Women only activities/events

The problem with men only groups was that they were the centre of power, especially the mens clubs in London whose members were MPs, industrialists etc. Like men's locker talk and so on.

I can see why one way women could make progress to euality was by not allowing to have those retreats where business could be discussed but women could be exclude.

I think the difference is really a uestion of function. A men's choir, a women's choir. Even the Rugby club dinner! - but then rugby clubs now have women's teams - of which I am deeply envious. I would have loved to haveplayed rugby, when I was a child. Football held no appeal, but rugby, but then it was a men ony game.

I think there is something deep in most people's psyche that means that at times they wish to meet in single sex groups. It is how this can be done without it also being exclusionary from a wider group. For example in the past, rugby was a male only game, women were not allowed to play the game and because all rugby pitches were in male hands, it was impossible for women to play the game because they had no access to a rugby pitch.

There are pitches and coaches available for a women's team, but not enough women are interested in playing around here. There are a few little girls who join in with the little boys playing tag rugby, but whether they'll stick with it when they're older remains to be seen. The club holds ladies' lunches and mixed lunches, but I agree with a lot of the men, that the Gentlemen's Dinner should remain as that.

We have many Probus Clubs round here and not one of them are ‘men only’. Women outnumber men around 2 to 1 in most. I belong to a book club and it is all women - no men have opted to join. Same applies to my ancestry group. Why does it matter? Anyone who has been to an Aussie BBQ will know that the men group together at one end, the women the other. Always and the same with many social events. Why ? Different interests, different things to talk about.I wouldn’t want to talk about footy and cricket and they most likely wouldn’t want to talk about out the social things we do.

Does anyone really believe the conversation scope and comfort would be the same in a female only knit and natter group as in one where a male was present? I'm deeply suspicious of people that object to single sex groups, why are they so bothered by other's preferences? As I stated up thread the objection to some of the exclusive men's clubs was because decisions that should have involved women were being decided upon in these closed enclaves. If they were just social places where business, government, policy weren't discussed and decided then I and I suspect most people couldn't care less.
Any man that is declined entry to a single sex interest group is welcome to start his own mixed sex group, nobody is stopping him. The objections and attempts to stop groups is always from the other direction.

nanna8

We have many Probus Clubs round here and not one of them are ‘men only’. Women outnumber men around 2 to 1 in most. I belong to a book club and it is all women - no men have opted to join. Same applies to my ancestry group. Why does it matter? Anyone who has been to an Aussie BBQ will know that the men group together at one end, the women the other. Always and the same with many social events. Why ? Different interests, different things to talk about.I wouldn’t want to talk about footy and cricket and they most likely wouldn’t want to talk about out the social things we do.

There is a difference from groups that appeal to one gender and groups that exclude one gender. All the groups I am in are mixed but there are normally only one or two men that join them. It would be really unkind to exclude them.

Jackiest All the groups I am in are mixed but there are normally only one or two men that join them.

I'm intrigued what groups you're in that all attract only one or two men? The book club I belonged to some years ago was a pretty even split. The gardening club was mostly male dominated. The photography course I was given as a birthday gift, again pretty much a 50/50 split. The only group that had just one male was years ago when I was in a mother and toddler group and we had one stay at home dad. It was much rarer back then for men to take that role and he was welcomed in the group. In fact he was rather hero worshipped by some as being 'wonderful' because he did all the same childcare as us mums.

Rosie51 I'm intrigued what groups you're in that all attract only one or two men? The book club I belonged to some years ago was a pretty even split

My book club which is run by a man only has one other man in it, The walking groups are about 90% women and the coffee mornings have very few men.

So more than one or two in some then? I'm surprised your walking group isn't more evenly split but then maybe most of the men have joined more male dominated walking clubs. I'd hate to think that only 10% of the male population were interested in walking.

Having read about a lot of newish men's walking ventures, that does seem a good idea, not only for the exercise but with a view for men to get together and talk about worries etc. Men, possibly more commonly than women are less verbal in expressing their inner feelings, hence, without generalising it does seem they can be more prone to mental health problems. Anything that can help with that is a good thing imo.

My husband has always found his golf therapeutic, not only for the activity but also the camaraderie of same sex company in that context, generally he prefers the company of women over men. Although all the golf clubs he's ever been a member of are inclusive of both sexes. I think those that have excluded women are full of crusty old dinosaurs that inhabit a bygone era and want to keep it that way.

I don't think it's unreasonable for some activities to pertain to just one sex. I remember a woman only gym came under fire for wanting to remain single sex, but I can completely understand why some women would want that in such an environment there may be those who find members of the opposite sex inhibiting.

The walking group is during the week so most men are working, which may explain it.

My wife goes to her ladies group, myself and other men go if there is an interest, she’s not bothered if she’s the only woman no problem. There are a lot of advantages with a mixed group, there are a few dinosaurs but they are getting fewer, on the other side there are a few men haters that can never be pleased

It is a mixed sex group, then David, not a female only group. Unless words no longer have any meaning.

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Galaxy

It is a mixed sex group, then David, not a female only group. Unless words no longer have any meaning.

