Does Paintball For Girls Equal True Equality?
Running through the woods with a paintball gun, dressed in combat fatigues and wearing a mask may not be everyone’s idea of a good day out, yet increasing numbers of people are doing just this. But what about paintball for girls? Is this becoming increasingly popular as well, or are the women leaving it to the men to have all the fun?
There are certainly women who do play paintball, but they are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the men, although all girl soccer teams, work outings and even family celebrations have all been used as an excuse to go paintballing with the best of them.
As with the men, the biggest groups of women who choose to have a go are generally the teenagers and the young adults. Apparently paintball for girls is not quite so hip once they reach their mid thirties.
But paintball for girls is not something that is often read about or promoted, either in magazines or on the internet. There are certainly dedicated pockets of women who do indulge on a regular or semi regular basis, but these are few and far between.
The Sport Of Men?
It’s understandable that this is a very manly kind of sport – waving guns around, diving for cover and getting muddy and covered in paint does generate an image of guys having fun rather than girls – but is paintball for girls really a no go area? And if it is, is this due to feeling out of place, self conscious – or something else?
As children we are brought up with the thinking that boys play with guns and cars, and play rough games in the playground at school. Girls on the other hand have to play with dolls and prams, and are more likely to have imaginary friends coming to their tea parties than an urge to crawl through the undergrowth waving a gun around.
Fitting In With Society’s Expectations
So are these expectations to blame for the lack of women playing paintball? Or do women feel intimidated by the fact they are so out of place? After all, paintball for girls doesn’t fit society’s picture of women. When it comes to real war zones, we still think of men as the ones who go to fight, while the women stay at home. There are women who go, but they are overwhelmingly in the minority.
In this sense, paintballing mirrors real life more than we may care to admit. Paintball for girls is an option, but it’s an option that not many girls choose to take up.