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climberchic
Sep 18, 2002, 3:44 AM
Post #26 of 43
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To each his own and I truly believe that. I am fully convinced of your argument to not use those terms.
Regarding the girl climber though, I don't think of women as weak, insugnificant or subordinate and refuse to let anyone label terms having to do with women as such (not meant towards you, but "society"). If we take ownership of these terms, and take pride in them, no one can defame or malign us with them.
When someone says "You hit like a girl", I say "Thank You!" and them knowck them on their silly ass.
[ This Message was edited by: climberchic on 2002-09-17 20:54 ]
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katydid
Sep 18, 2002, 12:13 PM
Post #27 of 43
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Most of my partners thus far have been male, and it hasn't been a problem. They've been highly supportive, and willing to teach me what I don't know. As a matter of fact, a lot of the guys I've climbed with wish that MORE women would climb! And these are guys involved in relationships and whatnot, not guys who want to "pick up". They're just looking for more balance. I've even been asked for advice on how guys can get their girlfriends interested in climbing, because it would make them feel better about taking a risk if she were willing to share it with them (as opposed to so they can get more rock time in).
I've always been involved in "male-dominated" sports (fencing, hockey), and worked in a "male-dominated" insustry (computers) for five years, so it's not something I really think about when I just want to get my butt out there and climb. If some guy wants to hand it out, I can give it back with the best of them. Problem solved.
That said, I really would enjoy more female company when I'm climbing. If I say to a woman "I have cramps," she's a lot more likely to offer me some ibuprofen and a lot less likely to say, "eeeew, too much information," than a guy. I'm always trying to get more of my female friends involved in climbing, because I enjoy their company and would like to spend more time with them.
Were I on a road trip, though, I'm not sure how I'd feel being the only woman, even if my husband were along. I don't think I'd feel entirely comfortable, simply because my universe has some pretty serious variants from that of the men's. A good mix of men and women is fun, and I think I'd LOOOOOOVE the occasional "womyn's trip" to refresh my spirit.
Kate
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rockwomyn
Sep 18, 2002, 1:14 PM
Post #28 of 43
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Well i almost always climb with guys....the first real time i climbed with a gal was just last month when i met up with jess (crazylikeafawkes) man it was a nice to finally have a chick around to chat with. not to discuss girly stuff but just to be able to realte with. we had a blast. but now i am back with the boys it seems, which is cool. it's just a pain sometimes to clean the gear that a 6 foot person placed when your only 5 feet tall. ah....just an added challange.
~eryn
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calamity_chk
Sep 18, 2002, 2:30 PM
Post #29 of 43
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Honestly, being the only female on a trip doesnt really bother me. Most of my friends are men, and I'm completely comfortable being around them.
However, when meeting up with someone completely new, I generally have back up plans for my backup plans and make a point of making the initial meeting place a popular crag.
I mean, seriously, I'm 5' tall and weigh in around 100lbs .. I do take my personal safety seriously at all times, and (thankfully) I've only been in one climbing situation where I've been uncomfortable with the fella with whom I was climbing .. the backup plan kicked in, and I was with another set of climbers by the end of the day.
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atg200
Sep 18, 2002, 2:41 PM
Post #30 of 43
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I once took a 4 day road trip to Rumney with two women I didn't know. They got into a huge fight and wouldn't speak to each other for the last half of the trip. It was very uncomfortable for me, especially on the 6 hour drive home. I don't think I would take another trip as the lone guy in a group of girls.
I really prefer to climb with one partner and not in a group anyway. In that case, it doesn't matter to me if its a guy or a girl, though 99% of the people I climb with end up being guys.
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climbinganne
Sep 18, 2002, 2:44 PM
Post #31 of 43
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not all women are caddy...and from the girls i have met that climb, they don't fit in that catagory...andrew sorry you had a shitty time but don't give up on all of us!!
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atg200
Sep 18, 2002, 3:37 PM
Post #32 of 43
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Hey, I love women. I just fear them in groups.
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climbsomething
Sep 18, 2002, 10:26 PM
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hehe, fears women in groups We are a mighty group right here, Andrew, muah ah ah. But we won't eat you. You're nice
Anyway, enough of my sillery (that's a word I just made up, you knows).
People like drector- why be uncomfortable being the only man among women? Is it because of situations like Andrew's?
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nikegirl
Sep 19, 2002, 1:37 AM
Post #34 of 43
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Quote:
it would be great to meet up with some other climber chicks, and i'm really trying.... but girls get catty and threatened and strangely competitive....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have noticed that in small bits, myself...
I find myself climbing more with Guys than women. I think it goes without saying I love climbing, point blank...anyone wanna hook up, I'm game.
I remember saying to a woman, at the gym...I told her...that she climbed beautifully. I got the look of "weirdo"...
I'm more than willing to comment, or give praise, as I see it...but, since then?? I am a bit apprehensive. It was HER lack of taking a compliment, it seems. Needless to say I felt strange...
And I DO get those looks at the gym. Lookin me up and down...sneering at me....I just smile and say HI!!
I'm a seen as a wee bit weird, to most. BUT??? I AM ME
I haven't edited:
why is it I feel like a bitch for saying or showing my observations???
but, this is what I see...
