Sexual Equality
Whilst I agree that sexual equality is an important part of cultural progress not only in music but in general life. There are outstanding female players out there and I appreciate their talents (playing, that is) and understand their ambitions to reach the top of the banding tree (as blokes also aspire). However, since banding I would say is now over 99% mixed gendered, there are other routes that are available to those who wish to aspire to the very best. This obviously means that the remaining male bands will miss out on the increasingly good talent of the opposite sex. So its our tough luck.
I fail to see the problem with some bands having only a single gender playing staff. By no means do these bands have a set of rules which say that the female gender are not allowed to join. As a member of possibly the less than 1% of bands with a single gender playing staff I sometimes see certain topics about the "Women should be allowed in" types and wonder why do you want to get in. After all there are more bands that have mixed gender and are extremely good bands, so why be so fussy and want to rock the boat. I'm sure in time all bands will mixed gendered, some will no doubt become all female and will have similar perceived prejudice towards male players.
All in all, if a woman wanted to join an all male band, fully in the knowledge that it's single sex, what would be her motivations ?
The fact that she'd be the first female in the previously all male domain or notoriety in banding folklore as the first female ? It could also be purely the fact that they wish to get into something that they know they can't or is this far too cynical and that their motivations are concerned with playing in a top band (that can happen now anyway ?)
I hope that I've balanced this argument out, I am in no way against women joining all male bands. Personally I think it's great playing in mixed gendered bands, but on the opposite side of the scales, I enjoy the single gender environment which is certainly a lot different, especially in its social dynamics and behaviour. I think everyone has the right to play or survive in the mix of people that they choose and should not be forced by government or peer pressure to change their ways because others want to. There are I'm sure all female institutions that many males would aspire to be in, like a co-ordinator for an Ann Summers house party (it might be possible now, havent really checked). If there are female orientated societies, whether in music or anything else, they have an equal right to do what they want, ask who they want and enjoy the company of fellow females, as much as all male societies have these same rights. Whether the single gendered bands will suffer in the long run, time will tell, with the amount of females in the youth banding system it might be in a short time.
Final words:- I do feel that there is a tiny element of Machoism in playing in a single gendered band. There is the fact that its an unique ensemble of players of the same gender, which sets that ensemble separtate to the 99% of other bands. People not only identify these bands due to their single gender but because (in the Championship section male dominated bands) they have famous names that have been established due to contest success. The way I look at being in an all male band is that it was strange to begin with but it was something that you get used to. Essentially if a social dynamic that has been established for a long time is disrupted, in this topic by gender, it could alter or completely change the relationships within the band, for example between players. I'm not saying that this change in social dynamic would not settle and that the band would again have a good form of social dynamic in time, just through the initial stages of change there would be a lot of change needed from those who's comfortable environment would have been disturbed.
Any how, not wishing to be controversial but I think there should be all women bands in the Championship section. This may undoubtedly draw a bigger amount of banders from the pub and if promoted right could draw more of the general audience if they went for a Calendar Girls approach!

:lol:
Only joking, as my motto goes, each to their own!
There's room for all types of band in the banding world.