Ladies, the title says it all--what CAN we do to improve participation in Project Appleseed? I know we have some women IITs/Instructors etc, a fair number of AS attendees are women, Riflewoman does a TON of stuff, but what can you & I do?
1. How can we recruit more Appleseeders, especially women?
2. How can we help expand the ranges available?
3. How can we reach more folks to participate in Range Work Days?
4. How can we reach the Jr High/ High School crowd?
What suggestions do y'all have? What ideas of your own are you willing to share here?
--Vicky
I have heard from a new IIT here in WI that some of her friends would like to come and shoot, but they don't want to do it around the guys. Idk why, maybe they are just shy or something or they think that the guys are going to pick on them. I really don't know, but one thing that might help with something like that would be to have more all women's ASs. I am not saying a ton of them because I personally like the diversity of it all, but having them may help get women out from hiding behind wherever they are hiding to come out and shoot.
Quote from: Trisha on October 29, 2009, 12:56:31 AM
I have heard from a new IIT here in WI that some of her friends would like to come and shoot, but they don't want to do it around the guys. Idk why, maybe they are just shy or something or they think that the guys are going to pick on them. I really don't know, but one thing that might help with something like that would be to have more all women's ASs. I am not saying a ton of them because I personally like the diversity of it all, but having them may help get women out from hiding behind wherever they are hiding to come out and shoot.
If I might ask, would an all women participants event be useful or is it only useful to also have an all women training team?
I ask because I really would like to do an Indiana women's Appleseed event in the next 6 months but cannot produce an all women training team. I could likely recruit a woman SB and perhaps a couple of instructors, but some men red hats would likely be needed in the mix.
How much would it ruin the advantage of a woman's shoot if the entire training corps is not made up of women? For those that would be drawn by it, is it an all or nothing deal?
I take no insult if it is, I just want to know and understand so I can plan.
(We can take this to PM's if it is better to work out there.)
I don't know what having some men in the training mix do to an 'all women's' shoot. Personally it does not bother me at all to shoot with the guys nor to have them instruct me. But then again, I have seldom been accused of being shy and retiring!
I think it would be easier to get a mixed gender instructor cadre for an 'all female' participants shoot. Didn't they have one like that this year somewhere? Trisha, I think those ladies in WI would probably come out, and be ok with a mixed gender cadre, since the shooters would be all women. I am guessing the real issue is with attending the Appleseed with their spouse/boyfriend. I bet that is the heart of the problem. I know I personally don't take instruction from my husband easily--there's just too much familiarity, and I get my stubborn on. But I can easily take instruction from another guy--so for me anyway it is not a gender thing. And I have read repeatedly on various gun forums that it is generally best not to take instruction from your spouse in order to preserve marital bliss O0.
There was an All women's AS in May at Wayland, IA, I was there instructing. At that time, we figured it would be best to have an all women's instructor corps and the only men that were there was Brokensling because he brought his daughter .5 and he was there to haul things around, but he didn't do any instruction. The other guy that was there was the land owner and he showed up everyone once in awhile to see how everything was going and to see how his daughter was doing. We thought that since it was supposed to be an ALL Women's AS that it should have ALL Women.
The women instructors came from NY, WI, IN, OH and MO. All the instructors were excited to be there for this all women's event. The line was small, but it was a bunch of shy women that probably wouldn't have gone if there were men, at least not to their first one.
techres, if you want an all women's AS, set one up and I would be more than happy to come instruct and there are a few other women instructors here in WI that I could probably drag along, and I know one female IL instructor that I could probably get too. If you want one don't let the the wondering of who will instruct it hold you back, there are women instructors that would love to do it. If you want this to go to PMs send me one and we can start figuring this out.
viv303, I do agree with you that many women don't want to go probably because they think their sig other will be the one instructing them, and I do see this a lot. When I am instructing, I kick them off that part of the line and personally instruct that person shooting. I do this with all family members actually.
I do love the diversity of AS, but once in awhile I think for some women that it is good for them to have an all women's AS.
Quote from: Trisha on October 29, 2009, 11:44:54 AM
techres, if you want an all women's AS, set one up and I would be more than happy to come instruct and there are a few other women instructors here in WI that I could probably drag along, and I know one female IL instructor that I could probably get too. If you want one don't let the the wondering of who will instruct it hold you back, there are women instructors that would love to do it. If you want this to go to PMs send me one and we can start figuring this out.
PM sent!
I was really happy when I heard of the all women event in Wayland last year. This is an excellent way to bring out more women.
An all-women Appleseed asserts that Appleseed is not a male organization. We have to fight against mainstream stereotypes that gun culture is male dominated. The all-women Appleseed changes the perception of Appleseed from "Women are welcome at Appleseeds" to "Women are Appleseed." This is crucial.
