The Women's Institute is to revert to being an Institute for Women

That sounds like a good and a kind compromise, NanKate, to start an offshoot catering for transwomen.

The WI intend to start some offshoot groups that include transwomen.

That’s a good idea.
It’s been suggested in sport too.

It will be interesting to see whether TW are happy about this.
It will also be interesting to see whether the main WI groups disappear, because of the offshoot groups, where the often claimed majority move to the “offshoot groups” leaving the women who would prefer to have a male free group.
That would mean TW (males) will have succeeded again.

Mollygo Thu 04-Dec-25 18:36:34
'The WI intend to start some offshoot groups that include transwomen'.

That’s a good idea. It’s been suggested in sport too. It will be interesting to see whether TW are happy about this.
It will also be interesting to see whether the main WI groups disappear, because of the offshoot groups, where the often claimed majority move to the “offshoot groups” leaving the women who would prefer to have a male free group.
That would mean TW (males) will have succeeded again"

Good post Mollygo. Nothing to stop TW start up their own off shoot groups, e.g. New Women's Institute. TW are free to incorporate equity and diversity into their constitution and invite women from birth to join their organisations if they so wish. Women from birth are free to join if they so wish or choose traditional, protected women only spaces if that is their preference.

"That would mean TW (males) will have succeeded again."

It is not a competition.

Jackiest

^"That would mean TW (males) will have succeeded again."^

It is not a competition.

????
Competition? Weird statement.
It’s not a competition.
However if women are prevented by males from having male free spaces, what would be a more accurate term?

Jackiest

^"That would mean TW (males) will have succeeded again."^

It is not a competition.

Really? It is when a man competes against women in sport, or wins a prize that is for a woman's perspective in the Arts, or takes a job that is legally ring-fenced for a woman (only allowed in limited circumstances, such as when the role involves intimate care and similar).

Th WI can start an 'offshoot' group and include men, but they can't do it under the banner of the Women's Institute. Apart from anything else, the WI has charitable status and a constitution, which means that using members' money for aims outside of those of the WI would be illegal. So would having a 'Sisterhood' (interesting title) group that is mainly for women, but allows men to attend if they are 'living as women', but not women who 'live as men' or men who live as men.

As I understand it, where single-sex groups are concerned, people can be excluded on the grounds of sex, but not on so-called 'gender' or on grounds of lifestyle. So the WI could accept transmen (if they wanted to join) but not transwomen, as the former are biologically female and the latter male. The notion of 'living as' male or female is, as well as being meaningless, irrelevant.

Despite the 'regret' and wringing of hands, the WI is not above the law of the land.

NanKate

As a member of the WI and in response to Doodledog any transwomen in the WI will be asked to leave by April 2026.

The WI intend to start some offshoot groups that include transwomen.

The WI did not allow a vote by all the members on this subject.

The announcement by one of the Executives of the WI yesterday, was imo mealy mouthed, apologetic and demeaning to the true spirit of the Women’s Institute.

Professor Robert Winston said ‘You can add parts to the body and remove them, but you can’t change the biology of a human being’. That is good enough for me.

As a fellow WI member I agree wholeheartedly with you. I received an email yesterday from my WI Secretary with an attachment of the statement given out by National. It said that they are looking at creating Sisterhoods for trans people. Who will be funding that? I think there may be an exodus of WI members in the not too distant future with this and the fees at £54.

I have seen here some women who have attended Men's Shed. I don't think this is fair as the whole point of it was to let men meet together.

It's fair IMO kirkcubbin and isn't the same as trans women who are men, being told they are now women and can join the WI.

I didn't join my local WI and went as a guest .
I didn't join ,because I was completely horrified by the racism .

And I said so .

kircubbin2000

I have seen here some women who have attended Men's Shed. I don't think this is fair as the whole point of it was to let men meet together.

But then that’s up to the men to say no.

I think men are entitled to their own spaces too.

Maremia

That sounds like a good and a kind compromise, NanKate, to start an offshoot catering for transwomen.

But in practice it’s a non starter.
People want to join a WI that’s near them don’t they? How many transwomen would there have to be in any one area to form a meaningful group? And they wouldn’t be allowed to call it the WI either.

Esmay

I didn't join my local WI and went as a guest .
I didn't join ,because I was completely horrified by the racism .

And I said so .

Racism and sexism are both an us and them attitude to people and very often go together.

Oreo
^ But in practice it’s a non starter.^
People want to join a WI that’s near them don’t they? How many transwomen would there have to be in any one area to form a meaningful group? And they wouldn’t be allowed to call it the WI either.

In addition to that, same as in sport, it isn’t what the males want.
They aren’t women, but they expect their claim to be so to be accepted by all women (AHF) and thus be allowed to join groups for women regardless of whether all women want that or not.
The women who don’t want that will be accused of being transphobic and told to “be kind”.
There has been an increase of comments such as those against women who want spaces free from males.
Good news for TW.

Just received a pathetic, apologetic email from NFWI only promoting their pro-trans views. They still insist that transwomen are women, even though the biological facts, as stated by Professor Winston, prove this is wrong.

I shall reply to their email saying that the WI usually encourages WI members to have a variety of beliefs, which can be discussed freely with members. In this case they do everything to suppress members, such as myself, who have varying views.

I shall be writing to them. 😉

When writing you could perhaps remind them that trans women not being women isn't a belief Nankate; it's a fact.

kircubbin2000

I have seen here some women who have attended Men's Shed. I don't think this is fair as the whole point of it was to let men meet together.

I agree with you. I’m sure many men want their own space too.

I wonder how many members are affected by the rule?

Am I right in thinking you can go to the meetings if you are man, but not if you are a man who identifies as a woman?

What about women who identify as men? Are they allowed to go?

I'm glad I don't have to deal with these messy issues but can't for the life of me imagine why a man identifying as a woman would want to go to a WI meeting?

If they are claiming to be a single sex organisation then no man can go.

Females who identify as men can go the WI have said.

But I don’t think any trans men would want to go to an organisation for women . It wouldn’t fit with their adopted gender.

Some trans people are very vociferous but the numbers involved are tiny. How many have actually applied to join either the WI or Guides?
Our lives and even the language we use do not have to be universally adapted to please these few people, however loudly they shout.

It won't be known if it is practical or not, to create offshoots, until they try.
If they try and it doesn't work, that is better than just not bothering.

Jackiest

Esmay

I didn't join my local WI and went as a guest .
I didn't join ,because I was completely horrified by the racism .

And I said so .

Racism and sexism are both an us and them attitude to people and very often go together.

I am not sure that you are making the point that you want to make here. You seem to be saying that the WI were taking an "us and them" attitude when they were including transwomen, which I don't think you were saying. Although I do think that there is a rather dismissive attitude to Muslim women's needs by those who wish transwomen to be included in all women's spaces.

Mollygo

I never imagined you were making it up. If you’ve been on GN long enough you will have come across posts about trans friends, relatives, co-workers, choir members, etc.

If your friend shared all the medical details you mentioned, he was obviously aware that he was still a man.
How nice a man is has nothing to do with it.

No she is a woman. Maybe enlighten yourself and read or folllow on social media those who are transgender. You might learn something. This is not a new trend, transgender people have existed always.