Jasmin Paris on her way to victory in the 2019 Spine Race: Bob Smith/grough
A research project is underway to examine women’s participation in mountain activities.
Women in the Hills is a new network formed to look at ways of increasing female access to upland landscapes.
The Art and Humanities Research Council is funding the network, which is led by academics at three English universities.
A spokesperson for the network said it has been formed to discover the factors that hinder, and improve, women’s experiences of running, hiking and climbing in UK uplands. The network will produce a set of recommended interventions to enhance women’s access to outdoor leisure.
The group said women’s participation in outdoor leisure lags behind men’s. A recent study estimated that only 35 per cent of participants in general outdoor activities and 20 per cent in mountain sports are female.
This is despite the success of athletes such as Jasmin Paris who not only won the 2019 Montane Spine Race along the full length of the Pennine Way in winter conditions, but smashed the course record. She was also expressing her breast milk for her baby at checkpoints.
The With network also points to feats such as that of climber Margaret Jackson who in 1878 forged a new route up the Dom, Switzerland’s second-highest mountain, and Ada Anderson who speed-walked 1,500 miles in 1,000 hours.
The spokesperson said: “These women found what many others, before and since, have discovered: that the benefits of upland activities, and the barriers to getting involved in them, are distinct for women in the hills.
“A female mountaineer’s experiences are different to her male counterparts, yet only 3 per cent of sports-science studies between 2011 and 2013 used female participants.
“Women’s outdoor clothing is often produced by ‘pinking and shrinking’ equipment designed for male bodies. These factors correlate with lower female participation in outdoor leisure. And the inclusion of women’s voices in cultural accounts is similarly muted: key nature writing anthologies are up to 90 per cent male-dominated.”
With is led by Dr Rachel Hewitt of Newcastle University, Dr Kerri Andrews of Edge Hill University and Dr Joanna Taylor of the University of Manchester.
Working alongside the project’s partners and advisory board: conservation charity the John Muir Trust, women’s trailrunning company Girls on Hills, pelvic health campaigners Pelvic Roar, the National Trust and the Forestry Commission’s poet-in-residence 2019 Zakiya Mackenzie, it will assess how women have experienced the uplands in the past, and ask why that matters for societal, psychological and health developments in the future. “Together, With and its collaborators will identify strategies to promote women in the hills in the coming decade,” the spokesperson said.
The network will examine the conditions that have shaped women’s land use from the flourishing of outdoor leisure in the early 1800s to the present day. The individuals and organisations will work together to produce a series of guidelines and interventions for cultural and political groups to use to improve the quality and frequency of women’s inclusion in upland activities.
Izzy Filor, a conservation officer with the John Muir Trust, said: “The John Muir Trust are really excited to be working with a diverse group of organisations as part of this research network. We hope that the With research network will inspire and support people to experience wild places, especially those who may not currently feel able to.”
Founder and co-director of Girls on Hills Keri Wallace said: “Girls on Hills are excited to be part of a diverse and talented team, coming together with the goal of rewriting the history of women in the UK hills, and setting a new and easier path for women in the future.”
More details of the new network are on the Women in the Hills website.
Will Barnes
05 February 2020O dear, this article proves what most of us already suspected and that the world really has gone mad.
I mean this next sentence has to be the most unnecessary line of text written my anyone so far this year.
"Women in the Hills is a new network formed to look at ways of increasing female access to upland landscapes"
Women already have full access to 'upland landscapes' to take part in all the various activities on offer. I see women all the time in these places. All ages (OK not kids), some in groups, some in couples and some on their own. Some walking, some running, some cycling and some climbing.
I could be very wrong here but I imagine the reason some women choose not to visit upland landscapes is nothing more complicated than they probably don't fancy it. After all it's not every ones cup of tea. I (a man, although I'm not supposed to say that in the 21st century) have never been to our local knit&natter group which is predominantly visited by women. Not because I don't have access to it. The reason is because it isn't really my thing but from what I believe; this is something women tend to enjoy more than men.
