issue.

How is it a safe space for everyone if some women are advised not to even express their perfectly legal opinions?
Not a safe space for those women, is it?

pimplebum · 23/06/2026 20:57

Start your own group and invite the rest of the town

viques · 23/06/2026 20:58

BeMoreBear · 23/06/2026 14:36

A social group that is that prescriptive would not be top of my list of things to do, no.

Agree. While I would probably subscribe to some of their rules I wouldn’t subscribe to all of them, ie men can’t be women, and I think it all sounds a bit parochial and woke and I would look for a group with some fun people in .

EmpressDomesticatednottamed · 23/06/2026 21:00

Biscofffan · 23/06/2026 18:49

This sounds like 'Heathers" for so-called grown ups. Or the Freemasons. Do they have a bizarre joining ritual involving crochet, sticky-backed plastic and swearing allegiance to Sam Smith?

They could try and get Emma Hilton to develop an opinion screening cheek swab?

viques · 23/06/2026 21:01

overnightangel · 23/06/2026 14:38

It’s not a women’s group, it’s a cult

I wonder if they encourage modest clothing and women covering their hair…. It could be an entry level conduit to some end of days religious group run by TRAs….

SidewaysOtter · 23/06/2026 21:05

@CassOle

whether they had the right opinions on Buckskin Vs Dun regarding horse colours

Suggest a Connemara is 'dun' and see what response you get. I think that will make this 'girls' group look open and welcoming by comparison Grin

SidewaysOtter · 23/06/2026 21:06

viques · 23/06/2026 21:01

I wonder if they encourage modest clothing and women covering their hair…. It could be an entry level conduit to some end of days religious group run by TRAs….

Edited

I suspect they just go straight for the red dresses and white lampshade bonnets.

CassOle · 23/06/2026 21:09

SidewaysOtter · 23/06/2026 21:05

@CassOle

whether they had the right opinions on Buckskin Vs Dun regarding horse colours

Suggest a Connemara is 'dun' and see what response you get. I think that will make this 'girls' group look open and welcoming by comparison Grin

It is a hot-button issue for sure, and I don't see a full, worldwide agreement anytime soon.

ToastSafeFromMothsAndDogs · 23/06/2026 21:18

Tbf in my day they’d have had baby-led weaning on the list too so at least that seems to have calmed down

RobinEllacotStrike · 23/06/2026 21:30

I wouldn’t go near it with a ten foot pole. All the “omicause or you’re an unwelcome bigot” is 100% off putting.

localnotail · 23/06/2026 22:16

It gives the insufferable "Queer for Palestine" Owen Jones vibe. Fuck that.

NotMyRealAccount · 23/06/2026 22:40

If believing TWAW is a requirement then whether or not I'd choose to join is irrelevant, because I'm not invited, and as an actual woman I'm not inclined to shove my way into places where I'm not wanted.

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