From a "woman's persepctive" . . .

[limewave]

I've been asked to contribute to our local cycling clubs blog. Which is nice and I don't mind doing it. However, they keep emphasizing that they want me to write from a "woman's perspective." Make sure you're writing from a woman's perpective. Don't forget to mention it's from a woman's perseptive . . . we really need a woman's perspective . . .

Isn't the fact that a woman is writing it enough of a female influence? Sheesh!?! What do they want me to do: write about the spokes in my menstrual cycle?

I don't know why this is bothering me so much. Perhaps it's that time of the month for me.

[zoom-zoom]

It sounds rather condescending/patronizing to me, too. If they know so much about "woman's perspective," then why don't they just write it themselves...?

[indysteel]

I totally understand why this is bothering you. In my experience, there's a Catch-22 is emphasizing gender differences. I think most of us can concede-that, as women, our perspective sometimes (not always) does differ from a man's. And I think it's important that our differing perspectives are heard. But I bristle when a man necessarily assumes that my perspective differs from his just because I'm a woman or that if there is a difference is perspective, it can be explained away that easily. Those assumptions often come off as patronizing, condescending and reductive. I also bristle at the assumption that any one woman can speak for all women. As this forum highlights, for all our commonality, we're all very different, too. The fact that we share the same gender doesn't negate that. The best we can do as speak from our own perspective.

But, it's just a blog on a cycling club's website. I may be overthinking this....

[lph]

Hey, I have an idea. You could start off writing something chock full of the cliches about female riders, stop, point out that it's nonsense, and switch over to the real woman's perspective. Which might be something about being expected to be a specific type of rider just because you're female. Or even something about the vast range of riders you'll find here on TE, representing every end of every spectrum.

[PamNY]

Hey, I have an idea. You could start off writing something chock full of the cliches about female riders, stop, point out that it's nonsense, and switch over to the real woman's perspective. Which might be something about being expected to be a specific type of rider just because you're female. Or even something about the vast range of riders you'll find here on TE, representing every end of every spectrum.

Oooh, that could be lots of fun.

Limewave, I would be bothered, too. Though I'm not sure what I would do about it.

[TsPoet]

Hey, I have an idea. You could start off writing something chock full of the cliches about female riders, stop, point out that it's nonsense, and switch over to the real woman's perspective. Which might be something about being expected to be a specific type of rider just because you're female. Or even something about the vast range of riders you'll find here on TE, representing every end of every spectrum.

On the one hand, I get it, and I think this is a great idea.
On the other hand... just what I remember from the last week on this forum
"more attention being paid to women' issues"
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=47002
"how do I make my bike more girly"
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=46940
"empowering women to ride"
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=46964

not to mention the threads about cloth pads and things I wouldn't expect they'd want you to blog about...
I know, on TE we are a community to discuss women's issues and no one is telling us to - but I can see why a bike club might want a women's perspective writer helping them out - just based on the three threads above. I take this repeated "request" as a positive step to help women in your community get into biking, not as condescending, although it's probably both.

[ny biker]

I've been asked to contribute to our local cycling clubs blog. Which is nice and I don't mind doing it. However, they keep emphasizing that they want me to write from a "woman's perspective." Make sure you're writing from a woman's perpective. Don't forget to mention it's from a woman's perseptive . . . we really need a woman's perspective . . .

Isn't the fact that a woman is writing it enough of a female influence? Sheesh!?! What do they want me to do: write about the spokes in my menstrual cycle?

I don't know why this is bothering me so much. Perhaps it's that time of the month for me.

I would ask them what they mean by "women's perspective." Maybe their answer will indicate their intentions are good, and it's just their phrasing that is unfortunate. Or it will let you know that they're actually being jerks.

[indysteel]

My guess is that their interest in her "women's perspective" is sincere and well-intentioned, and in the end, I would be inclined to simply take it at face value and leave it at that. Write the blog entries and let them speak for themselves. Of course, if the club ends up pressing her further for more of a women's perspective, then that would provide an opportunity to clarify what, exactly, they mean by that.

If it were in a different setting--at work, for instance--I'd be more inclined to proactively discuss why such a request could be viewed as offensive, annoying, limiting, etc.

[shootingstar]

Is the club looking for a variety of different content on their blog or they want to boost membership by also attracting more women cyclists?

