Sexism discussion

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I try and help everyone it makes there dive more enjoyable...

I was diving in Venice two weeks ago and was getting out of the water and happenend to glance over my shoulder and saw a lady who looked like she needed help (not life threating) she stood in one spot to long and sunk. But I second guessed myself and waited only because they were from this board and have posted here. But I could not and would wait I offered to help her and she was grateful then after i put my gear in my truck i was walking back down and she was in need of some more help but I think she was a little embarresed to ask. her tank started to slide out of her bc. Anyways I carried her gear for her back to her car. No probs at all. Just being help full not sexist a male buddy of mine got WIPED out by a wave and his fins went floating by so I jumped in and got them just being helpful.

All I ask is that the nice lady I carried her gear for check her weight in a pool I think she might of been over weighted by about 20 pounds. I can hold my own but man her gear was HEAVY.

But I would do it again and again like i did this past weekend. It is nice to help people out when they need it and not over stepping.. if you ladies ever need help just ask and if I am around i will be more than happy to help just because... It makes your dive more enjoyable not having to try to keep up all the time. Sometimes we all need help, not just because we are male or female but because we are all made different but once we are in the water we are all =
 
I think there is some confusion here.

Helping people - anyone - man, woman, or child is a normal part of being a civilized member of society. I have had women help me on countless dives. I've had men help me as well. Conversly, I've helped a lot of people as well. Help is just that, help. Not sexist.

When we are talking about being sexist is when an individual EXPECTS service from their SO or other males. Or when the SO won't allow the woman to do anything. Never lets her express an opinion and, in short, dominates the conversation and situation.

I know guys who are really wonderful around their wives. They talk to them, help them on and off with equipment, and the like. But, they aren't sexist. I know others who won't allow their wives to do anything. THEY must set up the wives' gear, THEY must make sure that they are in total control. That's sexist.

Shouldn't confuse the two.
 
From Wrolf's Wreck, definitive source for Scuba Slang & Terms:
(http://wrolf.net/scuba_slang.html)


dive babe : Woman who is a real diver - opposite of a chick

dive chick : Female diver who puts on make-up; brushes hair; has her boyfriend assemble her kit; and then has him carry it to the water before doing her dive.
 
victoriawtx once bubbled...
I get a bit of it, but I try to put a positive spin on it. And, it can be an interesting way to start a conversation.

For example, the most common comment I get is the assertment that since I am a petite female, I cannot possibly handle a backplate/wing, carry tanks, etc.

Usually, after they have dived with me, nothing like that is ever said again. ;)
Click to expand...

Often, -- not always --, but often, guys say some pretty dumb things in the presence of a pretty girl that they just met.

A gentle slam about not being able to carry your own stuff may just be a clumsy attempt at starting a witty (???) conversation.

The punch line from the old joke 'What does it take to make a guy happy?' often isn't too far from the truth.
 
I agree that there probably is some degree of sexism in diving...mainly assumptions of what a woman can and cannot do.

It is rare to see a woman diving off the coast here so, I can't really comment on how widespread this is. However, I went offshore last weekend and out of 20 divers, only 1 was female. Her boyfriend did end up setting up her gear...seems foolish and unsafe.

I've taught a good number of women and I make it a point to have them do everything for themselves.
 
I just have to say that I had a GREAT dive today.

Myself and a FEMALE dive buddy, no men. Very cool............

Of course, we had no protection against the Cabezons.......
 
To be fair to the guys, there are also the "dive chicks" (thanks for the reference Savagemyth), the "resort style" divers, who have flat out told me, they have no intention of carrying their gear. They fully expect their men to do the hauling, rigging, monitoring the gauges, watching where they're going...everything short of actually doing the diving for them.

I've also seen on a basic open water check out dive where this one guy got pissed off at the divemaster for telling him his wife should be responsible for rigging and checking her own gear. The DM was going around asking ppl for their tank pressure prior to entry into the water. When it was the wife's turn to answer, Macho Man answered for her. That was when the DM explained his wife needed to learn to do these things for herself; he didn't agree. I watched her do a very competent job re-rigging her equipment...and being more comfortable and competent in the water. Heck, we were all holding on to a line waiting to descend together but were held up because Macho Man's weight belt was sliding off him, then his fins were loose....you don't need me to tell you his wife's buoyancy skills blew him out of the water. LOL
 
savagemyth once bubbled...
From Wrolf's Wreck, definitive source for Scuba Slang & Terms:
(http://wrolf.net/scuba_slang.html)


dive babe : Woman who is a real diver - opposite of a chick

dive chick : Female diver who puts on make-up; brushes hair; has her boyfriend assemble her kit; and then has him carry it to the water before doing her dive.
Click to expand...
Not to be confused with:
chick diver: (n) female diver who hauls her own double 130's, cave dives with the best in the world, kicks ass and takes no prisoners :D Best be careful with your slang, eh? ("Dive bunny" might be a safer term - unless there's another tech instructor out there who uses a version of that as a handle.)

Ok, I'll go back to lurking - I haven't had much experience with sexism anyways, except as a source of amusement. Been somewhat curious about the other thread as it seems to have continued long past the falsification of the original premise. Gender inflection is a peculiarity of many languages, with many amusing artifacts - in French all babies are male. Anyone know what the inflection is for "diver" in French? German? Hmmm... :rolleyes: Cheers, all.
 
In German you have clear gender devisions:

Der Taucher - The male dive

Die Taucherin - The female diver

I don't know about French :(
 
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