He slid the magazine that he’d finished reading across the table at me. “Take a look at this one,” said my rocket scientist hubby.
I looked at the title and immediately stopped chewing on my sandwich as my heart sunk: Physics Today. Oh no, were we going to launch into a discussion about ferroelectricity and magnetism and whether the two foes can coexist? My palms started to sweat. I lost my appetite.
Physics is not my forte.
“No, I mean take a look at the cover shot,” he said. “Nice.”
I looked. It shows a pre-teen girl looking through glass, supposedly at a science museum. The photo is credited to the New York Hall of Science. Nice.
Why is it so nice?
It’s nice because in a subtle, yet powerful way, it brings to our attention the fact that girls can be scientists. That they might actually be interested in left-brain matter material, and wow … that they might be featured on the cover of Physics Today.
I started thinking about why we never see a photo of a girl (or a woman for that matter) featured on the cover of Field and Stream magazine. Or, if we do, they must be few and far between, because I have not seen one featured there for a while. If women make up about 10 percent of the hunting population and some say up to 25 percent of the fishing population, then why don’t we see our representatives there? And what about kids? Wouldn’t you love to see a kid on the cover of Field and Stream?
Time to ramp it up, fellows in charge there, and find a photo or two of a kid, a woman, a senior citizen instead of Mr. Trapper, Mr. Bodybuilder/Lumberjack/Bowhunter, all with facial hair and er, white, and the list goes on.
I know, a lot of the covers are beautiful photographs of big bucks or big bass. So be it … but, how refreshing would it be to take this girl and put her in camo and sit her beside her grandma or her dad on a turkey hunt? How about that photo?
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Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Hope your article gets someone’s attention!! Way to go, Barb!
I agree with you 100%!!!!! I’ve been waiting and waiting to see a girl on the cover of a deer hunting magazine, but it never happens. My goal is to shoot a huge deer and get on the cover of one 🙂
MIa, yes let’s work on getting there.
Stacey, Nope … no curtains in the man cave, and in fact, it would probably shock a lot of people but I’m all for men’s only and women’s only hunting trips. No problem with the fraternal or maternal (?) order in outings. I just think the days of the Boys Club in the Outdoors being promoted by major magazines have to be over.
Gasp! What’s next Barb~ you going to hang curtains in the man cave or sweep out the garage.. or pick up the tack in the barn… 🙂
I know I have never had a problem sharing any of my “space” with like minded people.. man, woman or child..
yes, yes, and yes. And could those photos show some ‘real women?” I love Brenda Valentine, she is a queen and everything good about hunting, but she’s also a pro. What if we could show the amateurs, the hobbyists-then maybe even more women would feel encouraged to participate as well.
Great post, Barb!