[Life on the Road as a Pilot] Is this Girl With Wings sending a hurtful message?

[Lynda]

Apparently two men, electing themselves to speak on behalf of  women in aviation everywhere, do. They have sent me emails (attached below) to let me know how wrong I am for the way in which I'm encouraging girls to have an interest in aviation, especially with this "shrinking violet in her soft pink cuddly airplane." Note: it's purple.

For the six plus years I've been working on Girls With Wings I have gotten so many emails (some that have moved me to tears) with statements of support, so I think it's only fair that I hear from my critics. I know I cannot please everyone, so a ratio of 2 to several thousand or so is pretty darn good.

I'm not going to say any more about the emails, but I hope you do. I'd like to hear YOUR honest feedback on how you would respond to these emails before I frame a response to the second. You can let me know how I'm missing the mark (though I may not agree with you OR be able to comply due to time, resources and financial issues), but at least you can be heard.  Thank you.

Email #1:

I have a commercial pilots license myself (not flying professionally at this time) and know three other women who fly for the majors (Continental, Alaska and UPS).

Your website is so highly OFFENSIVE that I'm nearly speechless.

Is there a reason you portray female pilots right down there with Holly Hobby and My pretty pony???

The MANY pilots (female and male) that I know are Professional, Serious, and (in the case of the females) ALL WOMAN without having to resort to cutesy stereotypical crap that you're trying to hock here.

If you TRULY are trying to encourage girls to find an interest in and love of flying, you're undermining your own efforts and offending PROFESSIONAL Pilots along the way (both male and female).

ARG!!! I can't believe how pissed off this site makes me!

My response to him:

Thank you for your email. It's unfortunate that you find Girls With Wings offensive, but I assure you that the Girls With Wings program has been enormously  successful with those professional women for whom you believe you are speaking and the girls to whom the outreach effort targets. The women - and men - of all ages, professions and interests, that support our extensive volunteer organization are able to see the value in the website, www.girlswithwings.com, and the items we provide, with such inoffensive phrases as "Yes, Girls Can Fly!" - after years of only being able to buy aviation themed items too boyish to interest girls. Your email does let me know that there is one person who so strongly opposes our mission, in contrast to the many who feel so strongly in support of it.

Ok, so now there's two, since I got another email last night. I find it interesting that these emails only came after I started advertising the Girls With Wings Pilot Shop on Facebook. I think people have always gone to the website first and the store second, if at all. The store helps us to raise funds for the educational programs of GWW, though most comes from donations, memberships, etc. The ads are hitting a whole new segment of the aviation field, it appears.

Coincidentally it came just after I received an email from a dad who has ordered a couple of times for things for his kids, saying, "You are a wonderful person and do a great job for our young ladies, and may God always bless you. Please let me know if you are ever in the _____ area. And you can call [me] if there is any problems with the order or donating to GWW. Thanks again for all you do for the kids."

You can see why I'd get such a distorted perception of the appeal of GWW, right?

So here's Email #2, entitled "where is the pilot stuff in the pilot store:"

I am a 41 year old male who is an aviation enthusiast and have made my living as an aviation mechanic for the last 19 years. I stumbled across http://www.girlswithwings.com and thought "awesome, a group actually working to reach an entire segment of the population that the aviation hobby and profession have tried to ignore."

I so badly wanted to support what you say is your mission... but when I went to your "Pilot Store" hoping I'd see some actual aviation gear I could purchase to support your organization, all I found was girly trinkets, jewelry, hair-bows, and nicnacs. Don't you realize by only selling these types of items that you are reinforcing the very attitude you claim to want to improve?

I'm so disappointed that your store telegraphs the hurtful message that girls are only interested in pretty little things and clothes. It saddened me to see the profile photo of your facebook page was a Precious Moments style figurine of a little shrinking violet in her soft pink cuddly airplane. You are only subtly hinting that airplanes would be fine for girls if they were more girly.

It would be so sad to think a young girl that actually might be interested in flying (but not interested in princess items) would be discouraged by your message that she can only be a pilot if finds a way to do it as a girly girl in an airplane toe ring and a pink "girl with wings" cap.

When women fly the planes I work on, they wear the same flight suit as their male counterparts. When I work alongside female technicians they wear the same coveralls I wear. And of these two groups of women, they range from the ultra-feminine to the severely masculine. That's because they are a cross section of society, just like any profession. There is no "mold" for them to be forced into... but a store like yours tries very hard to create one.

If you want to get young girls excited about aviation, how about offering books about successful women who fly? Why not use the very things that attract young boys to aviation (toy planes, video games, DVD's featuring cool aviation movies and documentaries, etc.)

