Where are the women?
Posted in Editorials on November 12, 2009
I feel the need to speak about a number of issues that have been weighing heavily on my mind.
The first is an ongoing issue with the climbing scene in the northeast: there seems to be a significant shortage of climber girls.See, I’m not speaking of some imaginary woman who climbs 5.13, keeps up with the boys’ drinking, and will drive somewhere 8 hours away for weekend climbing, and still seems to always look like a model.
The first is an ongoing issue with the climbing scene in the northeast: there seems to be a significant shortage of climber girls.See, I’m not speaking of some imaginary woman who climbs 5.13, keeps up with the boys’ drinking, and will drive somewhere 8 hours away for weekend climbing, and still seems to always look like a model.I would just like to see more girls who are as psyched about their project as me and my buddies are, and would show up at their favorite bouldering spot, even if they couldn’t find any friends to go with them. Such a girl would like climbing because she likes the act of climbing.
See, I know such a girl exists – I hear they roam around by the dozens out west, and Brooklyn Boulders may have more than a few, but what is going on with the scene by my place? Every gym I go to in MA seems to have the guys outnumbering the girls at least two-to-one. And some of those girls might as well be men.
Ok, cue jokes about Nick not getting any, or Nick has no game, etc. etc. All of which may be true, but the fact still stands that there needs to be more women in this sport. How am I supposed to relate to a non-climber girl? What the fuck am I supposed to talk about? Her new Coach bag, or how cute her cat is? Yes, I’m generalizing and being misogynistic, but you know exactly what I’m talking about, and I’m speaking the truth.
I’m also going to make another generalization about a large percentage of women in the northeast: they don’t seem to be passionate about any active pastime. Actually, I think the same might be true about the dudes around here also – everyone plays a sport or two in high school, and may even compete at a collegiate level. But then, once they graduate into the real world, they get fat and drunk, and can’t see past the mirror at WorldGym.
Guys, stop the mindless weightlifting and supplement ingestion. Ride a bike once in a while, and learn a new skill besides making your man boobs jump in unison. Your new values may just rub off onto the opposite sex.
If I haven’t made a coherent point yet in this rant, here it is: There is no reason anyone should ever purchase an “Affliction” shirt.
As for the girls in the CRG crew, while small in number, you are the most badass, beautiful, fun climber girls around. Keep up the good work.
VETS’ DAY
On a serious and unrelated note, there are people that aren’t as shallow and whiny as I am fighting for our country overseas. Some even have wives and children waiting for them back home. Today is their day, so I hope everyone is thinking about how much they sacrifice on a daily basis, and is praying/hoping for their safe return. That’s you, Justin Riling.
Seriously! And what about the girls that like to play video games and D&D? I mean there's ONE girl in our D&D sessions, and FOUR guys. I hear there's tons of them that play in silicon valley, but here?
Just thought you'd like to hear that argument posted from a different lifestyle. Then again I have a beautiful woman who thinks I'm hot even though I'm a huge pudgy slacker…maybe you should try it out!
Try out your woman? Or try out a different lifestyle? I may need some clarification on this one…
its impossible to find women on the couch in california, guys outnumber girls here 1-0…..
If I have to hear how awesome and fit chicks in cali are one more time, I'm going to kick you in the balls next time I see you.