Instead of setting up some ridiculous network, why not just accept that more men than women enjoy outdoor activities. or, as is the case in our town more women than men enjoy the knit&natter group
Katherine
05 February 2020Thank you for your hugely insightful opinion, Will Barnes. People like you make us realise just how important it is to create communities like WITH. Have a great day!
Nick McBain
06 February 2020Anyone shooting from the Hip on this one might try actually reading the article!
Not everyone is born with, or grows their own, rock-hard confidence and enterprise.
Great if you do, but coaches all know how to help out if you don't. No?! Or are all coaches also, pointless Too?
How would you know what barriers might be crippling participation, unless you look into it?
Would you rather Not find out peoples' stories? Do you want to leave obvious boulders on the road?
You're not encouraging weakness if you try. You're simply taking the trouble to do an 80/20 exercise.
High Horse, Get, Off. Regardless what Gender it is. One Hump, or Two. IMHO
Moira Domican-Gough
06 February 2020Thankfully perceptions of femininity are changing and being tough and strong are traits to be admired in women as well as men. Unfortunately it will be a slow feed through into outdoor pursuits.
Generally speaking hiking and climbing tend to be more accessible to the middle classes, with women gaining access to them via university and social groups.
Historically women would have been less likely to attend university and been more likely to have been involved in childcare and therefore not likely to take part in outdoor pursuits.
Women of my generation (54) have also been held back by conditioning, believing a man is better placed to read a map, get you out of a tricky situation, take control. Of course this is not the case but even when one knows this, the conditioning is difficult to break.
Of course technically women have “access” but it is attitudes that prevent actual access!
Hopefully the new generation of girls and women will be conditioned to be proud of being physically and mentally strong and the ratio of men and women outdoors will be 50:50
Timbo
06 February 2020Will Barnes - check your privilege
Polish Hammer
06 February 2020Women on the Hills walking off the road might be not good for them because you need good footwear while climbing.
hughwestacott
06 February 2020Katherine
I was a librarian for 30 years which is a profession in which men are very much in the minority. For 10 years I led a London-based women’s club for monthly day walks in the countryside around London as well as multi-day walking trips in Britain and Europe. I much prefer the company of women to that of men, and am frequently ashamed of sharing the same gender as those men who treat women badly.
I understand, and deeply regret, the fear that many women have of being attacked, but am genuinely puzzled that there should be any other barriers that prevent women participating and enjoying the outdoor life. Could you give me a hint of what they might be?
Hugh
John B
06 February 2020About Will Barnes comment
Perhaps put across in a very OTT and bad way but basically he is right in what he says.
hughwestacott puts it across in a much better way.
Clair Page
06 February 2020As a woman of a few years I'll be viewed as being a little controversial here but I'm still going to say what I think.
I've been walking in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District for over 50 years now and not once have I felt any of the negatives mentioned here. Nor have any of the other women walkers I know or walk with. One specific is, in my opinion I'm much safer as a lone female up on the hills than I am walking through some large town or city.
These daft modern networks as they're called do nothing other than bring back the view that women are weak and feeble. Really sad after us of a certain age trying so hard to dispel that view.
Virginia
06 February 2020Agree with you Clair Page. There is no barrier to women in the outdoors. I too have been active in the outdoors for 50 years and have found no barriers because it's what I wanted to do. Being rufty tufty in the mountains is not for everyone. By the way, I swim regularly all year in remote places. There are far more women than men doing this. Perhaps the men need a 'group' to sort them out
Carol Brown
07 February 2020For the men commenting above, And particularly Will who put his opinion over very badly, and High who has genuinely asked why- I’ve walked a lot solo in the Scottish Highlands, and many people, often question why I would do it solo. Am I not scared I’d be attacked is by far the most common question, and I know for fact that a great deal of women are forced into submission by fearmongering by family and friends who think a walk in the wilds will result in a wilderness rape or body bag experience.
