The Women’s Institute (WI), a longstanding organization celebrating women’s contributions for over 110 years, has announced that it will restrict its membership to individuals registered female at birth, effective April next year. The Supreme Court issued a definitive ruling on the meaning of “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act just last week. This decision has caused a lot of controversy because it only applies to biological women.
Though the WI has over 175,000 members, the WI’s national council and national board made this decision after deep legal consultation. Under the new criteria, new members will need to prove that they’ve achieved the new standard. Here’s hoping those of you renewing your memberships need to do so as well. This amendment marks a significant departure from the WI’s previous policy. Since the 1970s, transgender women—and really, any man who wanted to identify as a woman—had been unofficially allowed to participate, but this was codified in 2015.
Melissa Green, chief executive of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, welcomed the decision, but warned of its consequences. She cautioned that it will raise feelings of anger, sadness, disappointment, grief of some of the members. WI was the only organization that got under 100 uniques on their no member vote communications. This reflects an otherwise muted response from its titanic membership ranks.
“Incredibly sadly, we will have to restrict our membership on the basis of biological sex from April next year,” – Melissa Green
Green stressed that the WI does not want the event to exclude transgender women from their community. She reassured members that the organization remains committed to inclusivity by launching new “sisterhood groups,” which will be open to all individuals regardless of gender identity.
“But the message we really want to get across is that it remains our firm belief that transgender women are women, and that doesn’t change,” – Melissa Green
This decision followed the Supreme Court’s historic unanimous ruling in April. That ruling lit a fuse to the current culture wars exploding over gender identity and women’s rights. The court’s decision reaffirmed that these terms in the Equality Act only point to biological sex. This move is hitting many churches, charities and schools across the UK.
The WI had always celebrated the contributions of trans women, feeling that they greatly enhanced the diversity of their membership. This shift – while a welcome step towards achieving need – signals an intense pressure to adhere to legalistic definitions. Simultaneously, it attempts to walk a highly charged social tightrope. Green pointed out that the organization aims to cultivate a respectful dialogue around these complex issues, stating:
“One of the really important things for us is to try and help ourselves as an organisation, but society more generally, to find a way to work through some of these discussions, to have differing views, to disagree better,” – Melissa Green
Green said that she did not wish for the decision to create a rift among transgender people but instead to strengthen bonds with friends in the community. She expressed that this year has been especially difficult for all of us, especially for trans and non-binary people, often at the center of her activism.
“This has been a very difficult year for everybody, particularly for the transgender community, but I hope that when that anger subsides the transgender community will know that we stand with them,” – Melissa Green
In addressing concerns around safety and inclusion within the newly formed sisterhood groups, Green stated:
“It is absolutely our responsibility to make sure the sisterhood groups are safe spaces [and] that they don’t exacerbate division,” – Melissa Green
The WI’s decision has drawn mixed reactions. Rachel Taylor, now a member of another women’s group, slammed it as sexist and unnecessary. She maintained that these kinds of restrictions don’t create more positive rights for women or transgender people.
“It’s not fair, it’s not necessary and it does nothing to advance the rights of women and trans people,” – Rachel Taylor
Coalition member Jude Guaitamacchi supported Taylor’s position, saying he was troubled by the message sent from a policy prohibiting membership on the basis of biological sex.
“Imagine being a group that has welcomed trans members for generations being told who you can and cannot associate with, regardless of the wishes of the group itself,” – Jude Guaitamacchi
Yet the WI’s long-standing dedication to inclusivity has faced attacks from recent legal interpretations and national discussions about gender identity. The reality is that each day, organizations across the world grapple with extraordinary challenges. The Women’s Institute is committed to continuing to tread this fine line between legal compliance and fostering a welcoming, respectful space.