One of the things that drives me crazy about this sport is that, even in this day and age, it is very much a male-dominated sport. I’m not sure why. But what I have also found is that there is a fair bit of sexism, and sometimes even misogyny, surrounding it.
I try really hard, as a woman living in the last year of the 2010s, to overlook it. I sometimes worry that maybe I am seeing something that isn’t really there.
And then you experience it. And it makes you shake your head.
I have had two recent experiences, both, interestingly, in the same sporting goods store.
A while back, I headed to the local sporting and outdoor store, as, aside from the range, it is really the only place to get equipment and supplies for shooting.
Of course you can buy things at the range, but the large “Big Box” experience only comes from one or two locations in my city.
The store had a system where you had to take a number to get served at the gun counter. I wanted to look at a handgun as I was still trying to decided what to buy and so I pulled a number from the roll.
I waited at the counter as I browsed through the stock held behind the counter. On one side of me was a guy in his mid-30s. He looked like the typical “outdoorsy” guy, right down to his beard and his camo jacket. On the other side of me was an older guy, in his mid-to-late 60s.
In spite of the number system, a clerk came to the guy on my left, Mr. Outdoorsy, and asked him if he could help him. He said no; he was just looking.
The assumption, in any other retail experience I’ve ever had, would be for the clerk to then address me. I was in the middle. Logically I would be next.
But no.
He skipped past me and addressed the other man, asking him if he could help him.
It was like I was invisible.
I was shocked.
And a little disappointed.
But sadly, because I was still very new and uncomfortable in this world, I did nothing. Inside I was incensed. But I just left.
The second experience, also at the same store, was amusing. Fast forward to about four months later.
I had recently acquired my new AR15 and needed ammo to try it out. I was having a hard time finding the 5.56/NATO that I needed. Since this is the biggest store in the area, I went to check it out. Again the number system. I pulled a number from the reel and waited my turn.
I made it to the front of the line and the clerk asked me how he could help me.
I asked him if they had any 5.56/NATO in stock.
He looked and me and asked, “Did you know you need a license to buy ammo?”
“Yes”, I replied.
“Who’s this for? Are they with you in the store?”
My mind was blown. I felt like I was six again and needed my dad to buy it for me!
“No, it’s for me,” I replied.
And he dished out the next test, because surely, I couldn’t possibly know what I wanted.
“Do you know what gun this is for? What are you using it in?”, he asked me.
“My Daniel Defense AR15 Mk 18 M3,” I replied.
And there it was. It was out there.
But you could tell it also elicited a certain amount of respect when he replied, “Oh. Nice gun.”
“Yes, it is is.” I said.
And we got along famously after that.
He told me stories of his gun and the mods he had done to it.
And what I should do next.
And what I should buy.
And what a great deal I was getting on the ammo.
And that’s all great. But what I really want to know is why it is so surprising?
And why it has to start out so condescending, and you have to crawl up from there.
Sure, there are lots of people, male and female, who are new to the sport.
And there are lots of people who have been doing it a long time.
And certainly not all of them are good at it, or even have the basic knowledge that maybe they should to be doing what they are doing.
But it’s a bit like going to the gym. The person who is at the gym, or working out, is TRYING. They are doing it. They’ve made the commitment to doing what they are doing, and that counts for a ton.
There is a whole bunch of people who aren’t trying. Aren’t learning. Aren’t working towards a goal. Aren’t interested.
So let’s welcome and encourage those who are. Whether you are a kid or an adult; male or female; been doing this two days or two decades.
Embrace the effort.
Encourage the interest.
Share your knowledge and welcome people into the sport, or really whatever else they are doing.
And let’s not judge people based on anything more than whether they are a nice person (or not) and how they treat you.
Because we all deserve the chance to try and succeed on our own.
Without putting more barriers in the way.