I think it is best to have an all-women instructor corps. There are men who are conscious of their patriarchal tendencies... but it is too messy to make a selection process. I say keep it easy, all women at an all-women Appleseed.
As for non-all women Appleseeds... It would be cool to have instructor corps that are majority women, just to turn the tide for once.
The University of Iowa Feminist Club is considering attending the next Wayland, Ia Appleseed if the instructor corps is not patriarchal. If we want to appeal to groups that don't value "mainstream" relations between men and women, I think it is wise to adapt and accommodate. Otherwise, we'll hit a wall where our organization can be pinned down to improper assumptions about our cultural affiliations.
O0
There was a very lively discussion during last week's Osage Beach RBC about how to get women more involved. Hopefully some ladies present will chime in to this thread. They floated ideas about having alternate activities for those that did not want to be on the firing line all weekend. Perhaps something like a WITO (Women in the Outdoors) (http://www.womenintheoutdoors.org/wito/?SUBSITE=wito) seminar that teaches some camp skills, cooking with a dutch oven, etc.
Quote from: Whisker on October 29, 2009, 12:55:39 PM
I was really happy when I heard of the all women event in Wayland last year. This is an excellent way to bring out more women.
An all-women Appleseed asserts that Appleseed is not a male organization. We have to fight against mainstream stereotypes that gun culture is male dominated. The all-women Appleseed changes the perception of Appleseed from "Women are welcome at Appleseeds" to "Women are Appleseed." This is crucial.
I think it is best to have an all-women instructor corps. There are men who are conscious of their patriarchal tendencies... but it is too messy to make a selection process. I say keep it easy, all women at an all-women Appleseed.
As for non-all women Appleseeds... It would be cool to have instructor corps that are majority women, just to turn the tide for once.
The University of Iowa Feminist Club is considering attending the next Wayland, Ia Appleseed if the instructor corps is not patriarchal. If we want to appeal to groups that don't value "mainstream" relations between men and women, I think it is wise to adapt and accommodate. Otherwise, we'll hit a wall where our organization can be pinned down to improper assumptions about our cultural affiliations.
O0
This is great input for me and consider the mixed gender training question no longer on the table as it has be answered. The response I have had in this thread and in PM's has taken away ANY staffing concerns I had. Really. Not an issue and I am very, very glad for it!
Thank you also for mentioning the college interest. I am in an enormous college town and have been trying to include increasing numbers of college students and teachers to the program. This is one more way to bring Appleseed to a more complete part of our community.
Thanks for the immediate responses and input!
Unfortunately
Quote from: MeanStreaker on October 29, 2009, 02:44:14 PM
There was a very lively discussion during last week's Osage Beach RBC about how to get women more involved.
I must've missed that conversation down there.. Shoot.
Quote from: MeanStreaker on October 29, 2009, 02:44:14 PM
Perhaps something like a WITO (Women in the Outdoors) (http://www.womenintheoutdoors.org/wito/?SUBSITE=wito) seminar that teaches some camp skills, cooking with a dutch oven, etc.
... Appleseed is about marksmanship. The question is about how to give women better access to marksmanship skills, not cooking.
How about a "Riflewoman" patch?
I know some get uptight about political correctness taking over the mission. This is about being accommodating more than being "PC".
I can't spearhead this one, but my support is behind it!
Quote from: Whisker on October 29, 2009, 03:16:28 PM
Quote from: MeanStreaker on October 29, 2009, 02:44:14 PM
Perhaps something like a WITO (Women in the Outdoors) (http://www.womenintheoutdoors.org/wito/?SUBSITE=wito) seminar that teaches some camp skills, cooking with a dutch oven, etc.
... Appleseed is about marksmanship. The question is about how to give women better access to marksmanship skills, not cooking.
Agreed. However, the conversation in Osage was more, "How can we ease in women that absolutely refuse to shoot? Also, how can we get wives of Instructors that don't want to instruct more involved so they feel 'part of the team' and don't resent all the time their spouses are away?"
I certainly agree that having women on the firing line is ideal.
Quote from: MeanStreaker on October 29, 2009, 02:44:14 PM
Perhaps something like a WITO (Women in the Outdoors) (http://www.womenintheoutdoors.org/wito/?SUBSITE=wito) seminar that teaches some camp skills, cooking with a dutch oven, etc.
Honestly, I would prefer that we wouldn't change that we keep it as marksmanship and heritage just like we normally have it. I feel like if we can get the women to one AS then they are going to want to come to another. If we change things up then that isn't truly AS and if they were to go to a second AS and it was all shooting, then they may not like it. Going to an AS is fun but it is hard, and when women get the chance to do it, they will get the chance to see that it isn't probably anything they expected, but it is well worth it. I hope that all makes sense...
