Gender biases

[Dogwood]

Do gender biases exist on hiking trails? If so how can males address it when its exhibited against them...when it crosses the line?

We most often hear about it occurring to females. There has been much discussion in this regard...how females can sometimes avoid or be alert against it and males needing to be more alert and sensitive not to engage in it. How can females be more alert and sensitive to not engaging in it as well?

[FranklinBeans]

I'm not clear what you mean. Can you clarify which biases against men you're thinking of?

[Tipi Walter]

While I cannot expertly speak on the Appalachian Trail, I can say after seeing maybe a thousand backpackers in the last couple decades---in the Southeast mountains of NC and TN and Georgia and Virginia---that in all these hundreds of backpackers I have only seen at most 5 Solo Female Backpackers. This I would regard as a sort of gender bias.

One was backpacking up Slickrock Creek with her dog and a recent transplant to NC from Idaho. The other 4 were BMT or MST thruhikers.

[Bronk]

While I cannot expertly speak on the Appalachian Trail, I can say after seeing maybe a thousand backpackers in the last couple decades---in the Southeast mountains of NC and TN and Georgia and Virginia---that in all these hundreds of backpackers I have only seen at most 5 Solo Female Backpackers. This I would regard as a sort of gender bias.

One was backpacking up Slickrock Creek with her dog and a recent transplant to NC from Idaho. The other 4 were BMT or MST thruhikers.

Most of the sexist behavior I see from females involves them being so wrapped up the idea that men are discriminating against them because of their sex that they delusionally interpret every behavior and attitude to be a result of sexism, which is very far from the case. We frequently see women posting on here about being afraid to hike alone. That in itself is a sexist attitude that assumes that men are something to fear. Their fear of men does not make men dangerous, it is born of their own imagination. Why does nobody challenge them on this? If someone said they were afraid to walk through a black or hispanic neighborhood they would be called racist. But somehow its ok for women to be afraid of men just because of their gender. It my mind this is sexism and glaring evidence of a double standard.

[FranklinBeans]

Most of the sexist behavior I see from females involves them being so wrapped up the idea that men are discriminating against them because of their sex that they delusionally interpret every behavior and attitude to be a result of sexism, which is very far from the case. We frequently see women posting on here about being afraid to hike alone. That in itself is a sexist attitude that assumes that men are something to fear. Their fear of men does not make men dangerous, it is born of their own imagination. Why does nobody challenge them on this? If someone said they were afraid to walk through a black or hispanic neighborhood they would be called racist. But somehow its ok for women to be afraid of men just because of their gender. It my mind this is sexism and glaring evidence of a double standard.

Oh for bleep's sake. Found the misogynist.

[Dogwood]

Oh for bleep's sake. Found the misogynist.

How does this help everyone not just helping by being a straw man defense mechanism for ignoring sexism exhibited by woman against men?


Are you willing as a woman to admit sexism occurs against men including on trail? If so can you offer examples of it and how females can be more sensitive to not engaging in reverse sexism? Please keep it in context of on trail experiences rather than general off trail in civilization experiences.

[FranklinBeans]

No, because sexism is institutional. someone may be biased against a man, but men do not experience sexism as an institutional issue. And I will spend exactly no time trying to make men feel better about the fact that overall they perpetrate bias and crime against women and not the other way around. Bye, felicia.

[Singto]

Oh for bleep's sake. Found the misogynist.

You just helped make his point.

[One Half]

Most of the sexist behavior I see from females involves them being so wrapped up the idea that men are discriminating against them because of their sex that they delusionally interpret every behavior and attitude to be a result of sexism, which is very far from the case. We frequently see women posting on here about being afraid to hike alone. That in itself is a sexist attitude that assumes that men are something to fear. Their fear of men does not make men dangerous, it is born of their own imagination. Why does nobody challenge them on this? If someone said they were afraid to walk through a black or hispanic neighborhood they would be called racist. But somehow its ok for women to be afraid of men just because of their gender. It my mind this is sexism and glaring evidence of a double standard.

Why would you assume that a woman afraid to hike alone is afraid of men? Maybe we are afraid of bears, snakes, getting hurt or lost? Besides, most times when a woman says they are going on a hike "alone" to family/friends/etc. it's immediately met with "warnings" and questions for our safety. I'm 47 and last year when I was hiking without my husband my mother and others all expressed concerns about my safety. If it had been my husband going to hike by himself, no one would have said a word. I think the inherent bias of the world gets planted in our minds and can follow us onto the trail. Personally, I don't worry about guys hitting on me. I'm confident enough that I'm "not that attractive" and "blunt enough" that if it happens, I can put a stop to it. But does it happen on the trail? Absolutely. I've seen it and when you're hiking and ending up at the same places night after night with that guy or group of guys who don't understand that you aren't in the woods looking for someone to hook up with, it gets creepy.

[rocketsocks]

Perhaps thread reassignment is in order

[Rain Man]

Bias or prejudice?

[Dogwood]

Bias or prejudice?

Both........

[Puddlefish]

In my limited experience on the trail, the short answer is "of course there is, but... probably less than I see elsewhere in the world.

There are all sorts of biases. Gender, generational, racial, political, religious, etc. I met far more people who were willing to put aside their preconceptions and just chat with the people alongside them about common interests... than those who truly would not shut up about, and put aside their prejudices.

[RockDoc]

Are you trying to start a range war? Identity politics killed a hundred million people in the 20th Century. Good luck with that.