I sometimes wonder. If men can go to a 'ladies' group', and sometimes outnumber the women so that there is only one lone female, then how is it a 'ladies' group'?

A knitting group where people go to learn to knit, or be taught new techniques may well be attended by men. I follow a couple of male knitters on FB, but they do tend to be 'larger than life' characters who would dominate any group, regardless of sex balance, and I'm not sure how that would work in a more typical knit and natter, made up of retired women who go as much for the natter as the knitting.

Also, some (not all, before knees start jerking ) women routinely defer to men, and are reluctant to talk about some topics in front of them. Men can shift the dynamic, and not all groups would benefit from that. That is why the reading group I'm in decided not to allow men to join. We felt that there would be more risk of being shouted down, or having the ideas we'd expressed being rehashed and presented as coming from a man. Our group can get heated, but it is generally supportive.

They (mostly the husbands of female members) set up their own. They often read different books from us, and from what I'm told the meetings sound far more 'competitive' than ours. Better for all concerned that we meet separately, I think.

A lot of the time, it seems as though men don't want to set up things for themselves. They are happy to go to women's things, or use our facilities, but not to do what women have done for decades, and do it themselves. Maybe they haven't needed to, historically. Pubs, clubs, offices etc were male dominated for a long time, so there was no need for men to set up places to be amongst other men. When women were in the home all day they were more isolated, and going to licensed premises wasn't always an option, so meetings in church halls or community centres meant they could do things for themselves. Also, some religions don't allow mixed-sex meetings, so if men can turn up women can't go.

Oh, and I googled Probus groups, and the nearest one to me has FOR MEN in capital letters on the website, so men's groups are not dead .

Yes, as I said, I was NOT ALLOWED to go to just one meeting to listen to the speaker that month! Even if I sat quietly at the back and behaved.

They do very kindly entertain us to lunch twice a year though 😀

Many groups are predominantly female but if there is a speaker on travel or a theatre or garden visit I would be happy to accompany my wife. If it was crafting or painting I wouldn’t bother. She would almost always accompany me, rugby, cars, aircraft, trains, confident anywhere male or female company.

Shifting the dynamic, yes definitely that’s why I like mixed groups you don’t get the men complaining about women or women complaining about men, most of which is just bitching on both sides

Shifting the dynamic, yes definitely that’s why I like mixed groups you don’t get the men complaining about women or women complaining about men, most of which is just bitching on both sides

😲 David1949 if you've never been to an all-female group, you may not realise that we would never, ever, bitch about men! The very thought!

Allira

^Shifting the dynamic, yes definitely that’s why I like mixed groups you don’t get the men complaining about women or women complaining about men, most of which is just bitching on both sides^

😲 David1949 if you've never been to an all-female group, you may not realise that we would never, ever, bitch about men! The very thought!

Ps we have more lofty things to discuss anyway 😁

Hamster.
It depends if they are what they say they are!

Cossy

I kind of get what the OP is saying.

I have no issue with single sex activities or events or clubs, so long as the purpose of such clubs isn’t solely existing to exclude the opposite sex from work or other important decision making activities or to use such groups to the detriment of the opposite sex.

Stag and hen parties are prime examples of social occasions designed to be single sex, though I know they sometimes are not.

This sums up my feelings.
Let the men have their sheds and the women their WI.
Forbidding harmless single sex events and clubs is counter-productive I feel and can cause unnecessary resentment instead of doing what we need that is promoting greater understanding between and tolerance of the two genders/sexes.

Having gender equality isn't the same as one gendered spaces.
I see nothing wrong in having events for one gender, especially when you consider the amount of crime women suffer at the hands of men. Sexual and violent crimes against women have been increasing rapidly in the UK, a 37% increase from 2017 to 2023..I imagine it's much higher now.

As a victim of SA I don't want to go to a yogo class with men and if be very disappointed if I had no other choice.. Should I forgo my yoga class or shut up and deal with men being there? Or should I be fully allowed to attend a women only yoga class?

The same goes for men, they have men only events and spaces, probably more than women do because even if women aren't excluded intentionally you can be sure they're not made welcome.

So long as I have equal rights to men then I see nothing wrong in each gender having their own spaces and events.

A group that is predominately attended by women is not the same as a group for women.

I think it depends on why these events are seen as being only for women, or for that matter for men.

In Denmark, where I live, you cannot legally advertise an event as being only for men, or for women. That said, if you advertise a sewing-bee or a knit and natter group, you are highly unlikely to have any men coming along.

Women do not often drop in to "Bring it along, and we will repair it if we can" clubs.

However, the man who knits, or the woman who like repairing stuff (or playing with tin soldiers or model trains) cannot be denied entry. Although there are various ways of phrasing the advertisment so the other sex knows to keep away.

I suspect that the fact that many immigrant women and girls are not allowed to go to clubs etc for both sexes has something to do with the fact that certain groups try hard to exclude men.

So, although I find same sex groups unnecessary and at times hypocritcal, I suppose the may serve a valid purpose.

The Probus group, in my area is for men only, although us ladies, do get invited to the Christmas meal and summer meal plus any trips out.