Girls not allowed: Why after women bishops snub, it's still a man's world

The Church of England is not the only section of society where females are treated as second-class citizens

Muirfield golf club

The vote against women bishops has been called a "disaster" for the Church of England.

And it will be at least another five years before there's another chance for the breakthrough to be made.

But the church is not the only section of society where females are treated as second-class citizens:

Muirfield golf club

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers based at Muirfield dates back to 1744. So, apparently, does their attitude towards gender equality as they still refuse to accept lady members.

It will host next year's Open and is facing pressure to change - especially after the all-male Augusta National in America recently let two women join.

Labour's Harriet Harman called the policy "old-fashioned" and "out of touch", adding: "It's completely wrong that Muirfield is still men only, especially after a brilliant summer of women's sport."

And Muirfield is not the only remaining all-male golf club. St Andrews' Royal and Ancient and Royal Troon have also come under fire for their refusal to allow women members. Muirfield declined to comment on its policy.

Getty Royal Marines
Royal Marines

Royal Marines

When women were first allowed to join the Armed Forces during the Second World War, their impact was huge. Over time barriers have broken down from allowing them to serve on ships to venturing into war zones.

But still jobs where the primary duty is "to close with and kill the enemy" are strictly men only, the MoD says.

This means women are banned from becoming Royal Marines Commandos, the Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps, frontline Infantry, Royal Air Force Regiment and Submariners (due to change from late 2013).

Nearly a third of all jobs in the Royal Navy and Army are closed to women.

PA The Garrick Club, London
The Garrick Club, London

The Garrick

The Garrick Gentleman's Club was founded in 1831 by a "group of literary gentlemen" and attracted Charles Dickens as well as the composer Edward Elgar.

To this day its members include leading arts figures such as Stephen Fry, Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville and former James Bond Sir Roger Moore.

But don't be fooled by its liberal artsy foundations - women aren't allowed to become members.

However, they can enjoy a drink - as long as there's a man with them.

"As the Garrick is restricted to gentleman members only," states the website, "lady members of reciprocal clubs are not permitted to use the Club in ias am in their own right, but are most welcome as guests, when accompanied by a male member of a reciprocal club."

Rex Freemasons


In five years, the Freemasons approach their tricentenary with more than 330,000 members in England and Wales and six million around the world.

Yet despite efforts to open up the organisation so it appears less secretive than it was when it first started in 1717, much of it is still shrouded in mystery.

Its secret handshakes and bizarre rituals will never be fully known by non-members but ONE thing is - there are strictly no women allowed.

Female Masonic groups have sprung up, amassing around 20,000 members in the UK alone.

But the charitable organisation that donates £30million a year to good causes still does not allow women to join.

The United Grand Lodge of England neither recognises nor approves of mixed lodges.

Miill View Social Club in Sunderland

Kudos to Sunderland's Mill View Social Club for finally, begrudgingly, allowing women to enter all its bars.

As late as summer last year, there remained one all-male enclave within the club that its more conservative members battled to maintain.

But when they realised their admission rules flouted the 2010 Equalities Act, the more Neanderthal members dragged their knuckles towards progress and changed the rules.

However, the discrimination didn't stop there. An investigation was launched after women who dared venture into the formerly all-male preserve were booed and jeered and some asked to leave by male members.

At the time of the rule change, club chairman Billy Angus said: "It's a lovely bar, but I would not like a lady to be in here because the lads want to talk about the shipyards, the pits and there is a bit of swearing that goes on."


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