You make a good point MS, I have heard from many people that it is hard to get their spouses to an AS, (I guess I'm not one of them...), my question to you is, you've had your wife help with getting admin and food to the range, did she like doing that? Is that something she would be willing to do again? Does she have any imput on how to get more women involved such as herself? Like what does she want to happen, or need at an AS to get her there more?
Those might be questions any man in this program could ask because it isn't something that I can personally answer since I went to one before my husband(that was due to him being called away at work), but I was bribed to go...can you all bribe your sig other to go? >:D **)
I've come across some questions in the past five months that seem to be clinchers: "Do you have to own a rifle to attend an Appleseed?" Also, if they don't have a FID or LTC (sorry, but I live in MA) they wouldn't be able to purchase/transport a firearm or ammunition for the shoot.
Well... I don't own one yet, but was lucky enough to have a relative who lent me his "for as long as you need it".
I know that some instructors have "loaner .22 rifles" at some of the shoots.
Another question is "do I have to have any prior experience shooting?"
I usually say that they would have an easier time learning, because they wouldn't have to break bad habits. Also, all the instructors are volunteers, and wouldn't be there if they didn't REALLY want to.
Finally, I say that an Appleseed shoot is not a competition. It's a lesson of American Heritage, with a practical shooting experience tied in. Everyone learns at his/her own pace, and although a Rifleman score/patch is a trophy to strive for, leaving a shoot with knowledge and inspiration is a long-lasting prize.
Heck, I've been spreading the word to family (many females! aged 26 to 80), friends, and coworkers... and anyone who will listen to me. My mom (80) said she'd attend a shoot in her town if I'd be an instructor there, so I'll sign up when it pops up on the 2010 list! ;)
Have any of you looked at ASs homepage? at the pictures that are on it? well there isn't one of a woman. Can we get a couple of pictures up there with women? This might help because as I was looking at them, I was really trying to find a picture of one and there wasn't one that I could tell. There is a good one of two boys, but that is the only thing that is diverse about the pictures. Who takes care of the home page? Also going along with that, can we add some words on the home page saying something like, this is a program for everyone! Men, women and children! You know something like that?
I think it would be a good idea to really show them that AS is also for them and we need to show that at the first website they will be looking at, and that is the homepage. I know on the forum, we have a women of AS thread, but that is after they have gone will they probably see that. I didn't even know about it until months after my first AS.
Again, I think we need to be up front about it, and let them know that we want women there, so we need to show it in every aspect of AS!
On the main page you are right Trisha, but there is a whole Women of Appleseed page, in the top left pulldown menu, at the bottom.
http://www.appleseedinfo.org/women.htm
That page then crosslinks to our Women of Appleseed thread in this forum.
http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=4577.0
Perhaps we could get the webmaster to swap one of the womens pics from the submenu page, onto the main page slideshow? That would be a nice change.
wow, I have been in this program for over a year and never saw that page! Maybe I just wasn't looking...
I think it would be a good idea to have one or two women picks on the home page so it doesn't look like we are separating the two genders...
Quote from: Trisha on October 29, 2009, 08:14:59 PM
wow, I have been in this program for over a year and never saw that page! Maybe I just wasn't looking...
I think it would be a good idea to have one or two women picks on the home page so it doesn't look like we are separating the two genders...
The women.html page just got done a month or two back. It was blank before.
I like the idea of getting across the idea that AS is for the women too. It's not just a guy thing.
Let's get some pics of yall.
How about a pic of you and your hubby together at an Appleseed? Even better with the whole family? What do y'all think? It would make AS look family oriented. Something for Mom, Dad, Jr., and even Grandma and Grandpa.
Our course higher higher has to approve changes but it is something on our plate. A revamp of the web page that is. It's something I was supposed to be working on two or three weeks back but then some forum upgrades and problems, etc, put that on the back burner.
So let's get them pics. I can get some put on the women.html and will ask to get approval to add something to the main page.
Here is a picture that I really like:
+1 on the photos of women on the homepage. Sounds like Scuzzy has got it covered. Try and make it early on the slide show so people actually see it!
QuoteI know I personally don't take instruction from my husband easily--there's just too much familiarity, and I get my stubborn on.
I concur with that sentiment. ;)
What a busy thread this has been today!! Hot topic for sure and important.
Another thought for a women's AS is to have some of the history include more of what the women were doing ie: pg. 170 Paul Revere's Ride: (I have vastly shortened and paraphrased some)
[When the men of Pepperell marched away, the women came together and held their own town meeting...elected Prudence Cummings Wright as their leader, she in turn elected a lieutenant Mrs. Job Shattuck, they all dressed themselves in their husband's clothes and, calling themselves Mrs. David Wright's Guard, set about protecting their town even to the point of arresting a Tory named Cap't Leonard Whiting.... ]
Pretty impressive these women being "clear enough about what should be done". That sounds awfully close to they "know what they're about"!!!! :) O0
Keep your eye on the front sight!
