Sexism?

[Peter Guy]

Jill (assuming you are still reading these) -- interesting thread and thank you for starting it.

Like Diver0001, I'll just assume there is "sexism" in the diving world as there is everywhere else.

As a "thought experiment" I just thumbed through three diving texts -- my "new" copy of "The New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving" (5th edition, 1980); PADI's Tec Deep manual (2005); PADI's current Open Water Diver manual (2013). I was quite surprised to see that the New Science of Skin and Scuba was probably the least "sexist" with the Tec Deep being next and the new Open Water Diver manual with perhaps the most sexism -- BUT, at least to these untrained (and 68 year old) eyes, ALL were quite good. (Where the new Open Water manual "fails" is that in most of the images showing either an instructor or shop employee, the person was a male (and in fact, the same person throughout, one instructor, one shop employee) while the students were pretty evenly "diverse" by gender and skin color (for what that is worth!).)

Where I think you'll really find sexism in the diving world is where you'll find the most sexism everywhere -- in advertising. For example, the wetsuit add where the male's suit is fully zipped and he has his arm around the female whose suit is "comfortably" unzipped mid-chest. Or the ad for the heated undergarment (top) which could be in the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit issue (except this model IS wearing the garment!).

As someone else mentioned, there may well still be some sexism in the industry and a more limited choice for women than men concerning gear (particularly BCDs and exposure protection) -- but this may also be a result of fewer women than men in the sport (demand and supply are still related).

Anyway, Jill, thanks for asking.

 

[SubAquatix]

She's out of country right now- may be a little slow to respond.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

She's out of country right now- may be a little slow to respond.

WOMEN .... they do that you know... start a fire and then just waltz away..

 

[Dave616]

Have I ever witnessed sexism in diving? No. I've performed and been around many acts of chivalry though. Helping people, even if they don't need it, is the right thing to do. If they don't want help, that's a different story.

I make sure my Wife is geared up and buddy checked because I am responsible for her. I will do the same for my children when they get old enough to dive and any buddy I'm paired with.

I think writing an article on sexism in diving is just another way to divide people. To be honest, I wouldn't even read it.


Besides, I've never had a woman offer to help carry my tanks...ever.




P.S. Jill, I really want to buy your sidemount DVD, but I'm overseas wishing I could still pay and download it!

 

[drrich2]

Reef Wrecker:

I make sure my Wife is geared up and buddy checked because I am responsible for her.

And does she make sure you are geared up & buddy checked because she is responsible for you?

Richard.

 

[gcarter]

Have I ever witnessed sexism in diving? No. I've performed and been around many acts of chivalry though. Helping people, even if they don't need it, is the right thing to do. If they don't want help, that's a different story.

The question you have to ask yourself, the noble sounding label of chivalry notwithstanding, is whether that help is freely offered regardless of gender and without ANY consideration as to gender. If not, it is still sexist.

I make sure my Wife is geared up and buddy checked because I am responsible for her. I will do the same for my children when they get old enough to dive and any buddy I'm paired with.

She is responsible for herself. As dive buddies, you are responsible to each other, not for each other.

I think writing an article on sexism in diving is just another way to divide people. To be honest, I wouldn't even read it.

And yet here you are. Writing post #98.

Besides, I've never had a woman offer to help carry my tanks...ever.

Has a man?

Most women I know are not prone to offering unsolicited help to someone who does not demonstrably need it. Most men I know are quite the opposite.

Yes, it is sexism.

 

[Steve_C]

Besides, I've never had a woman offer to help carry my tanks...ever.

I have but in each case they were a DM. In NC it is customary on the charter I use most often for the crew to carry tanks and stuff to shore from the boat with the people on board helping out and carrying. I am perfectly happy to let them carry my tanks while I carry other stuff (and tip accordingly)

But Reef Wrecker may be talking more about other passengers.

 

[drrich2]

For a moment I thought about asking why this wasn't posted in Men's Perspectives, then realized there is no such forum section, as men either don't have a distinct perspective or, if they believed they did, that would be sexist.

But a Women's Perspectives section? Nope, nothing sexist about that. That's just 'special.'

The irony in this thread continues to pile on.

Richard.

 

[crabbyfiddler]

I will add my 2 cents.

When I was a younger, errr tighter diver, I encountered a good deal of solicitous behavior. I believe that was more because I was inexperienced.To me, that's a good thing, because health and life can depend on situational awareness. I think the dive community is quite nice that way. I think it's only right to assist someone who needs assistance, be they young, old, male or female.

I like to handle my own gear, and tend to hump my own tanks. However, if the crew steps forward to take the tanks from me, I will defer. It's their job, and is often tied to tipping. So, ok.

Only twice did I experience real sexism. It came in the form of rude sexual comments directed at me by what I call "cowboy" divers: crude, macho, risky.

I completely agree with the poster who commented on ads for the industry. The men always look pretty normal in ads, but the women are posed more sexily, suits partially unzipped, or long hair cascading to the side while they dreamily move through the mist..that kind of thing.

 

[drrich2]

Interesting question. Why are the women posed so sexually suggestively?

When erotic imagery of a woman is used in advertising, it's often assumed this is to grab men's attention & sell something to them. Often, it is. But I've long been curious as to why beautiful, alluring, fit young women, sometimes with suggestive posture, are used on products that sell mainly to women (e.g.: the cover of Cosmo magazine).

Is it perhaps that the suggestion is that if women buy this product, they will be appealing in this way? Does this perhaps speak to an unconscious desire?

While many women may not be looking for a romantic partner, and regardless may consider a dive boat hardly the place they'd hunt companionship, perhaps there are some who value 'looking good' in wet suits, etc… It might even appeal to some women's desire to be 'feminine,' apart from the pursuit of sexuality. I'm reminded of a couple of posts in other threads; in one a woman didn't like looking like a man during dives, & in another a woman went to a dive shop, looked at wetsuits and asked 'Don't you have one with a design on it?'

My point is, sexualized depictions of women in advertising may not always be efforts to 'exploit' women to sell something to men. After all, the product in question is being marketed to women. And some people in the industry think that approach sells better than chubby, plain-looking middle-aged & older women with 'yeah, whatever' body posture.

Richard.