Estelle
07 February 2020I don't have any climbing experience but having been hiking for 25 years, my usual experience is most of my walking has been done with groups that are female dominated. Not that we wouldn't welcome men, but we seem to get less booking on our trips. I am organising my own day walks now, and although I do invite guys along, I get more interest from female friends overall.
Ok, I will admit my first hike was organised by a male friend, but that was purely because he had been brought up by a family of hiking enthusiasts whereas my dad enjoyed a walk but my mum couldn't keep up with him, so we didn't walk much as a family. I don't think it was a gender issue.
Ged
07 February 2020Maybe women just don't want to go out in the hills in the same way and for the same reasons that men do! And if that's the case, what's wrong with that!?
Why can't some just celebrate the differences between men and women instead of pretending that they're identical, and scoring political points - and for large public grants- along the way.
Jannet
07 February 2020Been watching this for a few days now and thankfully there are some people out there that still live in the real and normal world.
From my experience of fell walking for 40+ years, I feel like they're trying to solve a problem that isn't actually there.
I began fell walking with my late husband as a couple and before he passed away one of his wishes was that I continue to do something which was so important to us when he was gone. The only apprehension I ever had was walking without him because it was something we did together. Since then I've walked every week, sometimes on my own and sometimes with other female friends who I've introduced to the outdoors. Being a female has had no negative whatsoever on my enjoyment. Never have I felt intimidated when passing groups or lone men walkers. If anything, I've found them to be more polite to me as a woman on her own.
I see many women enjoying the outdoors. Walking, cycling, swimming, and climbing. I admit there are more men enjoying these things but as a few people have already said, maybe the simple fact is that men like this more than women. I don't understand why anyone would view that as a problem.
Jannet
07 February 2020Just a test.
my previous comment did not show up
Dolly
07 February 2020I've only recently discovered I love walking and photography but the only thing stopping me from accessing the outdoors as I'd like to, is fear of being on my own. I was approached by two men on a country lane years ago and have tried since then never to be on my own. I know there are groups I could join, but unless they all want to spend ages taking shots of the same view from varying angles and on different settings, there would be little point. Men never have to wonder where they'll park, what they should wear, is their phone charged, to tell someone where they'll be, to wonder why that person is looking at them, to avoid dark woods and hidden lanes. I won't put myself in a vulnerable position again.
Ian512
08 February 2020WOW, Dolly really has a bad opinion of men. Her comment is just as OTT as the comment at the top of the page from Will Barnes.
I mean come on, don't talk rubbish, dramatize things so much and don't assume all men are planning some sort of attack just because they're outdoors.
hughwestacott
09 February 2020Ian, I think that you have missed the point.
I suspect that Dolly found the men's behaviour threatening or inappropriate perhaps in some indefinable way. I believe that many women have a sixth sense that enables then to judge whether man is 'safe'.
I normally walk alone and when I meet a woman who is also on her own, I smile and wish her the time of day without stopping. That way I allay any concerns that she may have.
Hugh
Pete Owens
09 February 2020Dolly. You are quite right. You've had a disturbing experience and it is understandable if you don't feel comfortable on your own in the countryside. I hope you are able to find support to enjoy the outdoors as you would like to.
Ian. You're implying things that Dolly did not say. The objective risk to women alone is extremely small, but it is not zero. If someone is feeling uncomfortable, it's not for you to tell them how to feel.
Obviously, many women have no problem whatsoever (read Dervla Murphy, for instance) but some may well do, and I guess this project is setting out to find out about that.
It's interesting that many of the posts here are men explaining how it is. There may be all sorts of reasons why women make less use of the outdoors, but we won't find out if we don't listen. How about a bit of empathy, guys?
hughwestacott
09 February 2020Well said, Pete!
Hugh
Rachel Clark
09 February 2020Clair and Virginia , I’m a middle aged woman who enjoys being in the hills and I disagree with your comments. Just because you have never experienced any barriers to accessing the hills, doesn’t mean there aren’t any. As for your comments about not everyone being rufty tufty or men just enjoying this more , where’s your evidence for this? Your own experience? Why not try looking further beyond that and try and put yourself in the shoes of people who aren’t like you and your friends?
