Women of the Gun Industry Agree

Gun Up Editor Shelley and Gabby

Shelley, you know the industry far better then I and I defer to you on what it is like to do business within this world. I have never had to do anything in this industry other than write about my experiences and comment on how my sans-gun past and my pro-gun present compare. You are right that being judged on one’s merits and hard work should be the key to success in this and many other male dominated industries. But I still believe that the women who work in this industry are different in the most awesome of ways.

I must come clean about the inspiration for my original post on the women of the firearms industry. I had recently received an email from a woman who claimed that her experiences with industry ladies, had been nothing but negative. I polled my own feelings, other female gun bloggers and, I too, spoke with Kathy Jackson. The consensus was, that gun industry women don’t snipe at one another, they support each other and have formed something of a sisterhood. With this data collected, I began writing.

My original post was written purely as a defense of my friends. It is fine that people disagreed and that many have had different experiences. At this point I will only claim to be an expert on my own experiences. As a blogger I know that I may put out content saying anything I want, but just as Shelley points out, if this girl gun blogger doesn’t hold herself to a higher standard, then I am doing a disservice to all of us.

This is why I completely agree with Shelley’s latter point, just because anyone can start a blog does not mean all blogs are created equal. Or to use a local turn of phrase: Opinions are like a**holes, everybody’s got one. Sometimes an expert puts out useful content in blog form. Other times, blogs inspire conversations that need to be sparked. Probably equal to the both of these instances, are blogs that are pure crap. It’s up to readers to decide where they want the bar to be set and then vote, with their clicks, their “likes” and their page visits.

4 Comments

  1. This series of articles has been a fascinating example of bias blinding. From her original post all Gabby has been talking about was how different (and enjoyable) she found the culture of women IN the industry to be from OTHER industries she’s experienced. Her experience with actual women actually in the broader gun industry has been pleasantly positive. In contrast to her experience with actual women actually in OTHER industries of her experience.

    In her first post she made a throw-away comment about how the dynamic of women entering a traditionally male dominated field had proceeded…and I guess a bunch of people’s brains clicked off. We even have a charming fellow on one of the comment threads demanding proof that women have struggled in the industry, but not in any aspect of the industry that I arbitrarily discount, ’cause that’s not important. Right. Gotcha.

    Leave aside the fact that, however well the industry is/is not welcoming women now, there has been a cultural conflict as more women enter the field as customers, employees, leaders and competitors, and it is therefore legitimate to reference that history as a brief aside… We’re leaving that aside because THAT wasn’t her POINT.

    How about, just for the giggles, we address her actual point as we rush to tell Gabby what experiences we think she should have before she’s qualified to comment on her own, you know, actual experiences? Whatddya say?

    Thanks,
    JSG

    1. Part of me wishes I didn’t have to thank you for doing what everyone should do, and limiting your comments to the topic of the post. The rest of me doesn’t want to thank you, out of fear that the whole argument will start up all over again!
      But I honestly want to hug you right now! Thank you! -gabby

      1. Yeah…you may be right! How about i just quietly accept your thanks (hugs are automatically accepted) and we both tiptoe away and hope no one notices?

        JSG

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