To bust myths

Hello hello yes please do walk all over me, it’s what I’m here for, can I do anything else for you?

A retiree in Suffolk has made history as the first transgender woman to star on the front cover of the Women’s Institute magazine.

A man has “made history” as the first man to star on the front cover of the Women’s Institute magazine. It’s extremely history-making for men to appear on the front covers of magazines.

WI member Petra Wenham, 74, has spoken to WI Life – the publication for the group’s members – after she was asked to discuss her work as as a speaker and activist for a Suffolk chapter of the branch, Cake and Revolution.

Never mind about the women of the WI, they’re boring, let’s hear about the men of the WI.

As well as sharing cake and conversations with her friends, Ms Wenham tours other WIs to bust myths and misinformation about transgender people.

The 74-year-old added: “I’ve given my trans awareness talk to six WI groups this year alone. It’s been wonderful to have this opportunity to cut through the negativity a lot of the transgender community face.”

It’s been wonderful to have this opportunity to make the WI focus on men who say they are women.

Melissa Green, General Secretary of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), said:“We were delighted to interview Petra in the latest issue of WI Life. The work she does as a speaker and activist is so inspiring, educating other members and the wider community on the issues that trans people face today.

“At a time when the transgender community are experiencing prejudice and exclusion, it is so important that trans voices are heard and amplified in the WI and society.

“We want to make it clear that not only are trans women welcome to join the WI, but they are celebrated and truly enrich our membership and our values as a bold and inclusive organisation for women.”

But it’s not an organisation for women if it includes men. The virtue of being “inclusive” depends on what it is you’re including. If you’re making a women’s organization no longer a women’s organization by “including” men (and then paying them lots of attention and letting them take over the conversation) then you’re no longer being “inclusive” of women.

You can’t do everything. It isn’t possible. You can’t both be an organization of and for women, and be “inclusive” of men.

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