Zoe Newsam Coaching
  • Home
  • About
  • Online Fitness Coaching
  • Sea Kayak Coaching
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Home
  • About
  • Online Fitness Coaching
  • Sea Kayak Coaching
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • FAQs
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

4/8/2019 0 Comments

In Celebration of Man

There was an old saying "Behind every great man there is a great woman".

I've been thinking a lot lately about the reverse of this: the men that have supported me through my paddling & working life.  

Anyone that knows me is very aware that I am a passionate advocate of gender equality, and particularly in the case of women who want to advance in male-dominated environments.  I've had three careers, personally, all very male-dominated.  And of course, the support of other women is critical in those environments, and female role models help enormously in making progress when you are among the first - or one of very few- women to achieve something.  

However, it is my belief - and some may find this a controversial view- that it's just as important, if not more so, to have supportive and forward-thinking men around you in these environments. 

In planning the Women's Essential Sea Kayaking Weekend I've thought about this subject a lot, an event that is being organised by myself and two male sea kayak coaches who I admire and respect enormously- so I thought I might share, and celebrate, a few examples of the extraordinary men who have supported me in my kayaking career. 
​
Picture
First up:  Matt Haydock.  Many of you will know that Matt & I work and play together a lot: Matt has been supportive of me in a number of ways since the day we met, and is constantly encouraging.  His belief that I - or any other of his female paddling friends & colleagues for that matter - can achieve just the same as the guys, is unshakeable. ​​
Picture
Nick Cunliffe & Matt Giblin:  I met and shadowed Nick & Matt for the first time on a Sea Kayak Coach award training course in 2018.  Nick has been a paddling role model of mine for many years...  We got on well, and I suggested the three of us might work together.  Their instant response was: "Fantastic idea - lets run a women's event".

Their support and encouragement in the short time we've known each other has been invaluable and unparalleled. ​
Picture
J.P. Eatock:  My most recent inspiring and encouraging moment...  On a playday at the Bitches tide race in Pembrokeshire, with J.P. Eatock, who knows the area intimately after years of coaching & guiding there.  We had the wave to ourselves until a large group of young paddlers arrived, mostly male with a couple of females, in playboats & surf kayaks.  J.P. looked me in the eye - a middle-aged woman in a sea kayak- and said simply "You need to go and get on the wave, now...".  His message was small but powerful: set an example, blast away some stereotypes.  Actions speak loudly.  ​
Picture
I'm very lucky these days: I'm surrounded by supportive, forward-thinking male role models.  I've had more than my fair share of sexist experiences too however, in thirty years of working in three very different industries.  In my view if we are to change the way our society works, these wonderful men, who support us when we need it and help us fight our corner in achieving gender equality and challenging unconscious bias both in actions and in words, are not celebrated enough. 

Thanks guys, I couldn't do it without you. ​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Sea Kayak Coach & Personal Trainer based in the Scottish Highlands.  I love paddling, running, lifting weights, cycling, and moving well- and I love helping other people to do the same.  I have to work really hard to build and maintain my skills on the water and my fitness, and I hope that helps me to understand how hard my clients also have to work!
    ​I also enjoy writing about those things, and hope you might find something in here that inspires you, makes you think or even makes you cross.  If you do, please feel free to get in touch! 

    Archives

    March 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

About Me
Contact Me
FAQs