Today, I was chatting with a friend over MSN, and the subject of women fishing competitively came up. Now...most of you know that I do not fish competitively. I do, however, think of myself as a pretty adept fisherwoman in some areas of fishing...Pike Fishing, for example. I feel as though a person can be taken seriously even if they fish only because of a true passion for the sport.
However, my friend and I started chatting about the sport of competitive fishing, and fishing in general, and why it was so hard for women to be successful or taken seriously. He said that to be respected women feel the need to behave in a manly way and to be "butch" so to speak. That men respect them more for behaving in this manner and they get more press and attention doing this but still not as much as the men. Another friend of mine also noted that women do not get as much press in the sport and wondered why.
We chatted and chatted about this subject until I finally said..."if a man will only give me respect because I conform to what he thinks I should behave like...or look like...then I do not want his respect"...and that is that.
I thought about my lovely friend Sondra Rankin (http://www.sondrarankin.com/) who is a professional fisherwoman, and she is beautiful. She is also a girl...and she is one when she fishes. She is adorable. Does she gets as much press as I think she deserves...Hell NO!!!! There are so many lovely women in this world that need to be open to the idea that fishing is no longer a man's sport. Sondra embodies this. However, there are so many lovely men in this world that also need to be opened up to this idea, as well. Women like Sondra are slowly making their way in the industry...but I have to ask, how long will it take?
Is this truly a phenomenon that we are combating? Are women still conforming to gain the respect of the men in the industry? Are they hiking up their waders and hiding behind their hats for fear of getting made fun of or standing out for being a woman in a man's world? Do we live in 1950?
I feel that getting women into the sport is something that needs to occur regardless of whether it is in the competitive arena or just out at their local lake. Women do not need to be scared of fishing...you do not have to baby us. We are strong, and we are capable. My theory is...women just do not understand the sport. They do not understand that you can be pretty and dirty, and concerned about your hair all while reeling in a fish bigger than your boyfriends. Introduce more women to the sport of fishing in a way that is relatable to who we really are as women and more women will realize that they love it!!! Simple right???
Girls we have a mission!!! We need to stand up and let down our hair and not be afraid to be who we are while we are casting that rod. We need to stand up and tell young girls that you can out fish your brothers and still be the apple of your daddy's eye. We need to send the message to the next generation of fisherbabes that it is okay to net a monster fish one second...then turn around and ask if your eye makeup is running and if your hair looks fabulous for the photo...and we need to know that it is OKAY to talk about lipstick in the boat. Fishing does not have to be a MAN's sport any longer...you can bet your ass that its okay to talk about beer and sex in the boat...so therefore, I declare that it is okay to talk about makeup and sex and the city in the boat.
There have been times when I have stepped off the boat and into my stilettos ladies...So I am here to say...
UNDERNEATH MY WADERS, I WEAR VICTORIA'S SECRET LINGERIE...DEAL WITH IT!!! It is who I am...It is who I will always be...and you know what...that is just fine!! :)
Happy Fishing...and Shopping ~
LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe
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