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'{{short description|American workspace company}} {{Infobox company | name = The Wing | logo = The Wing.jpg | type = [[Private company|Private]] | founded = {{start date and age|2016|10}} | defunct = {{end date and age|2022|8|30}} | founders = [[Audrey Gelman]]<br />Lauren Kassan | hq_location_city = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] | hq_location_country = U.S. | services = Shared workspaces, events, and related services for women freelancers and entrepreneurs | num_locations = 7 | num_locations_year = 2021 }} '''The Wing''' was a women-focused social club and co-working space<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/31/style/the-wing-shuts-down.html "The Wing Shuts Down"] Katherine Rosman, ''The New York Times'', August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2023.</ref> with offices in [[New York City]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[San Francisco]], [[Chicago]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[Boston]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/06/26/the-wing-partners-with-local-female-chefs-for-special-menu-items/|title=The Wing partners with local female chefs for special menu items|last=Louise|first=J. Q.|date=2019-06-26|website=Boston Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> It was founded by [[Audrey Gelman]] and Lauren Kassan in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-wing-women-only-coworking-space-photo-tour-2017-11|title=The exclusive no-men-allowed club that raised $32 million from investors like WeWork just opened a brand new location — take a look inside|last=Jacobs|first=Sarah|date=March 1, 2018|work=Business Insider|accessdate=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://qz.com/quartzy/1239791/the-wing-is-as-exclusionary-as-other-private-clubs-but-not-because-of-gender/ |title=The Wing Investigation: Can a private members' club in New York really be inclusive? — Quartzy |publisher=Qz.com |date=2018-03-29 |accessdate=2019-02-22}}</ref> {{As of|2019|July}}, the club had about 10,000 members.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url= https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/07/31/can-black-woman-fly-the-wing/qmimPkYfBlV2C1psFBHfGI/story.html|title=Can a black woman fly at The Wing?|last=Osterheldt|first=Jeneé|date=July 31, 2019|website=The Boston Globe|language=en-US|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> At its peak, The Wing had eleven locations in two countries; {{as of|2021|lc=y}} there were seven branches in the United States. The Wing initially only accepted people who identify as women or non-binary, but to comply with non-discrimination laws began accepting people of any [[gender identity]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Kate|title=Women's co-working space The Wing adjusts membership policy to allow all genders|agency=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/08/womens-co-working-space-the-wing-adjusts-membership-policy-to-allow-all-genders/|accessdate=12 May 2019}}</ref> After complaints about how The Wing failed to address racist behavior of its members, and an employee walkout, Gelman stepped down as CEO in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/11/the-wing-ceo-audrey-gelman-resigns-amid-staff-digital-walkout/|title = The Wing CEO Audrey Gelman resigns amid employee 'digital walkout'|date = 11 June 2020}}</ref> On August 30, 2022, The Wing ceased operations. This announcement was issued by email to its members, many of whom took to the company's still-active social media to express disdain about the short notice communication.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gerstein |first1=Julie |title=Gone girl(boss): Troubled co-working space The Wing announced it's shutting down, but all anybody cares about is what will happen to its furniture |url=https://www.insider.com/coworking-space-the-wing-announces-shut-down-2022-8 |publisher=Insider |date=August 30, 2022}}</ref> == History == The initial idea for The Wing stemmed from Gelman's desire for a space to change and relax between business meetings as she lived in the New York City borough of [[Brooklyn]], but worked in [[SoHo, Manhattan]], and in Washington, D.C. The first title for this not-yet-created space was Refresh. When Gelman and Lauren Kassan began working together, they decided "The Wing" was a more fitting name, since it would represent a "wing" of the users' home away from their actual home. When developing this idea, the two decided to focus on creating a space where women can feel safe and supported.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/11/style/the-wing-womens-social-club-magazine.html|title=The Wing, a Chic Women's Club, Is Going Wide|last=Rosman|first=Katherine|date=2017-11-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-wing-is-opening-its-exclusive-doors-to-dcs-witches-but-will-they-accept-the-invitation/2018/04/09/c8950102-3aac-11e8-8fd2-49fe3c675a89_story.html|title=Is 'The Wing' too hopelessly Manhattan for the working women of Washington?