I am giving up my membership....

[Richard Shead]

Have you handed back the red pants?

Gotta tell you they were out in force yesterday however the Sqaudie was mostly white...

 

[northwind]

On a serious note, and making no comment on the rights or wrongs, how have they been able to remain male-only for so long? I thought even private clubs were forced to avoid gender discrimination about ten years ago; there was much hoo-hah in the paper about golfing clubs for instance.

Pete

Women's Institute.. still doesn't allow men in

 

[SamanthaTabs]

I remember visiting the lovely and friendly Royal Fowey YC quite a long time ago, in there was a door with glass panel, on which in gold leaf ' Reading Room ; Gentlemen Only '.

I was very impressed but judging by the club I'm sure they kept this for a joke and historical interest.

Personally I've always found there aren't enough women in sailing anyway, they ought to be encouraged and I've found they make excellent sailors, able to deliver bacon sandwiches, mop the bilges, that sort of thing...

Fighting talk mate, you're single I assume?

 

[Way]

Fighting talk mate, you're single I assume?

Does amaze me the amount of old fashioned behaviour that goes on. That's probably why there aren't more women involved. They get shouted at by men at the helm who get stressed about being out of control/looking silly in harbours, who are painfully lacking in confidence themselves and take it out on the crew. there's no fun in that in my personal experience. Personally encourage my better half to do anything and everything to get involved. She probably handles the boat more than I do. And I never shout, whatever goes wrong.

 

[l'escargot]

The conservatory at the front of the RYS exists because Queen Victoria expressed a desire to visit and take tea. Naturally because she was a Lady she couldn't be let inside, but one cannot refuse the monarch. So they built her a conservatory to take tea in...

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club, then in Ryde, was formed to enable Queen Victoria to be a member of a yacht club as none of them admitted women as members at the time.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

One wonders how the male members will respond - especially on a hot day when the ladies are less covered.

By the time the ladies get to an age when they are voted into the RYS, I doubt that anyone will want to look.

 

[ninky]

I thought it had been agreed that that was to change? If Kate had given birth to a girl she would have had the same position in the line up as the boy.

I could be wrong though.
In any event, it should happen; the old rules are/were an anachronism.

For Royalty maybe, but that still leaves the rest of the aristocracy.

 

[thalassa]

Gotta tell you they were out in force yesterday however the Sqaudie was mostly white...

SWMBO was invited once, and found that women visitors were expected to wear dresses. Only 'women visitors of small yachts' where allowed in.

 

[ninky]

Women's Institute.. still doesn't allow men in

Actually, I think it does...

 

[Seajet]

I'm sure a chap wearing a WI tie and badge would have no problems at all in a rugby club or Glasgow bar, someone else go first and I'll film it from a distance !

 

[skisimon]

Interesting that they have had the Queen as their patron, and for that matter that the Queen is willing to act as patron to associations that do not admit female members. About time she stood up for the sisters and exerted a bit of pressure.

Interestingly (or not, you decide), a club I belong to had to admit a female as an 'Honorary Member' some time ago... It was gentlemen only club at the time, and as membership was always conferred on the leader of the Conservative Party, Lady T caused a slight issue... So, honorary membership it was...

 

[prv]

Actually, I think it does...

Just happened to see an episode of QI on which that nice Mr Fry said it didn't. Or rather, it hasn't for many years, but when first set up in this country it also admitted a "Colonel the Hon. Richard Stapleton-Cotton, and his dog Tinker". These are purportedly the only males ever to have been members of the WI.

(Of course, I'm well aware that QI is not infallible, and it was being shown on Dave so possibly years out of date...)

Pete

 

[Twister_Ken]

Fighting talk mate, you're single I assume?

I believe Seajet has been single several times!

 

[ninky]

Just happened to see an episode of QI on which that nice Mr Fry said it didn't. Or rather, it hasn't for many years, but when first set up in this country it also admitted a "Colonel the Hon. Richard Stapleton-Cotton, and his dog Tinker". These are purportedly the only males ever to have been members of the WI.

(Of course, I'm well aware that QI is not infallible, and it was being shown on Dave so possibly years out of date...)

Pete

"Hasn't" is rather different to "doesn't". One can be due to lack of applications, the other the result of membership criteria.

 

[Viking]

Me to! They will be getting the vote next! :0)

 

[Stork_III]

Actually, I think it does...

Does not appear to allow male membership. see FAQs http://www.thewi.org.uk/faqs

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Women's Institute.. still doesn't allow men in

The Mothers Union does, though.

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

"This also highlights the uniqueness of our sport - it is one of the few sports that allow men and women to compete on a level playing field."

Is Dee actually talking about sailing here? Maybe she DROVE around the World

 

[SamanthaTabs]

"This also highlights the uniqueness of our sport - it is one of the few sports that allow men and women to compete on a level playing field."

Is Dee actually talking about sailing here? Maybe she DROVE around the World

Thank you, finally someone man enough to admit that we're just as good drivers too! Take the compliment dear chap

 

[ninky]

Does not appear to allow male membership. see FAQs http://www.thewi.org.uk/faqs

I stand corrected - men are allowed to take part in activities which is why I thought they could join. Can't say I'm keen to join either the WI or the sexist yacht club.

Nicola