Cambridge Women’s Society Faces Backlash Amid Controversy

The establishment of the Cambridge University Society of Women (CUSW) has sparked significant controversy, leading to widespread criticism and a petition for its ban. Launched last week at the historic Cambridge University, this new women’s society identifies itself as “the only openly and proudly single-sex society for women at the university.” However, its announcement quickly attracted negative responses from campus activists, who accused the founders of being “a disappointment to women.”

Maeve Halligan, the society’s president and co-founder, expressed her surprise at the backlash. Halligan, along with co-founders Serena Worley and Thea Sewell, stated that the society was not intended to be a reactionary movement. She noted her growing frustration with the current climate of free speech on UK campuses, saying, “Free speech on UK campuses is somewhat under threat.”

The aims of CUSW include fostering an environment where women can “discuss and disagree safely and civilly and freely.” Yet, within hours of its initial social media post, the society was inundated with “hundreds and hundreds” of hostile comments. Critics accused the group of being “the opposite of progressive,” with messages stating, “choke on your hatred” and “how dare you call yourself feminist.”

Among the comments, Halligan revealed that many originated from “the women and non-binary officers” on campus, who previously represented women. This backlash led to the rapid emergence of an online petition on Change.org, demanding that the society be banned. The petition, titled “Ban the New Cambridge University ‘Women’s Society’,” had gathered 245 signatures within 48 hours, aiming to “fight back against transphobia.” It calls on the Student Union to refuse CUSW’s registration, asserting that the group “endangers the safety and rights of trans people at Cambridge.”

As a postgraduate student, Halligan emphasized the need to acknowledge biological sex as a fundamental aspect of women’s issues. She noted that the perception of the society’s “single-sex nature” as a political imposition may deter potential members. “They’re seeing the backlash. It’s sadly still brave to join a society like this,” she remarked. Halligan reflected on how, a decade ago, the founding of a women’s society would not have been newsworthy, asserting that “there have been genuine women’s sex-based issues in this country.”

The president further articulated her frustration regarding discussions that seemingly prioritize male perspectives over women’s issues. “What bothers me the most is that we’re talking about men and we’re sort of purporting to be discussing a women’s issue,” she said, expressing her exasperation with the ongoing debate about free speech at Cambridge. “I recognized it as a toss-up between speaking freely and potentially having a bit of a crap time for it, or not speaking freely. And for a while, I chose the latter.”

In recent years, Cambridge University has developed a reputation for progressive stances, according to Halligan. She cited examples from sports, including a biologically male transgender rower joining a women’s team, and colleges that have accepted transgender women. “It’s as small as the kind of pronouns in every email signature that was enforced for a period of time,” she added, expressing her concerns about the direction of the university’s policies.

The Cambridge University Society of Women offers two types of membership: one for current female students and another for female alumni. If all applicants pass the vetting process, the society anticipates welcoming around 30 student members within its first fortnight, along with over 100 alumnae already signed up.