Girls, Girls, Girls. . .

[Tallbear]

More Women Hunters, Shooters

http://www.nssf.org/share/images/BP101306_Graph.gif
Source: National Sporting Goods Association
A new survey by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA (http://www.twelvehorses.com/ct/CY82UD/1D6S4ZKG/*http://www.nsga.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1)) suggests amazing growth in female participation in hunting and shooting. According to the survey, 72 percent more women are hunting with firearms today than just five years ago. And 50 percent more women are now target shooting. Here’s a roundup of specific NSGA findings on female participation from 2001 through 2005: hunting with firearms, up 72 percent; hunting with bow and arrow, up 176 percent; overall (net) hunting, up 75 percent; target shooting with rifle, up 53 percent; target shooting with shotgun, up 16 percent; target shooting with handgun, up 33 percent; target shooting with air gun, up 55 percent, overall (net) target shooting, up 50 percent. The NSGA survey suggests more than 3 million women now hunt and over 5 million women now enjoy shooting. From a business perspective, women account for roughly 15 percent of the shooting, hunting and firearms marketplace. Programs to introduce females to the traditionally male sports deserve part of the credit, as do more and more manufacturers designing products especially for women.




COPYRIGHT © 2006 by National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted for broadcast, publication, retransmission to e-mail lists, Web sites or any other copying or storage, in any medium, online or not, if 1) the text is forwarded in its entirety, including this paragraph, and 2) no fee is charged.

[Divegeek]

Yah! I can proudly say that my wife has been added to both of those statistics.

[Garbo]

mine has been added to one, dont think i'll even get her to wak a deer but i'll take what i can get

[KayL]

Okay... my husband is into cars so I bought myself a nice little sports car. He likes to shoot, so I started shooting and just love it. He's always liked motorcycles, so I got a Honda dirt bike and a Kawasaki street bike and we ride together.

So how come I can't get him to go to musicals with me??

[M1911A1]

I can understand the musicals thing. Legitimate theater, yes. Musicals, no.

Forgive me, I am a theater snob! :lol:

[KayL]

Oh, then give me IL-legitimate theater anytime. I LOVE musicals. I love live theater, live music, live musicians. I love to leave the theater with songs in my head that I can take home with me and sing for years. I enjoy words I can understand and tunes I can hum. I guess I'm old fashioned. I remember back far enough to an era when "music had meaning"!!!

I like legitimate theater too, don't get me wrong. But there's something special about putting a good story to good music.

I think we've lost the subject of this thread.

[lee]

Escanaba in The Moonlight---------now thats good theatre. And "Stomp" ---now thats a good wordless musical. Kayl--------you need a boyfriend?

[Mike Kelly]

Oh, then give me IL-legitimate theater anytime. I LOVE musicals. I love live theater, live music, live musicians. I love to leave the theater with songs in my head that I can take home with me and sing for years. I enjoy words I can understand and tunes I can hum. I guess I'm old fashioned. I remember back far enough to an era when "music had meaning"!!!

I like legitimate theater too, don't get me wrong. But there's something special about putting a good story to good music.

I think we've lost the subject of this thread.

I'm wondering exactly what "legitimate theater" is supposed to be.

If it's the difference between "Cats" performed by a community theater group and a professional group, then I can see the difference. (either way, "Cats" still sucks)

I've worked in non-musicals, musicals and improv. All of which I'd consider legitimate theater.

Still, I've always disliked musicals.

[KayL]

Escanaba in The Moonlight---------now thats good theatre. And "Stomp" ---now thats a good wordless musical. Kayl--------you need a boyfriend?
YES, Stomp and Blast!! and Ain't Misbehaving, and West Side Story. Oh, man, you're breaking my heart. Boyfriend? You betcha. You can join all my other best buds from IDPA, Indoor Pistol, Highpower and motorsickling. YEE-ha.

