[Paddlewise] Carbon Based - Male and Female Alike

I just picked up my copy of the latest Wavelength Magazine. The theme is
"Women in Paddling". As usual, the issue is a good one, but I did have a
few reservations which I phoned in to the editor, Alan Wilson. There was
a fair bit a male bashing by some of the female writers contributing to
the Jun/Jul 2000 issue. I know we males deserve some heat, especially
given the odd male commercial guide who "lords" it over his lesser
female guides (rank wise) from time to time, but my experience around
the shores of Victoria and in and around the club environment, suggests
that gender usually isn't even a remote consideration in terms of
subjects that arise, nor any practical consequences.

Men were portrayed in the various articles as less sensitive, more apt
to brag about their skills where those skills don't actually exist, and
generally not in touch with "Sister Earth". I know we all can point to
examples of a bad egg or two, but why brush the entire male paddling
species with the same broad brush stroke, even if by implication?
Anyway, I let at it, and gave my opinion to Alan -- in a nice, sensitive
way :-). I'm doing an article for him for his next issue whose entire
theme is about fitness and spirituality in kayaking, and assured him I
would redress the imbalance created by his latest minor infraction
against "sensitive and inclusive" wording. I did mention the big tide
paddle I went on this past Sunday. How a bunch of us met up and "let her
rip" it in the current, men and the one woman alike who came along. How
we reposed to a quiet island out in the main stream, soaking up the
sunshine on the beach. How one fellow apologized to the female paddler,
because she was the only one out with all us guys. And how she
nonchalantly said "what does that have to do with anything, we are all
carbon-based life forms sharing the same organic composition, here on
the beach together enjoying an oustanding  spring day -- what does
gender have to do with it!"  Indeed.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd

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