[JohnBelly]

Are you trying to start a range war? Identity politics killed a hundred million people in the 20th Century. Good luck with that.

Yeah I think so

[Lnj]

Bronk,
I am a woman and I teeter totter between dreaming of hiking alone to entertaining all the what ifs and being scared to. I am a BIG woman and I am no shrinking violet. I am afraid of NO man. I feel I can take most. BUT..... I am afraid of spiders and bears and falling and breaking or spraining an ankle and having no one to help me or becoming a burden on a stranger, or getting violently ill with no help... etc etc. That's where I am afraid to hike alone. Was it said that the hiker mentioned above was afraid of men in particular, or of just being alone as there is a huge difference.?

[Tipi Walter]

Most of the sexist behavior I see from females involves them being so wrapped up the idea that men are discriminating against them because of their sex that they delusionally interpret every behavior and attitude to be a result of sexism, which is very far from the case. We frequently see women posting on here about being afraid to hike alone. That in itself is a sexist attitude that assumes that men are something to fear. Their fear of men does not make men dangerous, it is born of their own imagination. Why does nobody challenge them on this? If someone said they were afraid to walk through a black or hispanic neighborhood they would be called racist. But somehow its ok for women to be afraid of men just because of their gender. It my mind this is sexism and glaring evidence of a double standard.

The "woman alone" phenomenon might be a world wide bias against women traveling alone or hiking alone or hitchhiking alone or backpacking alone, or whatever else. This bias could be due to the predatory nature of men---as many men are often "on the hunt" for women to meet for whatever reasons. Fill in the blanks.

Then again, to your point---There does seem to be an exaggerated fear of men by SOME women, whereby they won't attempt any kind of solo hike or solo backpacking trip. I guess I'd call it The Deliverance Syndrome.

Bronk,
I am a woman and I teeter totter between dreaming of hiking alone to entertaining all the what ifs and being scared to. I am a BIG woman and I am no shrinking violet. I am afraid of NO man. I feel I can take most. BUT..... I am afraid of spiders and bears and falling and breaking or spraining an ankle and having no one to help me or becoming a burden on a stranger, or getting violently ill with no help... etc etc. That's where I am afraid to hike alone. Was it said that the hiker mentioned above was afraid of men in particular, or of just being alone as there is a huge difference.?

Spiders and yellow jackets and pit vipers do not discriminate between human males or females---they have no gender biases.

But all backpackers no matter gender have "what if" scenarios which could keep them out of the woods. Then again, what's more important: Worrying about what might happen or just getting out into what's left of the great outdoors???

[Lnj]

The "woman alone" phenomenon might be a world wide bias against women traveling alone or hiking alone or hitchhiking alone or backpacking alone, or whatever else. This bias could be due to the predatory nature of men---as many men are often "on the hunt" for women to meet for whatever reasons. Fill in the blanks.

Then again, to your point---There does seem to be an exaggerated fear of men by SOME women, whereby they won't attempt any kind of solo hike or solo backpacking trip. I guess I'd call it The Deliverance Syndrome.



Spiders and yellow jackets and pit vipers do not discriminate between human males or females---they have no gender biases.

But all backpackers no matter gender have "what if" scenarios which could keep them out of the woods. Then again, what's more important: Worrying about what might happen or just getting out into what's left of the great outdoors???

Tipi,
Oh I don't let it keep me out of the woods. I am not afraid on a paralyzing level. Just a little concerned is all. I will admit it is a ridiculous thought that strength in numbers applies to all things but....

If a bear eats me, would be nice if there were someone there to call for help and tell the story. If I run face first into a huge spider, it would be nice if someone could tell me where it is and help me get it off.... and laugh at me so hard that I have to laugh at myself instead of crying like a baby. If i fall and twist an ankle, it would be nice if someone were there to help me limp to a rock to sit down a minute to access the damage and possibly get some water for me if I can't walk at all. If I get bit by a pit viper, it would be nice if someone were there to suck the venom out . As a woman, and it may also be true for men, but since I am not one I cannot confirm and doubt many would admit, I just FEEL safer if someone, ANYone, is with me. That's all. Imma still go though.no matter what!

[rickb]

Of the three female thru hikers (yes, thru hikers) murdered on the AT only one was hiking alone, while the other two were hiking with a male companion who also became a victim.

Each of these incidents occurred some years ago, and well outside of the northbound bubble. These incidents and others associated with the AT suggest 3 trustworthy people is the magic number for increased safety at a shelter off season— not just 2.

As as others will surely add, the AT is statistically a safe place for all, and that 5 or 6 murdered thru hikers (yes, thru hikers) is a low number when everything is considered.

Especially since not one has ever been killed in the contemporary NOBO bubble.

[putts]

BUT..... I am afraid of spiders and bears and falling and breaking or spraining an ankle and having no one to help me or becoming a burden on a stranger, or getting violently ill with no help... etc etc. That's where I am afraid to hike alone.

I whole-heartedly believe that the trail is filled with the type of people who, If they came across anybody who was hurt from a fall or in any sort of predicament, would help and consider it not a burden but an opportunity to act on the goodness that the trail inspires. If you, or any other person needs help - I, and 99.9999% of any hiker I've ever met out there (or on here) would step up, gladly. Sex, age, nationality, religion - There is no discrimination when it comes to someone needing help.(MAYBE THE 1ST THING EVERYONE ON WB WOULD AGREE ON?!? -DaNcInG BaNaNa-)