Single-sex policy
1. Purpose and scope
1.1 Virago Women’s Workshop aims to function as a project space, where women and girls can create, learn and share skills and information. We will engage women and girls in cultural and creative activity to celebrate women and understand our history in Leeds and beyond. Through these activities, we will help women and girls of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs to develop a sense of their own agency and self-worth.
1.2 This policy document sets out our approach to providing a single-sex service, in line with the above aims. The policy is intended to provide clear expectations for all. It will be displayed on our website and shared with funders and partner agencies, as well as people who use our workshop, as members or occasional attendees.
2. Terminology
2.1 This policy uses the following definitions:
A woman is an adult human female.
Sex means being male or female. It relates to biology: the roles played by male and female bodies in sexual reproduction. It is observed and recorded at birth. Sex is a protected characteristic in the Equality Act (2010).
The words woman and female are used interchangeably. When we talk about girls we are referring to female children, as per the above definition.
3. Principles
3.1 Virago Women’s Workshop was established in Leeds in 2021. Our city has a wealth of artistic heritage and offers numerous creative spaces, workshops and studios for people of all backgrounds. Some appeal to a particular demographic, others seek to provide a space for those not catered for. Our founders, a group of women artists from across Yorkshire, envisaged our own studio space for women only, where we could exhibit, run courses, hold meetings – a space that is open, welcoming and safe for women and girls who are not currently catered for.
3.2 Discrimination and violence against women and girls continues to be an issue of global – and local—concern. We seek to counter a climate of hostility to our sex by offering a single-sex space for the exclusive use of women.
3.3 We operate within the Equality Act 2010 and, as well as making use of its provisions to offer a single-sex space (see section 4), we are informed of, and actively promote inclusion towards women who have the other protected characteristics. We welcome women from all backgrounds, women of all faiths and none, disabled women, women of all age groups, etc.
- 3.4 We respect everyone’s human rights and seek to treat everyone with respect and dignity.
- 3.5 We will not tolerate any harassment of any person.
4. Single-sex services and the Equality Act 2010
4.1 The Equality Act 2010 recognises that sometimes, it is necessary for an organisation to provide a different service (or not offer a service) to people of a particular sex. Our single-sex service is provided on the basis of the exceptions offered by the Equality Act 2010, specifically:
Schedule 3, Part 7, Paragraphs 26 and 28 (Equality Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)
Our offer of a single sex space is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim (see section
1).
These exceptions provide that a single sex service may be offered when:
(4) The condition is that —
a joint service for persons of both sexes would be less effective, and
the extent to which the service is required by persons of each sex makes it not reasonably practicable to provide separate services.
Our premises consists of a single indivisible unit. It is not possible, due to physical and staffing constraints, to also provide a separate service to males while maintaining our commitment to offer single-sex women’s events.
and also:
(6) The condition is that —
the service is provided for, or is likely to be used by, two or more persons at the same time, and
the circumstances are such that a person of one sex might reasonably object to the presence of a person of the opposite sex.
Many of our events are creative and introspective in nature. To fully commit to the creative process, it is often necessary to revisit difficult issues and experiences, and this invites a vulnerability and honesty that needs a safe and welcoming environment. In
order for this to be accessible to women of any culture, background or religion, we have made our offering single-sex.
5. Our single-sex policy
5.1 We provide a female-only space. This is non-negotiable and does not require case-by-case
(i.e. attendee by attendee) assessment.
5.2 Members are required to sign or provide an e-signature, confirming that they agree to our policy as a condition of their membership. We reserve the right to withdraw membership if a member breaks the terms of this agreement, including misleading or obfuscating in declaring their sex.
5.3 We will not share information about members or attendees without consent. We process data in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018.
6. Roles and responsibilities
6.1 Virago Women’s Workshop are a Community Interest Company (CIC). The directors of the CIC are responsible for setting and implementing this policy and for reviewing it at intervals of no more than three years.
Note: We are grateful to Sex Matters for providing a sample policy, which has been of great help in drafting this. https://sex-matters.org/
