Why are there more men than woman in masters swimming? Everyone says that women's events always end before the men's events (and thus we have to keep that odd/even rule for pools at nationals). Is this still true? The last meet I attended there were 62 heats of women and 65 of men.
Former Member
I think the club I swim with is pretty equally balanced, but I will check the membership roster.
George:
Craig:
When I'm swimming alone, I see an equal number of lap swimmers, I think. My own club has slightly more men than women. I think men feel less guilty about getting their exercise than women. As George says, women tend to think they are indispensible to their children's happiness.
I know my mother never even thought of me as some one she needed to make happy. As a teenager, I only saw her occasionally during the summer time.
This is a poem written by my wife when she had just returned to college after the six kids were in school.
*
Make me a room with a door that closes
To shut out the noise that my world imposes.
Let the room be clean and square
With a wall of books, a lamp & chair
I'll study all the things I missed..
I could make a Doctor or Scientist -
If I didn't have to make SUPPER!!!
I married Chuckie 3 months before she was twenty, our first baby was born exactly 1 year later, one more 14 months after that, then the twins, 4 under under 4, a three year old, a 2 year old and twins. A little later 2 more.
Fortress,
Aside from asking the obvious, "why not?" I am curious as to why you think women are underrepresented in competition swimming. Do you think there are quotas that should be imposed?
From my own experience, men have an innate need to compete at almost any level of life, down to racing to get the last parking space at Home Depot. Women are not generally so driven, although a portion of the group is undoubtedly out for blood in any competitive endeavor. Women have the advantage of procreation on an intimate level, "popping out babies" (as you said in an earlier post), whereas men seem to need to continually prove their worth both to themselves and society.
Or maybe it is just a male dominated plot to keep women out of skintight, form fitting suits at meets. Yeah, that's it.
Personally, I'm not real wild about your characterization of women as "not generally so driven."
Maybe not the best choice of words, but I think Michael has a point. I think men are generally more competitive. Generally, as in generally true. I realize there are many exceptions. :)
This woman here just has no time to enter meets, period. I spend a lot of time volunteering to help with the kids activities. That is the way it is. Activities cannot happen without volunteers. Someone has to run the swim meets, coach the softball games, carry the pit instruments on to the field, help with homework, drive to activities, supervise sleep overs, and on and on and on.
Way I figure it, before I know it, they will be out and on their own, and then it will be my time. I am actually taking a night class at the local junior college, that is for me.
I think the way to increase female master swimmers is to start a rumor that they were not welcome. My daughters are so independent out of spite they would join in.