Great idea to start off with cliches about women cyclists and simply move on to issues that interest them would also interest men....training, touring, nutrition, cycling with kids.


Write as a blog writer who just happens to be female but perhaps..write in a different style than some of the other blog writers..more pragmatic, to the point but accommodating a wide range of cycling experiences/levels. Unless you wish to write to help those who want to enter into competitive/racing side.

By the way: I know I write less on pure technical aspects of cycling infrastructure (which is boring to me as a subject to write), vs. the psychosocial aspects of cycling in http://thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.com I have told dearie that I bring traffic to his blog, a broader set of readers than just technical folks.

Look at your club's blog and see how you can pull in other types of wannabe cyclists as well as folks who don't wnat to read just about techniques and racing.

[ny biker]

On the one hand, I get it, and I think this is a great idea.
On the other hand... just what I remember from the last week on this forum
"more attention being paid to women' issues"
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=47002
"how do I make my bike more girly"
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=46940
"empowering women to ride"
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=46964

not to mention the threads about cloth pads and things I wouldn't expect they'd want you to blog about...
I know, on TE we are a community to discuss women's issues and no one is telling us to - but I can see why a bike club might want a women's perspective writer helping them out - just based on the three threads above. I take this repeated "request" as a positive step to help women in your community get into biking, not as condescending, although it's probably both.

Two other issues I can think of -- a local cycling advocacy organization has recently started an effort to get more women cycling, and one problem that was mentioned was women feeling like they're not taken seriously at bike shops. If you have had that experience, it could be worth talking about.

Another issue is safety. Recently a local news blog posted an item about a flasher on one of our rail-trails. We periodically have problems here with flashers and gropers on the trails, and a few years back a woman was beaten while out jogging on a trail, and it would have been worse if her screams had not scared the guy away. The comments on the news blog about this latest incident were appalling -- men who are otherwise reasonable and compassionate people (based on their comments on other topics) were joking about it, and when a female commenter called them out on the inappropriateness of their comments, their response was "oh, come on," like she was just being too sensitive. It was pretty obvious that these guys have no idea about the safety issues we have to consider every day.

[limewave]

I'm in the middle of a big project right now --blech. But skimming through here I see some good stuff. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's points tonight!

I almost exclusively mountain bike anymore. That and I do a lot of riding with the kids. I'll be writing mostly about those topics as well as cycling in general. My blogs name is 29ers and Tagalongs

By the way, I have my other blog (see my signature). If anyone wants me to link to their cycling-related blog in my blog roll, let me know.

[grey]

Hey, I have an idea. You could start off writing something chock full of the cliches about female riders, stop, point out that it's nonsense, and switch over to the real woman's perspective. Which might be something about being expected to be a specific type of rider just because you're female. Or even something about the vast range of riders you'll find here on TE, representing every end of every spectrum.

I like that idea! Women riders vary as much as men do. We might have a few specific needs different from men like saddles and - in general - a shorter reach... but beyond that we aren't that different!

[limewave]

I love TE, you all have given me some good ideas to write about and I really appreciate it.

Also, I want to say that I do regret my first post on this thread, being it was sardonic and a bit extreme. Especially since I know the intention was to be "inclusive" of women and encouraging to all cyclists. That was lousy of me to write what I did and I do feel bad about it.

[indysteel]

I love TE, you all have given me some good ideas to write about and I really appreciate it.

Also, I want to say that I do regret my first post on this thread, being it was sardonic and a bit extreme. Especially since I know the intention was to be "inclusive" of women and encouraging to all cyclists. That was lousy of me to write what I did and I do feel bad about it.

Honestly, I don't think you should feel bad. I understood where you were coming from even if, ultimately, you were able to see their request from a different perspective. And this might be a point on which you can help educate the club and your readers, i.e., how best to frame and approach gender issues in cycling. A few years ago, there was a really polarizing thread on roadbikereview's forums about the idea behind women-only rides. The differing perspectives--from women--were really interesting. Both women and men are wise to recognize that there are radical differences of perspective even among women. So, I think that's a point to keep in mind as you write your blog.

[PamNY]

I didn't see anything wrong with your first post. I think your initial reaction was healthy and admirable.

I never knew I was a second-class citizen in the cycling world until I started reading this forum. Granted, I don't cycle with groups, so there's a lot I don't know.