|last=McCarthy|first=Ellen|date=2018-04-10|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2019-01-07}}</ref> In October 2016, Gelman and Kassan founded The Wing in New York City's [[Flatiron District]], on the [[Ladies' Mile Historic District|Ladies' Mile]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fischer |first1=Molly |title=What Was the Wing? |url=https://www.thecut.com/2021/02/what-happened-to-the-wing.html |access-date=30 March 2021 |work=[[New_York_(magazine)#Digital|The Cut]] |date=15 February 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> The company raised $2.4 million from majority women seed investors including SoulCycle's [[Julie Rice]] and Elizabeth Cutler as well as [[Birchbox]]'s [[Hayley Barna]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2016/11/08/inside-the-wing-how-cofounders-raised-2-4m-to-open-all-women-social-and-coworking-club/|title=Inside The Wing: How Cofounders Raised $2.4M To Open All-Women Social And Coworking Club|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|date=2016-11-08|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> The Wing closed its Series A funding round led by early-stage venture firm [[New Enterprise Associates]] in April 2017. The company raised $8 million from investors including [[Kleiner Perkins]] and BBG Ventures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/04/05/womens-club-the-wing-raises-8-million-series-a-adds-3-locations/|title=Women's Club The Wing Raises $8 Million Series A, Adds 3 Locations|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|date=2017-04-05|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> They subsequently opened another branch in a loft in SoHo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/a13114448/the-wing-soho-location/|title=The Wing's Chic New SoHo Space Will Make You Want to Join ASAP|last=Epstein|first=Rachel|date=2017-10-30|website=Marie Claire|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-07}}</ref> In November 2017, The Wing completed a Series B round led by [[WeWork]]<ref name=":3"/> (which divested its minority interest in 2020<ref name=CNBC>[https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/22/wework-sells-teem-and-its-stake-in-the-wing.html "WeWork sells Teem and its stake in The Wing as it continues to divest non-core businesses"] Annie Palmer, ''CNBC'', January 22, 2020. retrieved October 18, 2023.</ref>). The company raised an additional $32 million bringing their total investment to $42 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/11/21/womens-club-the-wing-raises-32-million-series-b-led-by-competitor-wework/|title=Women's Club The Wing Raises $32 Million Series B, Led By WeWork|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|date=2017-11-21|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40498827/wework-leads-32m-investment-in-lady-club-the-wing|title=WeWork leads $32M investment in ladies-only coworking space The Wing|last=Reader|first=Ruth|date=2017-11-21|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> During 2018, The Wing opened new spaces in the [[Dumbo, Brooklyn|Dumbo]] neighborhood of Brooklyn (its third New York City location) in January;<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/a18713152/the-wing-dumbo-brooklyn-location/|title=The Wing Dumbo Is Here—See the Women's Club's Gorgeous New Brooklyn Location|last=Epstein|first=Rachel|date=2018-02-26|website=Marie Claire|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2017/12/04/female-co-working-club-the-wing-new-york-soho-loft/|title=Female co-working club The Wing opens in New York loft|last=Gibson|first=Eleanor|date=4 December 2017|website=Dezeen|accessdate=30 April 2018}}</ref> in the [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]] neighborhood of [[Washington, D.C.]], in April;<ref name=":2" /> and in [[San Francisco]], California, in October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Does-SF-need-another-co-working-space-The-13291635.php|title=Does SF need another co-working space? The women-first Wing founders are betting yes. - SFChronicle.com|last=McDowell|first=Maghan|date=2018-10-09|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/09/tech/the-wing-san-francisco/index.html|title=The Wing opens 'tech bro alternative' space in San Francisco|last=O'Brien|first=Sara Ashley|date=2018-10-09|website=CNN|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> The Washington, D.C., facility includes a booth dedicated to law professor [[Anita Hill]] while the San Francisco space has a conference room dedicated to psychology professor [[Christine Blasey Ford]].