We're really talking about two different things here.....the rules and regs and health of the Morris Ring, and the attitudes of individual sides and individual dancers. Personally I think there's room for all and they should accept each other's decisions and preferences as far as membership of their sides goes.

Simon you're right about the age thing. The side with which my son dances used to be very dubious about dancing out with women's sides but had little choice, since the garland side I danced with was formed of and by their wives! Nowadays said morris die has become a lot younger, on average with many of the members aged between 15 and 30. They have also become noticeably less bothered by the women thing.

Love Lynne
Just a quci thought....though there is no actual restriction, as far as I know, on men dancing with women's sides, I'm not sure it would be great to have men in garland sides! To each his own.