Patriot Gal
I should also note that Minnesota was represented at the Wayland, IA Appleseed last summer. So it is clear that the Mid-west is both willing and able to support these ventures.
Speaking now for myself, let me say that I don't have any regrets about supporting an All-Women Appleseed. If, for example, a Feminists/Women's Studies group, or any other group, wished to participate under those conditions I'd be happy to support it. (Work permitting, of course.)
I have to say, however, that I am less certain that what stands between the present situation and fuller participation by women is strictly a matter of gender. For example, do you think that a woman with better marksmanship skills than her significant male other would decline to participate because "there are so many men around?" I don't.
So let's be candid: some women who perceive themselves as less able to compete successfully (fear of failure) hesitate to sign up because of past experience with participation in mixed gender events: their significant other will become impatient or embarrassed, more experienced shooters (usually male) on the line will show impatience or condescension, or instructors will show impatience or disdain, etc. And as Whisker has obliquely alluded to, many, many people are not aware of how their unconscious gender background plays out to those who are watching them closely. Thinking along these lines, then, I raise the following points:
1) How do we best support new shooters? Right now, they're on the line with everybody else, still figuring out how to get that dang Ruger bolt release open or closed while they're expected to do everything else. Do we have a bit of time during, for example, registration to show new shooters how to do some of that in an ammo-free environment? Can we "encourage" new shooters to arrive a bit early and then prepare ourselves to respond to their initiative with some hands-on (ammo-less) familiarization? I'm not a green hat, so I'm in the listening mode on this one...
2) Repetition is the mother of learning. Have you noticed that people are listening a lot more intently to your instruction on some point AFTER they've tried to do it themselves? It's because they're now actively seeking information about the details they've missed rather than passively listening. Folks who are new need the hear/do cycle about four times because they can't "take it all in" the first time. So figure, right from the start, that with new shooters we will need to get down on the dirt with them and repeat the group instruction at least two or three times. Happily.
3) Have we thought carefully about the first three sentences we use for each block of instruction? These are really the only sentences that we can be reasonably sure everyone will pay attention to, so they need to be polished if we want folks to listen to the rest of what we have to say. They should be clear, short, and spot-on, and they need to frame (structure) the rest of what we have to say. In essence, those opening sentences are a road map for the rest of the instructional block, and we all know what we think of maps that are wrong or unclear when we're driving somewhere for the first time.
4) What about an All-Newbie Appleseed? That will lessen the strain on the instructor corps since an all-female instructor cadre isn't needed. (I'm sure someone has already thought this up and done it, but I just haven't read about it yet.)
5) Do we know who, in each instructor cadre, is particularly good with new shooters? Who has the bright, cheery, upbeat, supportive attitude? Who can think of new ways to say the same instructional points? Who can find something good to say in every situation? Are they placed on the line where they can have a significant impact? So far, my experience is that the best selling strategy we have is word of mouth, so if we want more women then we should make sure those we do teach have the best possible experience. Intimidation is not a good pedagogy, although men tend to rise above it more easily than women.
6) Do we watch carefully and intervene quickly at the onset of frustration? Like other negative emotions, frustration festers...in men we see cussing and thrown equipment, while women tear up. We're all pretty clear about how to handle the incipient violence, but how comfortable are we when we respond to a crying shooter? What's our "battle drill" for tears? Mine is that the first person on the scene offers a tissue and a time-out. Then someone else comes by a minute or so later, after they've had the chance to recover a bit of personal dignity, and begins the real triage with relaxing patter and then some kind questions. I'm open to better ideas, though.
7) Do we take advantage of opportunities to separate the line by ability? I know this takes a larger, and more experienced, flexible cadre, but my experience is that it is well-worth the additional complexity. We all know intuitively that learning is an intensely personal and private affair, so smaller groups have a better chance of catering to individual needs. (This runs counter, I know, to the Appleseed dream of hearing the crack of one hundred and fifty center-fire rifles firing together but it may be where we are now.)
8) Do we openly suggest that taking a break is not only allowed, but a very good idea at times? How many rounds do you shoot when you're working privately before you take a break? I tend to stop and rest/think at least every ten-twenty rounds or so! So is throwing one's self down on the line and firing every possible bullet for two days something that "real men" do, so everybody should do it?
