There have been some really interesting contributions from women on this thread; if one if those raises the possibility that issues outside mountain biking can affect who participates, that is surely helpful in moving the discussion along. I don't think it's a reason to see it as a personal slight any more than discussing the price of bikes today, which could be equally divisive in how people balance their lives outside actually riding.
I understand why someone would feel a bit shaken by the attitude of blokes (okay, bloke) appearing in these discussions as self-appointed union reps for the rights of men though, spouting off about how badly treated we are. It's annoying that they seem to represent themselves as spokesmen.
Anyway back on topic – is MTBing more or less misogynistic than the rest of society?
As I said at the start, it is probably about the same as it is part of society. How we know how many people are put off by that I don't know. I am put off my lads/boys club mentality and I would not mix with that type of group. Doesn't matter to me as I just ride on my own and get on with it and enjoy it, which is what anyone coudl do if the main point of interest is actually riding a bike.
I've not bothered to read all of the thread because this is the typical thread that I avoid on STW. I am female and I ride avidly and I enjoy it, I really couldn't give a rats ass what goes on around supporting a race, whether people are scantily clad in magazines, whether it's muddy or whether I'm going to get grief for being perceived as slow because that perception won't last long. However, I do think that a forum that I consider as 90% men shouldn't really bother to discuss in a thread about whether a sport is too misognistic because frankly it doesn't apply to any of you! Can you not just leave a topic that applies to women, up to women to discuss and decide about?!
Can you not just leave a topic that applies to women, up to women to discuss and decide about?!
No.
Slightly fuller answer, I'm a straight white bloke, and I've changed my mind about racism, gender identity, sexuality and loads of stuff since the 80's, mostly due to talking about it, discussing it and thinking how I've (usually) got things wrong. And how the ideas I was bought up with don't fit with the way society is and should be.
Sorry.
However, I do think that a forum that I consider as 90% men shouldn’t really bother to discuss in a thread about whether a sport is too misognistic because frankly it doesn’t apply to any of you! Can you not just leave a topic that applies to women, up to women to discuss and decide about?!
lol
Can you not just leave a topic that applies to women
Does misogyny only apply to women then?
However, I do think that a forum that I consider as 90% men shouldn’t really bother to discuss in a thread about whether a sport is too misognistic because frankly it doesn’t apply to any of you!
Without wishing to appear a mansplainer, I would still like to disagree - I think men need threads on misogyny so that they can be challenged, and challenge themselves.
I agree Molgrips, but women equally need such threads to challenge their beliefs and assumptions, and debating between the sexes is probably key to avoid an echo chamber where someone for some reason thinks it would be more serious for the household if a woman broke a leg cycling than a man. That's clearly not the case regardless of roles in the home, and getting that message through will only serve to give women confidence to get out and do these things.
“Can you not just leave a topic that applies to women, up to women to discuss and decide about?!”
I’m English, white, middle class, male, straight, had a fortunate upbringing, a good education and am relatively financially comfortable. But that doesn’t stop me being concerned about how the world is for people who aren’t, I’m well aware how so much is prejudiced in ways that benefit people like me. And that makes me angry, especially when I see how little diversity there is amongst the wealthy and powerful. And closer to home I have two daughters and I’d like to help make the world a bit better for them.
The posting on this forum always feels even more male dominated than MTBing already is. I don’t think we men should wait for the tiny proportion of women on here to bring up these issues - they need to be talked about, change needs to happen. Staying silent and accepting the status quo doesn’t help anyone.
As a white man in the UK, racism doesn't apply to me so luckily I now don't have to bother caring about it, discussing it, trying to make it better etc,. Good grief.