<ref name="Ford">{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/410616-womens-workspace-dedicates-new-conference-room-to-christine |title=Women's co-working network gives nod to Christine Blasey Ford at new space |publisher=TheHill |date=2018-10-09 |accessdate=2018-10-15}}</ref> At the end of 2018, The Wing announced it would offer on-site childcare services, The Little Wing, as part of the expansion of its SoHo location,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-23/on-site-daycare-is-coming-to-womens-coworking-center-in-soho|title=On-Site Daycare Is Coming to Womens' Coworking Center in SoHo|last=Greenfield|first=Rebecca|date=2018-10-23|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/inside-the-little-wing-a-new-space-for-kids-and-working-parents|title=Introducing The Little Wing, a Kid-Sized Version of the Cult Co-working Space|last=Okin|first=Ariel|date=2019-01-30|website=Vogue|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> which later shuttered, following the 2020 school year.<ref name=Yahoo/> On March 1, 2018, the [[New York City Commission on Human Rights]] began to investigate<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/03/the-wing-discrimination-investigation-human-rights-commission.html|title=Women-Only Social Club Is Under Investigation by the NYC Human Rights Commission|last=Arnold|first=Amanda|date=2018-03-27|work=The Cut|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en}}</ref> The Wing's membership operations. At that time, The Wing did not allow men even as guests of members, unlike two other New York City women's clubs noted by ''[[The New York Times]]'' — [[Colony Club]] and [[Cosmopolitan Club (New York City)|Cosmopolitan Club]] — though it did hire some men such as plumbers and electricians.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/style/the-wing-investigation.html|title=Is Women-Only Club the Wing Discriminating in a Bad Way?|author=Katherine Rosman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2018-03-28}}</ref> In June 2018, James E. Pietrangelo says an employee of The Wing told him his application would be automatically denied because he was a man.<ref name="Trotte">{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/the-wing-changed-membership-policy-to-allow-men-after-gender-discrimination-lawsuit-2019-1|title=Women's club The Wing quietly dropped its practice of banning men after a man filed a $12 million gender discrimination lawsuit|author=J.K. Trotte|website=[[Insider.com]]|date=2019-01-07}}</ref> Pietrangelo, a man described by ''[[TechCrunch]]'' as "the dictionary definition of litigious",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/01/08/womens-co-working-space-the-wing-adjusts-membership-policy-to-allow-all-genders/|title=Women's co-working space The Wing adjusts membership policy to allow all genders|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-30}}</ref> filed a lawsuit in August 2018, which claimed that The Wing's policy violated the District of Columbia's Human Right Act. The Wing responded, stating that prior to August 30, 2018, it had an unwritten policy of only accepting women (including [[transgender women]]) and [[gender non-binary]] people. The company adopted a formal written policy that took effect in September of that year which accepts members regardless of [[gender identity]]. The company says it only accepts about 8% of applicants – those who it judges to be committed to its mission – and that only 12 out of about 26,000 applicants were men.<ref name="Trotte" /> The New York City Commission's investigation ended after the adoption of a formal policy allowing membership to people of any identity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/06/16/women-working-space-the-wing-comes-boston/2cbNWiJume9lmgsfa3oQ4O/story.html|title=Women's co-working space The Wing comes to Boston - The Boston Globe|last=Johnston|first=Katie|date=2019-06-17|website=BostonGlobe.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref> In December 2018, the company closed a $75-million Series C funding round which was led by [[Sequoia Capital]], and including investors [[Upfront Ventures]], [[Airbnb]] and others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/the-wing-kerry-washington-times-up-funding-1203093250/|title=Kerry Washington, Time's Up Leaders Among Investors in The Wing, a Women's Workspace Startup|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2018-12-19|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> Among the investors were leaders of the [[Time's Up (organization)|Time's Up movement]] including [[Valerie Jarrett]], [[Roberta A. Kaplan|Robbie Kaplan]], [[Katie McGrath]], [[Hilary Rosen]], and [[Kerry Washington]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2018/12/19/the-wing-series-c-sequoia-jess-lee/|title=The Wing's Next Move? Sequoia's Jess Lee, Time's Up Backers, and $75 Million|last=Hinchliffe|first=Emma|date=2018-12-19|website=Fortune|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-12-19/the-wing-gets-75-million-to-expand-its-working-women-collective|title=The Wing Gets $75 Million to Expand Its Working Women Collective|last=Griffin|first=Riley|date=2018-12-19|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> At the time, The Wing had raised a total of $117.5 million in funding since