Clair Page
09 February 2020Rachel Clark:
Not sure what you've been reading but I never mentioned "rufty tufty" or "men just enjoying this more" Although now you say it I do agree with the people who are saying all this could be really simple and men in fact do enjoy this more than women.
Can't you see the evidence which is staring us all in the face. First of all many women are saying there are no barriers to stop us enjoying upland places and secondly, as we all know, more men can be seen in these places. Is that enough evidence for you?
Rachel
09 February 2020Clair, all I can see above is just your opinion, not the same thing as evidence. Anyway, we are clearly coming from different places and are not going to agree. I will be interested in the outcome of this work and what it reveals
Ged
11 February 2020I seem to remember a similar research project some time ago which looked at the perceived lack of people from ethnic minorities in the hills.
In the years since; did that study really benefit people from those minorities? Has anyone heard?
Are there more people from ethnic minorities in the hills because of it?
Has the "problem" been solved? ..or is the money now gone and the researchers moved on to the next grant?
Maybe people from ethnic minorities continue to just decide for themselves, as do the women I know who enjoy the outdoors.
One of the lead researchers on WITH, (whose original post at university was creative writing) tweeted recently:
"Buying coffee & croissant for the train this am. Man in queue: “oooh, look at you, miss goodie-two-shoes; saving the planet with your reusable flask.” I sit on the train & get out my croissant. Man on next seat: “you should think about going low-carb, y’know.” Men: HUSH."
Here's someone who can turn having her breakfast into a gender issue.
A quick perusal of the rest of her twitter feed suggests that this might not be the most impartial or objective study ever undertaken!
To be honest I don't exclusively blame people such as this academic. Surely all of us - men and women - must share some blame for allowing this circus to continue; for enabling some to merely replace perceived prejudice with another brand of predjudice, - while getting the rest of us to pay for it.
Thankfully there are signs that people have had enough of this, and for all our sakes, that can't come soon enough.
Ged
11 February 2020...sorry for the spelling hat last "prejudice"!!
Clair Page
11 February 2020Ged,
Even as a female I have to say you are absolutely right and have summed things up perfectly.
These so called feminists and those women who constantly view themselves as victims in some imaginary contest with men are doing no end of harm to the rest of us. Rather than finding obstacles with everything, I like many other women of my age have simply got on with life and have done pretty well at enjoying everything it has to offer.
Ged
11 February 2020Thanks Clare. I wish I didn't feel compelled to comment on this - one of the reasons I go in the hills is to get away from this stuff!
I hope you continue enjoying the hills in freedom and happiness as I hope all women can.
Ged
11 February 2020..and again Clair sorry for mispelling your name!
That's me outta here...must find a decent writing course!
Dolly
15 February 2020Thanks for the support Hugh and Pete. Ian, unless you've been in a situation that left you wondering how the hell you were going to finish your walk safety, I fail to see how you can comment. The fear I felt that day was real, they were in a big van, one with his face slightly covered, the other asking directions to a fake address with a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. I decided then, I would be er put myself in a situation like that again. I have also had great chats with men, on the hills and mountains, around the countryside, but I wasn't alone so felt able to engage. I haven't got a bad opinion of men at all, except maybe those who think they can tell me how I should feel. Obviously you're of that ilk and isn't it a shame you couldn't see things from my point of view and see how women might feel vulnerable.
Dolly
15 February 2020Thanks for the support Hugh and Pete. Ian, unless you've been in a situation that left you wondering how the hell you were going to finish your walk safety, I fail to see how you can comment. The fear I felt that day was real, they were in a big van, one with his face slightly covered, the other asking directions to a fake address with a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. I decided then, I would never put myself in a situation like that again. I have also had great chats with men, on the hills and mountains, around the countryside, but I wasn't alone so felt able to engage. I haven't got a bad opinion of men at all, except maybe those who think they can tell me how I should feel. Obviously you're of that ilk and isn't it a shame you couldn't see things from my point of view and see how women might feel vulnerable.