def _checking_non_membership(compare_el):
    """
    See if checking membership status (specifically non-membership status).
    """
    ops_els = compare_el.xpath('ops')
    if len(ops_els) != 1:
        raise Exception("Should only be one ops item in a Compare")
    ops_el = ops_els[0]
    ops_type_els = ops_el.getchildren()
    if len(ops_type_els) != 1:
        raise Exception("Should only be one ops child")
    ops_type = ops_type_els[0].tag
    checking_non_membership = (ops_type == 'NotIn')
    return checking_non_membership