its founding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90284253/the-wing-just-raised-another-75m-for-a-total-of-117-5m-in-two-years|title=The Wing just raised another $75M, for a total of $117.5M in two years|last=Raphael|first=Rina|date=2018-12-19|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> In April 2019, The Wing opened its sixth location at the [[Fulton Market District]] in [[Chicago]], Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Freund|first=Sara|date=2019-04-03|title=Local design ties The Wing's first Chicago coworking space to the city|url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/4/3/18292046/chicago-women-coworking-the-wing-opens-april|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Curbed Chicago|language=en}}</ref> The same month, The Wing opened a seventh location on [[Santa Monica Boulevard]] in [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]], California.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wing-opens-los-angeles-1202794|title=The Wing Lands in Los Angeles|last=Weinberg|first=Lindsay|date=2019-04-18|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/the-wing-weho/|title=The Wing Is Finally Open in L.A.—Here's What You Need to Know|last=Stuart|first=Gwynedd|date=2019-04-18|website=Los Angeles Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref> The West Hollywood location became the second location with an area for children.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2019/06/14/the-wing-boston-advertising/|title=The Wing Lands in Boston and Finds an Advertising Double Standard|last=Flaim|first=Kate|date=June 14, 2019|website=Fortune|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref> The location also has a sound-proof screening room and film-themed phone booths names after [[Princess Leia]] from ''[[Star Wars]]'', [[C. J. Cregg|C.J. Cregg]] of ''The West Wing'', Lydia Deetz from ''[[Beetlejuice]]''.<ref name=":9" /> The Wing's eighth location opened in June 2019 in the [[Back Bay, Boston|Back Bay]] area of [[Boston]], Massachusetts.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":11" /> The first draft of subway ads for this new location were rejected by the [[MBTA]] for touching on "political issues or matters of public debate" and being potentially demeaning to a group of people (in this case, men). The rejected ads included the slogans "The World was built for men. The Wing is built for you." and "Want to mute the mansplainers and start your own conversation?"<ref name=":11"/><ref>[https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/07/30/mbta-denied-advertisements-ok-cupid-masspoetry-jfk-library Too Hot For The T? Here Are Some Of The Ads The MBTA Rejected]</ref> The Wing's headquarters opened in the former [[Stuyvesant Polyclinic]] in [[East Village, Manhattan]], the same month, occupying all {{Convert|22000|ft2||abbr=}} of the clinic building. At the time, The Wing vacated its SoHo location.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-27|title=The Wing transforms 1850s building in New York's East Village into HQ|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2019/06/27/the-wing-headquarters-east-village-new-york-city/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Dezeen|language=en}}</ref> Its first international location and ninth overall opened in [[Fitzrovia]], [[London]], in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-22|title=The Wing: inside London's newest members' club for women|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/inside-the-wing-london-members-club-for-women-a4266911.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Evening Standard|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kinstler|first=Linda|date=2019-10-18|title=The Wing: how an exclusive women's club sparked a thousand arguments|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/18/the-wing-how-an-exclusive-womens-club-sparked-a-thousand-arguments|access-date=2020-07-08|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Another Manhattan location, near [[Bryant Park]], opened that December, making it The Wing's fourth location in New York City and its tenth location overall.<ref>{{cite web|last=Alexa|first=Alexandra|date=December 11, 2019|title=See inside The Wing's newest location in Bryant Park|url=https://www.6sqft.com/see-inside-the-wings-newest-location-in-bryant-park/|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=6sqft}}</ref> A location in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]], opened in February 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Alexa|first=Alexandra|date=February 14, 2020|title=See inside The Wing's fifth NYC location in Williamsburg|url=https://www.6sqft.com/see-inside-the-wings-fifth-nyc-location-in-williamsburg/|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=6sqft}}</ref> Gelman stepped down as CEO that June, in response to employees' complaints about their treatment by members and higher-up staff. At the same time, [[Celestine Maddy]] and Ashley Peterson were named co-CEOs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Noah |first=Manskar|date=11 June 2020|title=The Wing CEO Audrey Gelman resigns amid employee 'digital walkout|url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/11/the-wing-ceo-audrey-gelman-resigns-amid-staff-digital-walkout/|access-date=8 December 2022|website=nypost.