Protests have erupted at Cambridge University over a “women and non-binary only” gym session at Girton College.
Posters advertising the session said it would take place every Wednesday between 7 and 8pm and asked that men “please be respectful” and “not come in”.
But the posters were defaced by protestors, who crossed out the words “women” and “non-binary”, a term used to describe those who identify as neither exclusively male nor female, and replaced them with “everyone”.
Girton was the university’s first women’s college and became co-educational more than 30 years ago.
In response to the backlash, one of Girton’s senior tutors, Sandra Fulton, wrote an email to students to advocate the college’s support of the gym session, which had been initiated by the student body and college council.
"It has come to my attention that some students find it contentious that there is a women-only gym and swimming pool hour,” the email reads.
"If anyone has issues with this channel they should make it known by an appropriate channel, which is via me or via your tutor."
A spokesperson for the college clarified its stance, describing Girton as “an inclusive community”, adding that it will not tolerate acts of vandalism.
“We deplore the fact that a poster advertising access to the gym was defaced,” they continued.
“Following this isolated incident, the poster has been replaced.”
The gym session has prompted a debate on social media.
Some people argued that it exclusing men was discriminatory while others pointed out that anyone can actually declare themselves non-binary, which may render the initiative futile.
