GARBAGE lead singer Shirley Manson has accused Glastonbury Festival of putting women in a “ghetto” by creating an all-female venue.
Earlier this week Glastonbury bosses announced that this year’s festival will feature a women-only venue called “The Sisterhood”.
The area has been billed as a “revolutionary clubhouse” open to “all people who identify as women”, with all-female performers and staff.
But Shirley Manson – the Edinburgh-born leader singer of rock band Garbage – has strongly condemned the move on social media.
Posting from the official band Twitter account on Tuesday night she said: “Why doesn’t Glastonbury invite more of us onto the stage with our male peers rather than shove us women into a ghetto type of situation?”
Following up the comments just minutes later, she added: “Music isn’t a gender based art and neither should it be – gender is dead.”
But Garbage are not playing Glastonbury this year – as one Twitter user was quick to point out.
Craig M asked: “Er… are you doing Glastonbury?”
Manson’s comments reflect the mixed reaction to the news of the all-female venue.
Taking to Twitter, one festival fan compared the venue to the recent decision by Muirfield to maintain their men-only status.
They wrote: “Totally defeats the purpose of equality. How can you complain about sexist golf clubs if you fuel the same ideas?”
Another added: “Glastonbury’s women only venue is perhaps the most brilliant bit of misguided thinking I’ve seen for awhile. Truly remarkable.”
In stronger comments, campaign group Fathers for Justice declared: “Glastonbury goes sexist.”
Another added: “This is utterly ridiculous, how can you even try to promote equality by means of segregation?”
But the venue was warmly welcomed by some.
Dave Stalker – who DJs for the festival radio station Worthy FM – said: “ I fully support what you’re doing. Have a great Glasto. Much respect.”
On their website the organisers of “The Sisterhood” say they “believe that women only spaces are necessary in a world that is still run by and designed to benefit mainly men.”
The venue will feature regular music performances, as well as power tool workshops and one event which is a forum for black women in the arts.