9) It might be that women are more open to one day of instruction, rather than two. In particular, women with small children have many issues competing for their time. One day, in which we promise an enjoyable experience that will show folks the basics so that they leave in a position to fruitfully practice on their own time, may be more attractive than two days accompanied by a higher promise. (Not suggesting a change to Appleseed, just that we ought to expect and encourage women to attend for whatever time they can spare.)
A final point we might consider thinking through is this: Many folks forget, or never really knew, that women who are older than forty or so come out an era that did NOT reward women, and often punished them, for too much success in "male" areas such as athleticism or intellectual pursuits. As a result, some may never have really learned the physical [finger/hand/arm/back] strength, coordination, and mental and physical stamina that it takes to succeed. Many are very much out of shape, and some have been "beaten down" over the years by husbands and children who told them in a myriad of ways that they were stupid or useless, so they've come to believe it.
We tell folks that the Rifleman patch is very much a matter of the heart, rather than the trigger finger. And that is doubly, even triply true for women. How we support folks who are finding and learning their own hearts is, I think, the key.
Wow Mogget, very well said! You summed up a lot of important info & ideas clearly, and have stretched my mind anyway on the concept, and I'm not even an instructor! I'd like for your post to be shared with all the instructor cadre if you are willing. Perhaps there is a thread where you could crosspost it for the instructors to read?
QuoteYou make a good point MS, I have heard from many people that it is hard to get their spouses to an AS, (I guess I'm not one of them...), my question to you is, you've had your wife help with getting admin and food to the range, did she like doing that? Is that something she would be willing to do again?
She does it at our home range events so she can come spend some time with me. It's nice to see each other but of course I'm busy SB'ing and what I hear over and over again is, "I don't feel like I'm a part of that part of your life."
She'll be attending her second Appleseed event this weekend as a shooter, so I got that going for me..... which is nice. :) But she doesn't want to be on the line as a shooter every month and she's made it clear she doesn't want to Instruct...................... but she wants to be "a part of that part of my life".
So I think we have two separate discussions that can take place. The first is how to get more women shooters out to their first event. The second is how to keep women that believe in the program active (and maybe spending time with their spouses that are gone 20 weekends a year) but don't want to instruct or shoot every month.
Maybe the second category is just unique to my situation and doesn't deserve everyone's effort to try and fix. I just think that with hundreds of Instructors here, that means we could potentially have hundreds of spouses involved during the weekend in some fashion other than shooting/Instructing. Fixing that would be good for those spouses to be a part of the weekend doing good works... and good for the Instructors who would hear a little less complaining about all the time spent apart and make it easier to Appleseed.
QuoteI should also note that Minnesota was represented at the Wayland, IA Appleseed last summer. So it is clear that the Mid-west is both willing and able to support these ventures.
Whoops sorry about that Mogget, I guess I was considering you a Wisconsinite now... ;)
Every point you have made makes perfect sense. As an instructor, I have come across some of these issues but I never felt I knew how to handle them properly. These are things we need to consider especially as instructors and maybe we can come up with some possible solutions for the points you have brought up.
Hey all!
I'm a new IIT, and still working on scoring rifle(wo)man. I have a lot of ideas, but I want to catch up on what y'all have been writing first...just thought I'd weigh in. I agree, more women need to be involved with AS. Other than Riflewoman, I believe I'll be the only female instructor in CO when I'm done with my training! Nice thought, but scary as well. I've been to two AS shoots and will be headed to another one in a few weeks, making it a point to bring at least one more woman with me each time (I brought 4 last time, 2 this coming shoot).
Anyway, I look forward to being more engaged in this conversation :)
Have a fantastic day!
-M-
Cora,
You have an excellent mentor in RW. Appleseed guru-ess! Welcome to Appleseed! We can use your help.
Old Glory in WI
Quote from: Cora_Munro on October 30, 2009, 05:03:17 PM
Hey all!
I'm a new IIT, and still working on scoring rifle(wo)man. I have a lot of ideas, but I want to catch up on what y'all have been writing first...just thought I'd weigh in. I agree, more women need to be involved with AS. Other than Riflewoman, I believe I'll be the only female instructor in CO when I'm done with my training! Nice thought, but scary as well. I've been to two AS shoots and will be headed to another one in a few weeks, making it a point to bring at least one more woman with me each time (I brought 4 last time, 2 this coming shoot).
Anyway, I look forward to being more engaged in this conversation :)
Have a fantastic day!
-M-
Quote from: Trisha on October 30, 2009, 11:49:44 AM
QuoteI should also note that Minnesota was represented at the Wayland, IA Appleseed last summer. So it is clear that the Mid-west is both willing and able to support these ventures.
Whoops sorry about that Mogget, I guess I was considering you a Wisconsinite now... ;)
Every point you have made makes perfect sense. As an instructor, I have come across some of these issues but I never felt I knew how to handle them properly. These are things we need to consider especially as instructors and maybe we can come up with some possible solutions for the points you have brought up.