What's really sad is that the photos I saw of of the women who donating their personal time away from flying to interact with groups of young girls are not represented in your store AT ALL!

In light of my blog entry from yesterday, this seems doubly ironic because I was just discussing how the methods we're using now to encourage more women (who, not surprisingly, start out as girls) to get into aviation aren't quite working as well as we would like, or else there would be more women pilots and aviation mechanics, and etc.

Ok. I have to stop typing now. First of all because I still haven't packed for my trip to DC and second because I promised myself I'd let YOU form the answer for me. Still here I am almost  physically restraining myself from developing counterpoints that seems so obvious to me since I've been immersed in this for so long. I need to hear from you to know how other people feel about the mission of Girls With Wings - even if it's just a fraction of how strongly I do - so I can continue to develop the organization.

So, please comment below or send an email to let your voice be heard!

--
Posted By Lynda to Life on the Road as a Pilot at 5/05/2010 07:11:00 AM

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[deb....@comcast.net]

Lynda,

I think both of these men are ignoring the socialization that takes place for all children.  Girls in our culture tend to be attracted to pink, cute, and cuddly.  I believe the GWW store acknowledges that in the items that are for sale and then gets the girls to include aviation in the things they could find interesting.  I  think it's a losing battle to try to convince girls that they should be "serious and professional" - they're kids!  I also don't think either of these men have children or have visited the toy aisles of any store.  While we might desire the "stereotypical crap" to be gone, the fact is that stereotypes are alive and well in the toy aisles.  Blue for boys, pink for girls... trucks for boys, baby dolls for girls, etc. etc.  Also, the man that thought the GWW offerings are right down there with Holly Hobby and My Pretty Pony hasn't asked a young girl to rate those characters.  I expect that they're more popular with girls than the Wright Brothers (not to put down the brothers)!  Maybe after more than 6% of pilots are women, then GWW can take on Mattel, Hasbro, et al.  I believe that you are being a realist to offer aviation themed items for girls that are designed to be attractive to them.

As far as the man who wanted to buy aviation products on the GWW website and have the profits go to GWW, perhaps he could just make a donation or buy something for a girl in his life (daughter, niece, etc.).  There are plenty of places to buy regular aviation products - I don't think it makes sense for GWW to be in that marketplace.

By the way, the "shrinking violet" looks to be about the same size as the airplane - that's no shrinking violet! :-)

As for what to say to these folks, I think you have a pretty good response.   Best of luck, but I wouldn't hold my breath hoping to change their mind.

Blue Skies,
Deb Price

[Debi]

He's got some valid points.  The more professional the "atmosphere," the better.  So sure, go ahead and offer other aviation things.  What would it hurt?  Your whole point is to catch the gals' eyes, right?  All the gals?   It might just catch some boys' eyes, too, you never know.  I'm hoping you wouldn't mind selling things to either girls or boys, women or men.  Maybe some Mom (or Dad) has a son (s)he's trying to interest in flying and your store helps promote that. Twins?  Why not appeal to both?   As well, some girls, and Mom's like me, just aren't into girly stuff no matter how it's portrayed.  So, other things, other colors, might work for other parents and their girls, and boys.  I know that GIRLS with wings is your main mission, but again, what would it hurt to be equitable? 

Do any of the other booths at the shows offer ANYTHING for the girls?  If not, maybe you could swap. You could network with someone with whom you could exchange items.  I know it's not your main mission, and I'm not saying that you are doing this, yet, are you giving the fellows a chance to holler "reverse discrimination?"  Just food for thought.

So, what else might you offer at your booth, in your store?  I have no idea what's available for sale to get children interested in anything.  (My son was only ever interested in electronics so it was easy for me to find things for him.)  At the other booths, other stores, what sells well?  What captures the interest of the young boys and gals that can be tweaked, making them appeal to your young proteges, enticing them to buy them from you rather than from the others?  Maybe you could do some undercover sleuthing (otherwise known as research  lol)  and browse the shows while watching (spying) on the girls and not the other booths.  Other than to your store, your booth, look to see to where they migrate.  What things are they touching, picking up and gazing at, that you could offer at your store, your booth?

Maybe you could offer other colors of the things you already stock.  Maybe you could buy some other items, books, posters, videos, games, in limited quantities, and see if there is any interest. Not that you have tons of money but I hope you can understand my point.  You might also counter any "reverse discrimination issues" this way.  If they don't sell after a reasonable time period of time you can always give them away as promotional objects or swap with someone from another booth. 

