All female?

In the past I have consciously kept away from all women’s events, I remember going to the ladies only night at a local swimming pool and being frustrated by the rows of women swimming and talking simultaneously. The same week I went to the mixed night and there were only two people there, I never looked back. I’d rather just jump in the pool and get some proper swimming done that fuss over men seeing me in my cossie and have to crowd dodge. I’ve always kind of pitied women who need an all female environment to feel comfortable, maybe because I’ve always had close male friends and worked with men and women with no particular problems. I tend to think that if guys had all male events then we would all be making a fuss.

So when a few weeks ago at work, I was offered the opportunity to attend an all women’s Level One Coaching course in Paddlesport, I cautiously accepted the offer. I wanted to do the course but I had visions of posters with kayaks turned into high-heeled shoes like the Women’s Climbing Symposium, but how wrong I was. Initially I was a little confused when I got confirmation of the course and it turned out that a guy was going to be teaching it. If you were going to go to the trouble of holding an all female course why on earth would you have a guy teach it? As soon as we arrived on the first day it was explained to us why, because apparently there weren’t any women qualified enough and willing to teach it. That was a shame and I think this should be rectified; although I have to say Phil Hadely who taught the course was an amazing instructor and very knowledgeable. Phil explained that they felt the need for the all female element because they were concerned that women on mixed courses sometimes felt shy or overpowered by the bolshie 20-30 something year old guys that take over and compete. During the course I learnt a lot from the instructors and the other women on the course, there was a lot of knowledge and ability in the room and on the water. It certainly didn’t feel girl orientated and whilst I have no way of knowing if the course was better or worse than it would have been if it were a mixed course, I certainly wouldn’t change the course that I attended.

I’ve in no way been converted to attending only all women events, I’ll still be keeping clear of ladies night at the local pool, but that ug feeling has gone away when I see them advertised. At the end of the day an opportunity is an opportunity and the people that find reason to complain, be it because of badly designed advertising posters or because they think it is in breach of equal opportunities, well they are just going to miss out aren’t they.