The Women’s Institute was created in 1915 and set out to give women a voice and to be force for good in the community. It gives women: a voice in society, educational opportunities, and campaigns on issues that matter to its members and affect their communities.
In 2021 the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) enacted an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy that allows anyone who “identifies as a woman” to join Women’s Institutes. This policy was updated in April 2023, we believe this is due to pressure from our members, the signature page has been removed. Also removed is the single sex exemptions that it previously stated it used. It now states the WI is open to “all women who live as women, including transgender women”. There is no explanation of how to live as a woman, there is no paragraph pertaining to the ‘sex’ protected characteristic, although there is comprehensive coverage of ‘gender reassignment’.
We believe that this is an undemocratic action that has de facto changed constitutions to make the Women’s Institute mixed sex. As a result the charitable objects of the Women’s Institute are under threat, as are past and future campaigns.
Read the submission to the Board of Trustees dated 7 February 2023 – this request was rejected on 15 March 2023.
We are calling for three things: a moratorium, a debate and a vote.
1. A moratorium on trans women joining – current trans members could remain members.
2. An expansive debate involving the whole membership on the wider implications of this policy (embracing gender ideology) not only to the WI, but to wider society. The WI is, in part, a campaigning organisation and campaigns on society-wide issues.
3. A membership vote to decide whether Women’s Institutes reverts to being a sex based membership organisation, retains the current policy, whether or a third option of compromise could be established.
We have also published a declaration in line with the Women’s Declaration International, please sign the WDI declaration too.
1. Women and girls are subject to discrimination on the basis of their sex. Sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
2. Women have the right to organise themselves as a sex across cultural, leisure, educational, sporting and political activities.
3. Women have the right to maintain their sex-based protections as set out in the Equality Act 2010, and refuse men access to single sex spaces, including, but not limited to: hospital wards, refuges, changing rooms, hostels, counselling services and medical care.
4. We condemn all attempts to undermine or limit the rights of women to self-organise, and discuss policies which affect them. Women should be able to do this free from harassment, abuse and intimidation. We call on the National Federation of Women’s Institutes to actively support this essential freedom.
You are able to sign our Declaration, although the petition is currently our main focus.
Women's Institute Declaration 