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Audrey Gelman, the Wing's Co-Founder, Resigns|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/style/the-wing-ceo-audrey-gelman-resigns.html|access-date=8 December 2022|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In August 2020 it was announced that the London branch would permanently close citing the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|Covid-19 pandemic]] as the cause.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-24|title=The Londoner: Scandal-hit women's club The Wing closes|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/the-londoner-scandalhit-women-s-club-the-wing-closes-a4531816.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=Evening Standard|language=en}}</ref> 300 employees were made redundant during this period.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Rosman|first=Katherine|date=2020-06-12|title=Audrey Gelman, the Wing's Co-Founder, Resigns|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/style/the-wing-ceo-audrey-gelman-resigns.html|access-date=2021-05-06|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In February 2021, [[IWG plc]], a provider of serviced offices, bought a majority the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regus Owner IWG Buys Majority Stake in Office Startup The Wing |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-11/regus-owner-iwg-buys-majority-stake-in-office-startup-the-wing |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> In February 2022, Jennifer Cho, chief marketing officer of the company, was appointed CEO.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deighton |first=Katie |date=2022-02-11 |title=The Wing Promotes Its CMO to CEO as It Attempts a Comeback |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-wing-promotes-its-cmo-to-ceo-as-it-attempts-a-comeback-11644577320 |access-date=2022-03-08 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> ==Operations== Membership costs ranged between $185 and $215 per month for access to a single location and $250 for full access to all locations.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/all-female-coworking-clubs-where-design-counts|title=5 All-Female Coworking Clubs Where Design Counts|last=Kravitz|first=Melissa|date=March 8, 2018|website=Architectural Digest|language=en|access-date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40578493/womens-coworking-space-the-wing-is-expanding-into-media|title=Women's coworking space The Wing is expanding into media|last=Raphael|first=Rina|date=2018-05-30|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> In May 2018, The Wing announced it would begin offering scholarships to cover membership fees for a selected few applicants. The scholarships were "aimed at individuals who are currently underrepresented in their member pool and who are working to advance the position of women and girls in society — specifically, those in the fields of teaching, nonprofit, social services, and advocacy."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/05/the-wing-is-launching-a-new-scholarship-program.html|title=The Wing Is Launching a Scholarship Program|last=Silman|first=Anna|date=2018-05-11|website=The Cut|language=en|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> The company offered free two-year memberships including professional mentorship at its various locations in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/the-wing-goes-global-vogue-september-2018|title=Imperial Pink? The Wing Gears Up to Go Global|last=Malle|first=Chloe|date=2018-09-08|website=Vogue|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> The Wing's network included more than 10,000 members.<ref name=":1" /> In August 2018, The Wing launched an app that allows members to connect digitally, sign in guests, and register for events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/04/women-only-co-working-space-the-wing-is-launching-an-app-to-help-its-members-stay-connected/|title=Women-only co-working space The Wing is launching an app to help its members stay connected|last=Clark|first=Kate|date=2018-09-04|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> At the end of 2019, the company was operating 11 locations, which included a townhouse in the Fitzrovia area of London.<ref name=Yahoo>[https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/movies/girlbosses-girlbossed-too-close-sun-053000576.html The girlbosses who girlbossed too close to the sun: The demise of ‘women’s utopia’ The Wing was long overdue"] Eloise Hendy, ''Yahoo!'', September 2, 2022. retrieved October 18, 2023.