Sport Climber

The Great Stuff Men Do

Achieving gender equality depends on men.  If we continue as we are, with women pushing for gender equality largely alone, or supported by a minority of  progressive and engaged men, gender equality is going to take another 81 years to happen – beyond both mine and my child’s lifetime.

Today, on International Men’s Day, I want to share something about how the men in my climbing life have helped me to move to a climbing grade I never thought I would achieve.  I admit that I’m, perhaps, so strong and passionate an advocate of equality, so vocal about the inequalities I perceive, that the men around me can feel under attack and then defensive.  This holds back the advancement of equality, because in this defensive situation, no-one is learning new ways of thinking or doing things.   I felt today was a good day to reflect on the positive stuff and how men have made a difference in my climbing life.