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

(294 Posts)
Doodledog Wed 03-Dec-25 13:45:21

www.thewi.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases

It appears that the WI, along with Guiding, has finally accepted that the law applies to them as well as to the rest of us.

I am not a WI member, so much of what I know is from reading things like the thread on MN where a member's husband was refused membership as he doesn't 'live as a woman'. He took them to court, as they did allow transwomen to be members, so it was his lifestyle, not his sex that precluded his membership. Nobody can define what 'living as a woman' means, lifestyle is not a protected characteristic, and sex is legally based on biology, so it appears that he has won his case - I don't see how he could have lost, really.

Both the WI and Guiding express deep sorrow and regret at their decisions and are clearly 'giving in' grudgingly, but AFAIK neither asked their membership's opinions on things like having boys in tents with girls, or men at meetings supposedly for women, and from which men who don't claim to 'live as women' are excluded - the policies were imposed, not voted in.

I assume it's obvious that I approve of the policy reversals. At one time I would have argued that a very occasional man who had transitioned should be allowed in the WI, (although I would probably not have approved on teenage boys being in the GG), but since the recent forcing of the TRA agenda onto policies of various types my desire to protect women and girls has trumped a wish for everyone to live and let live.

It was apparently discussed on Women's Hour this morning, but I have been out all day, and missed it. Did anyone hear it, please, and if so, was anything discussed that contradicts my take on it all (ie that a women's and girls' groups should be for women and girls)?

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 10:14:05

It never gets far without the name calling does it.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 10:13:25

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 10:09:10

Well because clothes are nothing to do with your sex, we aren't the ones using phrases such as dress like a woman, live as a woman.

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 10:06:01

I have responded to you a number of times, people holding different opinions is not a matter of safety. In fact society becomes dangerous when different opinions aren't allowed.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 10:05:24

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 10:01:26

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Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 09:59:34

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Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 09:58:08

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Doodledog Sun 14-Dec-25 09:53:02

Oh, and questioning other women (or those who say they are women) is not anti-feminist😀. It is asking for clarification.

Doodledog Sun 14-Dec-25 09:51:40

You have had several responses to your posts - you are not being ignored.

I'm sure we can all post stories of how our own friends and family have been impacted by the sudden and speedy way the trans issue has come to prominence. A gay friend of mine went on a 'date' after joining a dating app and found that the person she was meeting was a transwoman. She tried to leave the bar, but was abused by him as he genuinely felt that she couldn't tell he was male, and felt that as she was attracted to women she should have sex with him, penis and all.

There are many less traumatic inconveniences and daily micro-aggressions against women, such as the way that in my workplace the Ladies loo was designated 'mixed gender', despite the fact that it was the only one on the floor (in a large building), it was near the door on a public thoroughfare so was often used by passers-by who knew it was there, and that it already had access for baby changing and the disabled. The Gents remained a male space, so male staff and students could use their own space in privacy, and also had access to the Ladies, which had become a fully public facility. Women had nowhere private to deal with periods or to feel safe in less busy times - the building is open 24/7.

You are lucky if you can avoid using public conveniences. Women who may be disabled, or who take small children with them when out don't have that choice, and are likely to be far more at risk than you.

In what way are you unsafe on here, incidentally? Unless you have a pathological fear of being contradicted I can't see any danger at all. As for being 'banned from wearing trousers', who do you think is going to do that, and why?

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 09:47:18

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 09:34:41

No one is ignoring you we hold different opinions to you.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 09:22:39

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Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 09:16:17

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Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 09:12:35

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Mollygo Sun 14-Dec-25 09:10:27

Nanananabatman
Do you suppose the TW (males) who caused these issues care any more about the problems they’ve caused for other trans (TW or TM) than they actually care about women, even though they’re pretending to be women?
Quite obviously not.

Re the PCO issue
If you have facial hair caused by this, you will know you spend a lot of time and energy getting rid of it, unless I suppose, you’re planning on being a TM . . .

For every horror story you can copy and paste, where trans have suffered there will be at least as many if not more genuine accounts of the impact of male (TW) cheating, intimidating, threatening or even hurting women.
e.g.
Rapists claiming to be TW and demanding to be kept in female prisons because they’re afraid of men!
Really sick humour!

TW demanding to be on female mental health wards, whilst making it obvious they are male and threatening staff who attempt to remove them.

TW perving in girls/women’s changing rooms even whilst being obviously male.

I could go on.

Once again a reminder.
These issues were caused by the behaviour of some TW (males).

TW have no place in women’s safe spaces, sports or things set up specifically for women . . . because they aren’t women!

Would you feel safe allowing random members of the public into your home because they say they are members of your family?

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 08:55:38

I can't open that. But in terms of segregation, by law a few spaces are limited to one sex. It is perfectly fine to have mixed spaces as well. No one is stopping that happening, indeed many exist.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 08:55:28

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 08:49:36

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 08:47:56

The use of pronouns has no impact on your sex obviously.

Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 08:47:17

But you are arguing that the way people present shouldn't be a factor for judgement, you have just done it and also based it on assumptions due to the work role.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 08:35:19

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 08:33:43

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Galaxy Sun 14-Dec-25 08:28:33

Oh and how on earth do you know that those security guards are male? Aren't you just doing what you are accusing everyone else of doing - making an assumption by the way they present.

Nanananabatman Sun 14-Dec-25 08:27:56

Message withdrawn at poster's request.