ok, I thought this was interesting thread....from a male standpoint, it was very interesting to hear the different outlooks that women have toward themselves and each other. I have a few interjections on what I have read.
I kept hearing that Postpartum was a depression.....IT IS NOT! Postpartum depression is a depression, postpartum, is the period directly follwing pregnancy, not all women in postpartum are depressed in this time....but all are postpartum...
I will agree though that anyone who is in "clinical" depression of ANY type should be questionable as either a diver or a dive buddy. So if your just depressed, it doesnt mean that you shouldnt dive, but if a Doctor has diagnosed you with depression and possibly prescribed medication is where I am talking about. I have bad days, and when I dive they become good days (unless I lose something on the dive).
Also as far as sizing for equipment, wetsuits etc....It is truly not just a woman problem, however, I do agree that there needs to be more sizing than S,M,L, and XL. Some manufacturers try.......but I can see where they are coming from, from a manufacturing standpoint.......how many 7' and over divers are there? compared to 5' to 6' divers. So if i were a business, I wouldnt be making a lot of "outside the average" equipment, BUT, would be open to Custom made equipment at a slightly higher cost to cover the "custom". I do wish there was more "custom" wetsuit/BC/drysuit makers, and the cost wasnt so inflated. I do know that some body configurations make custom sizing very difficult, especially in the petite sizes, just not enough room in girth or length to do everything they may need to do. Bigger sizes are easier to an extent, just add material, but you can only take away so much...and im thinking of BC's as the prime problem when it comes to petite women or woman with smaller waists and larger bust....a BC's general cut needs to be more adjustable in the waist, and the bust, so that it doesnt have to be either tight in the bust, or loose in the waist. I know there are a few makers that have catered to some womens needs, but it would be nice to see someone make a bc that is more capable of adjusting to most womens needs. There are some that truly need to be custom, and no getting around it.
I do like the idea of a conference, not a woman only or man only conference, but lectures that might cover some issues/concerns that men or women have come up with gender specific. I know as an instructor it would be beneficial to know some of the questions women may have (and answers to them if not known), but might not feel comfortable asking a male instructor.