I don't mean to interupt this very educational thread.... But Minnesota is keeping Mogget! &)
Wisconsan already has female Instructors!
Quote from: Patriot Gal on October 30, 2009, 12:16:53 AM
Another thought for a women's AS is to have some of the history include more of what the women were doing ie: pg. 170 Paul Revere's Ride: (I have vastly shortened and paraphrased some)
You, know I agree with you on this statement too. Old Glory and I have done a little bit of women's history, but it doesn't happen at every shoot. It would also be good to have history about young children and what they did. I don't know if it would be possible to add this in or not, but maybe....
I've been looking for stories too... A friend gave me a book by E.F. (Elizabeth Fries) Ellet called "the Women of the American Revolution" says Vol 1. Might check on google or barnes and noble or amazon for a used copy. Also found "Liberty's Daughters" by Mary Beth Norton, "Muse of the Revolution, Secret Pen of Mercy Otis Warren" bye Nancy Rubin Stuart and a few more by going to barnesandnoble.com and searching for history or American Revolution. Haven't ordered them yet. Trying to decide which one sounds the best....
We do Dangerous old Men and Determined Dames on Sunday.
Our club here in Northern CA, was interested in possibly doing an all Ladies shoot too.....Have to see how that develops. ;)
NorCal22Gal
Google up the following phrase: women in the revolutionary war
It comes up with a lot of links and probably good hits for research into this topic.
Here are a few names to search too. http://www.historycentral.com/revolt/Americans/women.html
Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hayes)
Betty Zane
Deborah Sampson
Patience Lovell Wright
I got this from a book called "Her Best Shot: Women and Guns in America" by Laura Browder.
"The tensions surrounding women's armed patriotism are nicely contained by the fictional female soldier who remains the most famous of all armed women. According to the legend, which was late in developing, Molly Pitcher was a Revolutionary War soldier's wife who took over her husband's artillery position when he fell in battle. As historians have pointed out any number of times, Molly Pitcher was a composite of several Revolutionary-era women. Thus, Linda Grant De Pauw writes, "The woman memorialized on posters, postage stamps, and a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike was not a real woman t all but a mythic figure constructed by artists an writers many years after the war." Molly Pitcher had not been identified as anything more than "Captain Molly" until 1848, when Nathaniel Currier produced the first print of her; the first written mention of Molly Pitcher did not appear in a book until 1859. But after 1876, when a Carlisle, Pennsylvania, man published a genealogy identifying a local woman as "the heroine of Monmouth," the Molly Pitcher cult grew and grew. Molly Pitcher was never pictured as a cross-dresser; instead, she was portrayed as a properly feminine- though heroic- helpmate. Margaret Corbin and Mary McCauley, the women on whom the character Molly Pitcher was purportedly based, were far from being models of feminine deportment: Corbin was known as "Dirty Kate" and "died a horrible death from the effects of a syphilitic disease" after the war, and McCauley was remembered as "a very masculine person . . . [who] could drink whiskey and swear." However, the idealized Molly Pitcher - who grew more perfect over the years - had none of the sexual ambiguity or unseemly independence of actual female Continental soldiers."
Interesting stuff... It's a challenge to get the bottom of these stories- to know the risks of these women (violent and cultural risks).
And some info regarding women in general and especially at the Battle of Cowpens, all from the Nat'l Parks Service.
Unit 7 activities follow the menu headings for the other units.
Parks as Classrooms logo
http://www.nps.gov/cowp/forteachers/unit-7-the-battle-the-human-element.htm
Cowpens National Battlefield Curriculum Guide Grades 3 - 8 South Carolina and North Carolina
Unsung Patriots: Women at the Battle
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Women made important contributions to the American Revolution. Stories abound of heroines and others associated with the events of war. Many were camp followers following their husbands, sons, and fathers as they fought. They cooked, sewed, and nursed the wounded, served as messengers and spies, and sometimes fought in battle. Often we are aware of such persons as Molly Pitcher and Sybil Ludington (the female Paul Revere), but there were other lesser-known and sometimes unnamed women who are of equal importance. A number of women are known for their involvement in the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.
Many stories of Revolutionary War heroines are blends of fact and fiction. Good researchers document their findings.
Other than those heroines connected to battles, there were those women on the home-front who took on the sole obligations of managing home and family. It is interesting to note those roles taken by various Native-American, African-American, Patriot, and Loyalist women.
6. Read selections from the book, Founding Mothers and contrast and compare the role of African-American women, Native-American women, Loyalist women and Patriot women. Discuss women's role in war.