I'm wondering exactly what "legitimate theater" is supposed to be.
If it's the difference between "Cats" performed by a community theater group and a professional group, then I can see the difference. (either way, "Cats" still sucks)
Now here I agree. I did not enjoy Cats or Rent or Phantom. Oh yuk. Give me the old stuff like Oklahoma, Cabaret and Fiddler. Now those were musicals!!!

But this is all based on personal taste.

[M1911A1]

Legitimate theater, by definition is that which is performed on stage. Hollywood movies do not count. To drama snobs, the definition is further restricted to drama (includes comedy, tragedy, pathos, etc.) plays only rather than musical theater, ballet, opera, and the like.

Cats (Andrew L. Webber) was the book by T.S. Elliot (Old Possum's Guide to Pratical Cats) simply set to music. It was more of an opera since little if any of the lines were spoken. Webber also was responsible for Superstar (opera) Dreamcoat, Phantom (remake) and the like.

[M1911A1]

Back to topic. It's good to see more women involved in firearms. I believe that is the fastest growing segment of the market right now.

[KayL]

Back to topic. It's good to see more women involved in firearms. I believe that is the fastest growing segment of the market right now.
I think you are right, M1911A1. [A woman's purchasing power has driven many changes in the marketplace. And I also believe that is the case in motorcycles as well, with seats low enough so that shorter people of both sexes can reach the ground. And also cars: When I started learning to drive in the early 1960s, the seat rails and seat had to be moved forward so I could reach the pedals, which put the steering wheel in my face.]

Getting women into firearms lies firmly in the hands of the family, whether it be the parents or the spouse. But friends and co-workers can influence also. Parents need to get their kids outdoors and exposed to shooting and hunting early. Husbands need to invite their curious but skittish spouses to come and watch at first. Often women will want to try but don't know where to start, and once they try they will catch the fever. Husbands might suggest that their spouses learn to shoot from another woman first, which may help avoid some common pitfalls. The best part of the shooting sports is that they can be enjoyed by everyone. Size, age, physical ability don't make much difference.

My dad started taking the whole family to CCRC when I was little, 5 or 6 maybe, and those memories are burned in my brain. We camped and hunted together also. I remember skinning deer hanging from the rafters of our garage as I got older. Those were great times, and wonderful bonding experiences.

Any woman who expresses even the slightest curiousity about shooting, I will invite to the range to teach. Guys too; makes no difference. Once they get over the media brainwashing fear of firearms, they just love it and want to know how to get involved and what to do next. It is so much fun.

[jr-vass]

I prefer girls, girls, girls, in the ballet.

James

[Roger Roney]

I prefer girls, girls, girls, in the ballet.

JamesLegit theatre? Naw, not Vass, you probably mean Windsor ballet! :lol: :lol:

Kay & others, I agree. The more girls, (and boys,) we get involved, the better!

Roger

[Mike Kelly]

Cats (Andrew L. Webber) was the book by T.S. Elliot (Old Possum's Guide to Pratical Cats) simply set to music. It was more of an opera since little if any of the lines were spoken. Webber also was responsible for Superstar (opera) Dreamcoat, Phantom (remake) and the like.

For which he shall never be forgiven.

[AimHigh]

Kay, it doesn't seem fair. If it was me, i would go with you (if i was married to you). My wife shoots with me, I go to plays with her. It's only fair. And, we enjoy each other's company. That equals a good marriage.

[KayL]

My wife shoots with me, I go to plays with her. It's only fair. And, we enjoy each other's company. That equals a good marriage.
That's a wonderful arrangement. Luckily for us, we have many common interests. But for those other few activities that only I enjoy, I have lots of friends to do them with, or I simply go alone. No biggie.

Back to shooting... for the many newbie women I have worked with, I'd say maybe 1 out of 50 has decided that shooting is not something they would ever want to try again. However for those who do enjoy it, without a mentor (male or female) who is available to coach, answer questions, and help when problems arise, some women are afraid to tackle firearms on their own. They don't have the confidence. I try to offer continued one-on-one assistance any time they want it. Eventually, after lots of shooting practice, and taking guns apart a few times, that confidence builds.