ten reasons why you might be struggling to attract women to your events

(hint: it’s not because “women just aren’t into ideas.”)

So, you’ve got a big political event coming up - congrats! But if you're wondering why your guest list looks like it’s filled with men who just discovered The Fountainhead last week, maybe it’s time for a reality check. Here are ten reasons you might be struggling to attract the kind of crowd you actually want to mingle with (spoiler alert: it’s not because "women just don't get your ideas").

1. Your Venue Strategy is “Pub, But Make It Ideological”

   Everyone loves a good pub, especially after a long week of arguing about tax brackets. But if every event feels like it’s being held in the darkest corner of a Wetherspoons, complete with sticky tables and ambient resentment, don’t expect anyone, let alone women, to voluntarily spend their Thursday night there. Uplighting and clean floors are not a leftist conspiracy.

2. The Only Women You Can Reliably Name Are Margaret Thatcher and Your Mum
   We love a tribute to strong female figures, but if your entire roster of inspirational women stops at the Iron Lady and the woman who made your packed lunches in Year 5, you might need to broaden your horizons. There are other accomplished women, you just have to stop interrupting them long enough to notice.

3. “Networking” Means a Bunch of Men Explaining Milton Friedman to Each Other
   Women enjoy intelligent discussion, not being talked over by a man who’s still emotionally processing Atlas Shrugged. Try asking questions. Listen. Maybe... nod?

4. Your Social Media Is Just Men in Half-zips and an Alarming Number of Rocket Emojis
   We’ve all seen the post: five men in slightly ill-fitting Patagonia, captioned “Huge night for ideas 🚀🚀”. But where’s the story? Where’s the energy? More importantly, where’s the woman who didn’t leave early? A rocket emoji doesn’t launch engagement, and it definitely doesn’t make your event look less like a stag do with pamphlets.

5. You’re Obsessed with Growth, But Only the GDP Kind
   We get it, you're pro-growth. But if your entire message is about scaling capital and deregulating everything that moves, you might be forgetting the human part. Growth isn’t just for balance sheets; it should mean better lives, stronger communities, and people actually thriving. Try talking about that sometime.

6. Every Speaker Looks Like a Former Sixth Form Head of House
   Diversity of thought is great, but have you considered diversity of… literally anything else? Or are you just collecting men called Charles who once interned at Policy Exchange?

7. Your Only Understanding of Free Debate Is the Freedom to Be Rude
   Free speech matters, but if your idea of intellectual exchange is interrupting people and calling it “robust debate,” you’re not defending liberty, you’re just being a dick. There’s a difference between challenging ideas and chasing clout via confrontation.

8. Your “Fun” Socials Involve Warm White Wine and Cold Takes
   If the vibe is “drinks in a fluorescent-lit basement with a man who unironically says ‘the market will sort it out,’” don’t be surprised when people choose literally anything else, including staying home and filing their nails.

9. You Forgot That Culture Is a Battlefield, And You’re Not Even Trying to Win
   You say you care about influencing the culture, but your playlist is still Coldplay, your merch is Helvetica on a tote bag, and your idea of innovation is… another SW1 panel on deregulation. Please. Try. Harder.

10. You Keep Leading with “Why the West Is Collapsing”
    Not every event needs to sound like a midlife crisis in PowerPoint form. Starting with civilisational doom on Luma isn’t bold, it’s bleak. Maybe ease off the end times rhetoric and try a topic that doesn’t feel like it was ghostwritten by Jordan Peterson’s sleep paralysis demon.

The reason women aren’t showing up to your events isn’t because they don’t understand your economic theories, or care about your ‘based’ ideas. It’s because your entire pitch screams “growth for capital” rather than “growth for people.” Women care about growth, but not when it’s just about inflating balance sheets or deregulating industries for the sake of profit. They want to see real change; growth that’s about opportunity, equity, and human well-being. And when your events focus solely on how to make rich people richer, don’t expect anyone but the usual suspects to turn up.

If you want women to take your ideas seriously, stop pretending like your “pro-growth” rhetoric is enough to get anyone in the door. It’s not about adding a few token female speakers or sprinkling in a hashtag. It’s about shifting your focus from maximising capital to maximising human potential. Start leading with the things that matter: opportunity, inclusivity, and actual, meaningful growth. Until then, your guest list will continue to be a who’s who of tech bros and SW1 bag carriers. (After all, even the best ideas need robust infrastructure and delivery to truly take off 🚀).