SOME WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1. ___Catherine Moore Barry a. Eighteen-year-old who rode through wild Carolina backcountry to deliver General Nathanael Greene's message to General Thomas Sumter.
2. ___Emily Geiger b. Mother of a future president, she traveled to Charles-ton and died as she attended to relatives on a British prison ship.
3. ___Anne Kennedy Hamilton c. Frontier Cherokee woman who warned settlers of impending attack. She helped introduce cattle into the Cherokee economy.
4. ___Nancy Hart d. Sixteen-year-old who warned the New York militia of an impending British attack against a Danbury, Con-necticut, supply center. She is remembered as "the female Paul Revere."
5. ___Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson e. Laurens County, SC, heroine whose nickname was short for Laodicea.
6. ___Sybil Ludington f. African-American who wrote about freedom, she be-came a symbol for the abolition of slavery.
7. ___Molly Hays McCauley g. Heroine from Walnut Grove Plantation, Spartanburg Co., SC
8. ___Rebecca Motte . h. Patriot from Georgia for whom Hart County is named.
9. ___Dicey Langston Springfield i. Pennsylvania camp follower who was nicknamed Molly Pitcher when she took pitchers of water to wounded soldiers.
10. ___Nancy Ward j. She agreed that her own home be burned to drive out British invaders
11. ___Phillis Wheatley k. According to legend, her father, brother and future husband fought at the Battle of Cowpens.
2. An epitaph for Mary Patton is printed below.
MARY PATTON
1751-1836
One of that heroic band who
established a civilization in the wilderness.
She made the powder used by
John Sevier's troops in the battle
of Kings Mountain.
Erected by her descendants, 1932
Re stories of women and children we don't need to stray too far from our current events of April 19th and our Dangerous Old Men.
Here in California SavageShootr started adding stories of the women of April 19th to our Dangerous Old Men on Sunday lunch.
We have always encouraged our women instructors to continue this "tradition" and if I'm on a shoot where there are no women instructors, even if there are no women shooters present, I make a point of presenting "Determined Dames"
I frame this by emphasizing the "hearts and minds of all the people" it wasn't just the testosterone guys running around shooting up the place cos they were dissed.
I usually start with Sarah Tarrant the young lady who told off Col Leslie in Salem and who faced down a soldier raising his musket to her with "Fire if you dare - I doubt you have the courage!"
Ruth Harrington and her 16 year old son, the Lexington Fifer. "Jonathan, Jonathan the Regulars are out. Something must be done, Get up and get out on the common!"
Hannah Davies... sick kids, sends off the Acton militia from her kitchen in the morning and receives three bodies in her drawing room in the evening, Issac Davies, Abner Hosmer and James Hayward.
Prudence Cummings Wright - suffering from post partum depression of her baby who'd just died and her 1 year old "Liberty" who'd just died, went home to her parent to recover and overheard her Tory brothers plotting. On return to her home and later on April 19th she acted on this information, dressing in men's clothes, gathering other women of undefended Pepperall to do the same and arresting a tory rider with intelligence at the bridge.
These and many more are already in Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fisher and tie in with the people and stories we are already telling...
I frame it with the hardship these women faced, "how many kids?" (had 12, raised 8, 4 still living), commonly died in childbirth, despite being denied (in todays terms) "freedom" they fought for it nonetheless - hearts and minds of all the people - we aren't like those people today - none of us - man, woman or child. I also end it with the 7th step plea, don't just bring your shooting buddies guys, bring your wife, your girlfriend, your mother, your daughter, everyone needs to learn to shoot a rifle and hear the story of April 19th.
In answer to the original question: Try reaching out to the "Second Amendment Sisters" if they're active in your various home states.
There are some fantastic ideas in this thread, so let's keep brainstorming...
I had one kneejerk reaction to the original question, and that is that if we want more women involved in AS, we need to do something about all those ladies who don't own their own guns and are (shall we be polite?) insufficiently kitted out by their husbands/SOs with POS rifles w/o slings or even attachments for them, a towel for a pad, and crappy ammo. This was a huge issue at a recent shoot I attended. I learned how to attach slings with wireties (thank you TC!), and how to adjust those stupid stock Ruger sights with a hammer and a block of wood... By the end of the day, 80% of the women on the line were using loaner rifles. I cannot see a way to ensure that everyone show up with everything they will need, but if we are going to pursue having more women on the line, then we need to be prepared for the increased need in loaner rifles and other equipment that that will entail. This is not to say anything bad about women - I too started out kitted out by my husband, and since he had never attended at an AS himself, what I had was not sufficient to the task and I had to borrow a sling, mags, etc (thank you Dragonwood and JuniorBirdman). It is just how the majority of women get started shooting...
