Crossword Genius

Such women could be out in north, beset by male prejudice (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lesbians

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'such women could be out' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'north beset by male prejudice' is the wordplay.
'north' becomes 'n' (synonyms).
'beset by' is an insertion indicator ('beset' could historically mean 'cover').
'male' becomes 'les' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'prejudice' becomes 'bias' (biasing is a kind of prejudicing).
'les'+'bias'='lesbias'
'n' inserted within 'lesbias' is 'LESBIANS'.

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for lesbians that I've seen is " islanders".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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