Women-only chat room

Hopefully the chat room for men only will follow shortly

Thanks for your suggestion day@atime. Men are currently in the vast majority where it comes to our chat room use, and we are doing this as an experiment to see if more women will discover our services. Normal service will be resumed from this evening. If you would like a men-only chat room please do post here or drop us a line telling us how you feel it would be of benefit.

Best wishes

Deirdre

Forum Admin.

Well, it just seemed a bit odd, especially announcing it with just a few hours notice.
Women will use the chatrooms less. There is too much social stigma attached to women gamblers, bad mother, wife etc for them to open up in group sessions. Too much shame that they have bucked against what society demands of them. Im sure your research shows women thrive better in a 1 to 1 environment, such as counselling, where their shame can be contained.

On the other hand men tend to be more open in group situations when women arent involved as they tend to stop pretending to be gentlemanly & a potential mate.

I was surprised by the short notice...in fact, did not see notice until after the event. I do think I would have found it easier to post initially if there had been a women only thread, just coz when you are first on here it is a bit daunting, it is male dominated, and I wanted to know that there were other women reaching out. Now, I try to get on chat, cos quite a few women do pop on, especially partners, and I hope it makes it easier for them realising there are plenty of women about the forum.

I think it's actually a good idea...but agree with a bit more notice...
Personally it's never bothered me being part of a mixed chat...but can see that some may find it easier if it was girls only...I'm not sure about the research facts "day at a time"...but from my point of veiw ....especially in the early days of facing up to my
addiction I think knowing that others mums..wife's. .nans etc are in the same boat...so as a first port of call...before counselling becomes available I think a women only place is a fantastic idea for those who feel a bit uncomfortable chatting with the boys...the online world of bingo and slots has been heavily pushed at females lately...and i fear many many more women will soon be turning here for help...

Someone pass the smelling salts, I agree with Dan.

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Yes Good on Gamcare for trying new things. I initially thought it might be counterproductive to seperate genders and it was playing to stereotypes of the scary men and their heavier problems putting women off.

I dont think the addiction is concerned with gender but if it shown that women like a women only chat then its all for the good. There are other open chat spots for all.

I certainly cast no extra stigma towards women and realise that the addiction forms neuron paths in just the same way as men.

Everyone should open up and try everything. I dont always know what to say on the chatrooms as there can be alot going on. However its a good focus that you are there and people are type talking in real time

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

This make me sick to my stomach! Gamcare is now an openly sexist organisation.

When is the men only chat, how about the trans only chat, and while we are here how about a chatroom for people who don't asscoiate with any gender?

One poster comes to my mind who I've only seen on a Friday afternoon chat. So what if he asn't allowed to chat last Friday afternoon and ended up in a bookies?

Disgraceful sexism from this site, it just gets worse by the day!

Hello bornagain,

This was one chat room intended to publicise our services on social media, in order to reach out to women (Including those who might not be aware of our services or who might feel tentative about using our services). Given that we ordinarily offer 14 chat rooms a week, that is over 700 chat rooms a year, and given that users may also use our forum, helpline and netline, your reaction to this one chat room seems very strong.

Kind regards,

Forum admin.

I feel its the exclusion part that is the problem forum admin. Perhaps the compromise might be to say its a female encouraging session and have admin on there who are actively bringing up topics that you think might be appropriate as well as suggested in the room. However you do this whilst still allowing men to participate if they wish?

Born....if he ended up in the bookies, i hope that he would be wise enough to realise blaming chat would be an excuse...there are other places to reach out when feeling challenged.

Forum admin wrote:

Hello bornagain,

This was one chat room intended to publicise our services on social media, in order to reach out to women (Including those who might not be aware of our services or who might feel tentative about using our services). Given that we ordinarily offer 14 chat rooms a week, that is over 700 chat rooms a year, and given that users may also use our forum, helpline and netline, your reaction to this one chat room seems very strong.

Kind regards,

Forum admin.

Sexism is against the law and it is wrong. Is Gamecare now a sexist organisation or will it also be offering a men only chat service? Can you please answer this Admin?

Am I missing something here...surely any offer of help and support to any walk of life....men. .women..***..straight...fat ..thin..old..young...whatever...is better than not trying to maybe move with the times.....if I'm honest when I was trying to accept my addiction I remember thinking...." no way..that's a blokes problem in the bookies "...so maybe other women have felt the same...who knows ?
Anyway....I'm not looking for an online argument...we all have different ideas of rights and wrongs....if if helps just one person to open up and fight the fight by having "segregated groups"...then it's got to be a good thing....