I don't particularly like the idea of getting away from 4/19 history in order to include more Dangerous Dames stories - there are enough on that date if you take the time to point them out - It smacks of political correctness to me to have to go elsewhen to provide another story "just for women."
If you do a women-only shoot anywhere I can drive to, I'd love to be part of the crew. And the publicity for it should include all that state's DAR chapters (that's Daughters of the Am Rev., not designated AS Range here), the local colleges' Associations for Women Students (or whatever they are calling themselves these days), etc... because women are often far more willing to try something new to them if they can do it with a friend or three, rather than showing up alone, even to a women-only event. I have yet to meet another woman (besides me, and I REALLY needed a vacation) who has come to her first Appleseed ALONE. They've ALL come with another family member or friend.
Another way to get more women involved would be to think into the future and hold "family Appleseeds" or Appleseeds for girls - an example would be having an AS at a range with good camping facilities that is marketed to families - My husband and I have stacked some of the tactical pistol courses we take every year full of his family, which is why this comes to mind - homeschoolers would be a starter market for something like this. Holding an Appleseed for Girl Scouts (or whatever the local equivalent is - i know there are a lot of folks who got disgusted with GS and have started other girls' scouting-type organizations) would a) get more girls/women shooting, b) let women (the scout leaders) see AS - and these are people who already recognize the importance of citizen involvement, generally speaking, and c) provide a future pool of Instructors...
BeeFree
Emphasize the "check your ego at the door" thing that's a running theme with AS. I've been a proponent of getting women into shooting for a long time. I've put a great deal of thought into this, and have tried to combine my thought with observation. Long ago, my signature on another forum read something along these lines:
"The male chauvenist pig behind the gun counter and on the firing line does as much damage to the Second Amendment as Dianne Fienstien by alienating fully half the voting base. I hold them in equal contempt."
It's all about perceptions and attitudes. The perception is that shooting is a "guy thing." The attitudes for so long have been that of a "good old boy's club."
I have seen this changing throughout gun culture. But much work still needs done out in the macrocosm of gun culture nation-wide. AS, what little of it I have worked with, has done a great job of this. For the most part, people do indeed check their egos at the door. I have seen exceptions, but they are just that. Exceptions.
Word of mouth is everything. If you want more women in AS, continue to foster an ego-free instructor corps. It's been my experience that women are about 3000 times more sensitive to ego than us men. They spot ego a mile away. Keep that out of the mix and off the firing line, and you'll continue to see more and more women involved.
Here is a pic of an AQT shoot in Pittsburg KS last FEB. The two shooters closest to the camera are females. Feel free to use on the website or in promotional material.
Thoughts on women shooters and appleseed in general:
1. For some people two days of shooting is intense. Additionally if you have a rifle/pistol club it eats up range space for a whole weekend. So while I love the two day Appleseed format and it appeals to my Army mentality (I love hard training), For some people the best format may be weekly or twice a month AQT shoots at local clubs. My wife gets shot out by about 1030 on Sunday. With the baby and babysitting issues factored in the half day format is a great way to polish skills of that person who went to their first appleseed as a noob and still needs work to make Rifleman. I personally prefer the weekend format since it eliminates distraction, but offering something different is a technique that may reach people with different stamina or schedules.
2. Here in my town we had an "Appleseed" station as part of our NSSF sponsored "First Shots" program open range day. I helped coach a 65 year old woman who never fired a weapon in her life. She got down in the prone and fired thirty rounds. Absolutely awesome. Running that station (four lanes using .22 rifles) helped get the Appleseed name out and now the club is letting us close down the 25 yard range for two days for our first Appleseed it town this coming weekend. So even where we dont have a two day appleseed, volunteering to help at a first shots event or Women on Target gives the organization exposure.
3. Gun Shows? Tables at gun shows near future Appleseeds to try to get people to sign up?
4. Appleseed reps in local gun clubs?
5. Approach local ROTC BNs and offer to help instruct marksmanship? I am an instructor in an ROTC BN and I am trying to sell the rest of the cadre on Appleseed. Appleseed lets military shoot free anyway, perhaps we can cultivate it so RWVA instructors work the line and teach cadets Basic Rifle Marksmanship. Considering the ultimate goals of Appleseed, it would be good to have hundreds of future LTs, CPTs, MAJs and so on in the army who are NOT shooters to view us as normal and helpful. It may pay big dividends down the road.
My $.02
This seems relevant. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6485278/Female-only-gun-camps-on-rise-in-US.html)
Ladies, I am going to lock this thread since I split out the questions yesterday. Please post your comments or suggestions etc in the most appropriate new threads.
Thank you all!
If I can sort out how to move all the earlier posts to the new threads simply, I will have that done also. Thus far I have not found an easy way though.
--Vicky