*sigh
T
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climbsomething
Sep 19, 2002, 2:13 AM
Post #35 of 43
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I am a wee bit weird meself, T. I get those looks in places other than the gym too. Because I say what I think is funny, or right, or just what is on my mind, and I say it as only the Hillary can I am a smart ass, but I don't try to go out and hurt people's feelings or piss people off for sport. I am just not much for self-censorship if I think I have something relevant to say. If that's bitchy, well *shrug*
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amsam
Sep 20, 2002, 1:31 AM
Post #36 of 43
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I've spent so much time being the only girl in a large group of guys that I think I'm more comfortable as the only girl.
It deffinately can be fun to have other girls around to share a few jokes and talk about all the guys, as long as they aren't the super prissy, flirty type, that can get annoying, especially on extended trips.
For me, climbing with more girls than guys just feels wierd, and I've never gone climbing with just girls. I think that guys just bring a different aspect to a group and I know I'd miss 'em if they weren't around.
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otter
Sep 21, 2002, 1:30 AM
Post #37 of 43
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Wow...
Climbsomething and T...I could have written those very statements. You took a lot of words from my mouth...LOL!
I grew up getting along with guys better that gals. There are very few gals that I ever considered true friends. I always felt like everything i said or did was offending them...and I was usually right, but instead of saying so straight out..they just talked behind my back. This made me very weary of women. I also found that my joking around and easy comraderie with guys was taken as flirting or sluttiness. I never could understand those crazy creatures. Guys on the most part said what they thought..and never asked fickel questions they didn't want honest answers too. I am a very straight forward person and I love honesty...even if it hurts. I was taken in stride better by guys and given far more honesty by them as well. I've watched groups of women at the rocks having a great time and being supportive of each other and I have to say I wish I could enjoy that as well...so far no luck. I have only climbed with my husband and two different instructors. One of the instructors is a woman and I was fortunate to run into her at a crag and she and her male partner were very friendly with my husband and I and invited us to climb some routs that they had lead. It was nice. I like the lady..she seems sincere. I would love to ask if she want s climb again sometime, but I am so cautios now. Not sure if I would have the guts. I like climbing with guys just fine. I think I feel more challenged when i have other climbers around than just my husband...they can feel free to haggle me if i start to give up...where as my husband is far too nice to do such a thing (maybe i would be more likely to throw something at him..tehe!). I have completed some hard climbs this way...I was sure to thank the guys for their bullying!
The few times I have been fortunate enough to find a female kindred spirit in the out of doors scenario...they have lived far away..and have had little chance to give growth to those friendships. I hope this will not always be the case...only time can tell.
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eowyn1025
Sep 22, 2002, 4:05 AM
Post #38 of 43
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i like climbing with my guy friends. i have 2 that i go with regularly...i've always had only 1 or 2 really good gal friends and a ton of guy friends. most of the girls i know are too girly anyway to want to climb. i mean, i'm girly and everything, i love to dress up if i have a reason to, but these girls are the type that scream if they break a nail or wear full makeup on the university ski trip and reapply it on the hour even if they're in the middle of the slope...ya know, the kind with tackle boxes instead of a tiny makeup bag? all that to say...i prefer my guys. they're always even keeled and they me a man's perspective on life...they're great.
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rockon_rock
Sep 25, 2002, 12:20 PM
Post #39 of 43
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Registered: Sep 24, 2002
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I have never gotten a chance to climb with any fellow female climbers. I was introduced to climbing by a guy, and he has always been my partner. I would like to climb with different people, male or female. Everyones there for one purpose: to climb
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climberchic
Sep 25, 2002, 2:05 PM
Post #40 of 43
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Registered: Apr 24, 2000
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Dawn~
Keep checking the lower right column on the front page for upcoming RC.com gatherings. Plenty of co-edness there
If you're interested in a girls outing, Hillary started a really good thread.
http://www.rockclimbing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=16652&forum=56&5
~Erica
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mclee
Sep 25, 2002, 4:01 PM
Post #41 of 43
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Registered: Apr 22, 2002
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Most of my climbing partners are men, but it doesn't mean that I wouldn't mind climbing with women. But I get impatient with women who are too "girly" and insecure. Of the few women that I'm friends with, whom I play soccer with, they're strong, independent, and confident women who don't take s*** from anyone. I have respect for those who hold themselves in that regard. Besides, I just haven't met other women in my area that I can climb hard with.
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coach
Sep 25, 2002, 4:33 PM
Post #42 of 43
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Registered: May 11, 2001
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I know this may be a little off the basic topic but I would like some help from some of the women here. About a year and a half ago my wife suffered a terrible accident where she severed all the tendons in the outside of her right hand. She went through therapy for almost a year and has lost most of the strength in that hand. She would like to join me climbing but feels she is unable to climb and won't go.
How or what can I do to get her out to the crags and do you think it would help to get her out with other women rather than men at first?
Feel free to drop me a PM if you have something you think would help. I would love to have her along on my trips but she doesn't want to just sit and watch.
Climb On
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mreardon
Oct 15, 2002, 12:04 AM
Post #43 of 43
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There's been a handful of times that I've been the only guy on the trip. Being in the house of estrogen (wife, daughter, even the dog and cat were both female) I'm pretty much used to it . And having climbed all these years, hands down it seems that I learn the most watching women climb (no not those parts - I'm actually watching the feet and hands) because they tend to try new things, not use as much strength, and have a much better sense of balance which creates great footwork. If you've climbed at Joshua Tree, you know how important that is! Even when I'm out making the climbing films, I make a point of having women who climb just as hard as the guys do.
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