</ref> In August 2018, The Wing announced that it would convert the majority of its hourly workers to full-time employees with benefits. This included giving their remaining part-time employees medical benefits, stock options, and increasing their wages to at least $16.50 per hour.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90217115/the-wing-will-now-give-hourly-workers-benefits-and-higher-wages|title=The Wing will now give hourly workers benefits and higher wages|last=Mohan|first=Pavithra|date=2018-08-14|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> In November 2017, The Wing launched a bi-annual magazine named ''No Man's Land''. The inaugural edition of the magazine featured interviews with musician [[Remy Ma]], publisher [[Tavi Gevinson]], and a cover story featuring actress [[Hari Nef]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/the-wing-launches-a-bi-annual-print-magazine-with-a-digital-distribution-partnership-at-the-cut/|title=Women-Only Social Club The Wing Launches a Bi-Annual Print Magazine|last=Main|first=Sami|date=2017-11-13|website=AdWeek|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> The magazine's second issue featured comedian Jessica Williams on the cover.<ref name=":5" /> ''No Man's Land'' was also the name of The Wing's [[podcast]] hosted by Alexis Coe. The podcast's six-episode first season featured what they described as "women who were too bad for your textbooks."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a25175920/the-wing-new-podcast-no-mans-land/|title=The Wing's New Podcast Wants to Rewrite Women's History|last=Feller|first=Madison|date=2018-11-16|website=ELLE|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> Episodes have focused on [[Stephanie St. Clair]], a leader of a [[Harlem]]-based criminal syndicate; [[Ana Mendieta]], a [[Cuban Americans|Cuban-American]] artist;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/no-mans-land-podcast-alexis-coe.html|title=No Man's Land Explores the Forgotten Stories of Women's History|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|date=2018-12-20|website=Vulture|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> and [[Ida B. Wells]], a journalist and early leader in the [[Civil rights movement (1896–1954)|Civil Rights Movement]].<ref name=":4" /> ==Workplace criticism== Journalist [[Amanda Hess]] reported that many women were drawn to seek employment at The Wing, "eager to work in beautiful spaces and in the company of women."<ref name="NYT 17 March 2020" /> Most of the current and former employees she interviewed were excited to begin but became disillusioned, the 26 employees interviewed citing low pay and mistreatment of Black members of staff. [[Receptionist]]s and event staff did not expect their jobs to include cleaning duties.<ref name="NYT 17 March 2020" /> At Wing events, employees might "find themselves to be the only Black women in the room," where members and their guests "could be casually racist."<ref name="NYT 17 March 2020" /> Salaried employees were often expected to work extra unpaid hours, while hourly [[wage]] employees could not get as much work as they wanted.<ref name="NYT 17 March 2020" /> A spokeswoman said The Wing had always "maintained employment best practices," and CEO Audrey Gelman said that these concerns were being addressed by raising wages, increasing [[employee benefits]], instituting a [[code of conduct]] for members, and changing the organizational structure.<ref name="NYT 17 March 2020">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/magazine/the-wing.html |title=The Wing Is a Women's Utopia. Unless You Work There. |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |date=March 17, 2020 |accessdate=March 17, 2020 |author=[[Amanda Hess|Hess, Amanda]]}}</ref> Gelman resigned in June 2020, and later issued a public apology to staff.<ref>[https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a34240270/the-high-price-of-female-friendship/ "The High Price of Female Friendship"] Marisa Meltzer, ''[[Town & Country (magazine)|Town & Country]]'', October 11, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2023.</ref> Gelman's resignation was followed by a strike by employees at The Wing asking for "sweeping changes to the management" with social media reflecting the opinion that "Gelman's resignation is not enough".<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Arnold|first=Amanda|date=2020-06-11|title=Audrey Gelman Is Stepping Down As CEO of The Wing|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/06/the-wing-co-founder-audrey-gelman-is-stepping-down-as-ceo.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=The Cut|language=en-us}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wing (workspace), The}} [[Category:Business organizations based in the United States]] [[Category:Business services companies established in 2016]] [[Category:Feminist organizations in the United States]] [[Category:Organizations based in New York City]] [[Category:Workplace]] [[Category:Women's clubs]]'