To recap: I understand that your "job" is hard enough, and that quite often the young gals' interests are difficult to capture at best, impossible at worst.  Yet, like me, I'm sure there are women who aren't fond of "girly colors" or "girly objects" be they pink or purple or chartreuse or pastels, or what ever.  There are lots of tomboys in the world and lots of us like other colors.  I refuse to buy a pink rifle, I'll never drive a pink Cadillac, wear pink blouses, buy pink sheets, make pink or blue quilts, etc.  I've come to abhor and refuse to buy into the "pink and blue" stereotype seemingly forced onto us at any age. Unconsciously, are you doing the same thing with purple?  I doubt it, but it's food for thought.

Lastly, lots of girls look up to men as role models. I know I did, and I still do. Please don't count it out that other girls might.    :)

Thanks for entertaining our responses.

Debi R. 

***

I am a 41 year old male who is an aviation enthusiast and have made my living as an aviation mechanic for the last 19 years. I stumbled across http://www.girlswithwings.com and thought "awesome, a group actually working to reach an entire segment of the population that the aviation hobby and profession have tried to ignore."

I so badly wanted to support what you say is your mission... but when I went to your "Pilot Store" hoping I'd see some actual aviation gear I could purchase to support your organization, all I found was girly trinkets, jewelry, hair-bows, and nicnacs. Don't you realize by only selling these types of items that you are reinforcing the very attitude you claim to want to improve?

I'm so disappointed that your store telegraphs the hurtful message that girls are only interested in pretty little things and clothes. It saddened me to see the profile photo of your facebook page was a Precious Moments style figurine of a little shrinking violet in her soft pink cuddly airplane. You are only subtly hinting that airplanes would be fine for girls if they were more girly.

It would be so sad to think a young girl that actually might be interested in flying (but not interested in princess items) would be discouraged by your message that she can only be a pilot if finds a way to do it as a girly girl in an airplane toe ring and a pink "girl with wings" cap.

When women fly the planes I work on, they wear the same flight suit as their male counterparts. When I work alongside female technicians they wear the same coveralls I wear. And of these two groups of women, they range from the ultra-feminine to the severely masculine. That's because they are a cross section of society, just like any profession. There is no "mold" for them to be forced into... but a store like yours tries very hard to create one.

If you want to get young girls excited about aviation, how about offering books about successful women who fly? Why not use the very things that attract young boys to aviation (toy planes, video games, DVD's featuring cool aviation movies and documentaries, etc.)



What's really sad is that the photos I saw of of the women who donating their personal time away from flying to interact with groups of young girls are not represented in your store AT ALL!

Debi R., Podunk, NV, USA, N. America, N Hemisphere, Earth, ...
Debi's Quilts & Fiber Art Studio
Life is sew kewl and sew fine -- arts!
Protect your 2A rights, or lose all your other rights.

***

On Wed, May 5, 2010 at 5:11 AM, Lynda <ad...@girlswithwings.com> wrote:

I am a 41 year old male who is an aviation enthusiast and have made my living as an aviation mechanic for the last 19 years. I stumbled across http://www.girlswithwings.com and thought "awesome, a group actually working to reach an entire segment of the population that the aviation hobby and profession have tried to ignore."

I so badly wanted to support what you say is your mission... but when I went to your "Pilot Store" hoping I'd see some actual aviation gear I could purchase to support your organization, all I found was girly trinkets, jewelry, hair-bows, and nicnacs. Don't you realize by only selling these types of items that you are reinforcing the very attitude you claim to want to improve?

I'm so disappointed that your store telegraphs the hurtful message that girls are only interested in pretty little things and clothes. It saddened me to see the profile photo of your facebook page was a Precious Moments style figurine of a little shrinking violet in her soft pink cuddly airplane. You are only subtly hinting that airplanes would be fine for girls if they were more girly.

It would be so sad to think a young girl that actually might be interested in flying (but not interested in princess items) would be discouraged by your message that she can only be a pilot if finds a way to do it as a girly girl in an airplane toe ring and a pink "girl with wings" cap.

When women fly the planes I work on, they wear the same flight suit as their male counterparts. When I work alongside female technicians they wear the same coveralls I wear. And of these two groups of women, they range from the ultra-feminine to the severely masculine. That's because they are a cross section of society, just like any profession. There is no "mold" for them to be forced into... but a store like yours tries very hard to create one.

If you want to get young girls excited about aviation, how about offering books about successful women who fly? Why not use the very things that attract young boys to aviation (toy planes, video games, DVD's featuring cool aviation movies and documentaries, etc.)

What's really sad is that the photos I saw of of the women who donating their personal time away from flying to interact with groups of young girls are not represented in your store AT ALL!