Women’s hour - birdwatching. WTF is wrong with some women?

[crawlingovertheline]

Caveat first - I know we’re all different but COME ON women!!
The feature was about a woman birdwatcher called Lucy. She was encouraging other women into bird watching (wonderful).
However, as she was explaining her backstory, she explained how “scary” and “terrifying” and “intimidating” it was….picking up some binoculars. (Yes, you read it right, these were her words) and it was only after two (male) birdwatchers helped her that she felt confident enough going birdwatching.

Now listen, I know some people are not confident but REALLY? REALLY???? You can’t pick up some BINOCULARS without help from a man? (Two men)

Women have fought in wars, we give birth, some fight and strive to survive, are women so weak now we can’t have agency over taking up a completely risk free hobby?

What on earth is happening?
YABU - maybe it really was scary, terrifying and intimidating
YANBU - this is disappointing, come on girl wake up!

Utterly pathetic, I’m with you! Get a fucking grip!

I haven't heard the programme but I have heard elsewhere that it's not birdwatching in itself (ie looking at birds) that's intimidating but rather going to places where there'll be serious twitchers. Maybe that's what she meant?

Well on a positive note, we are indeed all different, and she should be congratulated for overcoming her (admittedly unusual) fears. Good for her.

I heard it too. I was in complete disbelief

Thank you. I was glad I didn’t have my daughter in the car with me hearing it tbh.

This does sounds strange! Scared of going to a bit of woodland on your own, understandable. Scared of showing yourself up to experienced twitchers by misnaming a bird - ok. Scared of simply starting a hobby? Bizarre. Unless there's some missing piece about how she suffers from awful generalised anxiety, but she overcame that in this instance, yanbu

I didn’t hear the programme but it is intimidating to have a hobby that is traditionally male. I love trains, I don’t go train spotting as I wouldn’t want to hang about with the types of men that stand on the end of platforms. If it was a big group of women doing it, I’d happily join in. I like heritage railways. Would I volunteer at one? Probably not as I expect I’d get asked to make tea. When I read the rail industry press on my way home after work I can tell blokes on the train are looking at me like I’m some kind of freak. So maybe that’s what was putting her off.

She's probably a Mumsnetter.

Just opening the front door when the caller hasn't pre-booked an appointment, can make some MNetters shit kittens.

Why? It would've been a perfect opportunity to discuss wet lettuce behaviour.

YANBU It's become the stock in trade for any woman going on a women's forum or platform (podcast, radio, TV)

• I wanted to do a thing
• But it was seriously scary because it is the traditional domain of men
• (pause for lots of murmurs of assent)
• but fear not reader - I broke through! I am the hero.
• There needs to be 'awareness' of this
• Luckily I'm here and getting paid to do just that
• And here's a nice "story arc" so what i'm saying now has added emotional depth because it has a hero and a villain

It's so tired, and so much of it feels contrived or bordering on fiction, BUT it is the format of our times

I haven’t heard it the shoe isn’t aimed at me.

but birdwatching, which I love, has to be one of the least scariest hobbies out there! I don’t even usually use binoculars I either watch in my garden or go to my local reserves for a wander. It’s magical…..but not scary.

So it wasn’t about something like going to a deserted wilderness alone that was worrying her?

It was actually the mere act of picking up binoculars and doing something as innocuous as looking at a bird in her own back garden with them??

You’d think the being alone on a reserve could be an issue.

I go alone on my good days, I have agoraphobia ptsd and anxiety so it is a bit daunting but then I hear the birds and love it.

Yes I’ve clocked this too, once you spot it it can be very annoying!

I love birdwatching so I thought the report was very ott.
I'm currently waiting for Peregrine Falcon chicks to hatch on top of the clock tower at Birmingham University. Not due for a few weeks but I like watching the parents changing shifts. Link to live stream for anyone interested.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/our-approach-to-sustainability/peregrine-falcons

🤣

I was taught I can do anything. So I do everything.

I've been sat on the end of platform 14 at Piccadilly with my son many times. No one is looking at the other spotters. They're waiting for the train.

If you can stand up for yourself then get some lessons to help.

I really roared with laughter at -
“scary” and “terrifying” and “intimidating” it was….picking up some binoculars.

Come on Radio 4 programme host, whoever it was should have politely challenged her.

I hope she is ok!

Wow.. I missed this. I'm a bird watcher there are loads of ways into it...snd scared of choicing binoculars...google some and buy some in your budget on line!! Like every other more expensive thing. I've tried lots of more traditional male hobbies and there has always been other women and tbh it didn't make ant difference whether you are male or female after a while.
Women's hour does annoy me that it has to be Womens walking group or women running group ...I can understand some situations where this might help people into a hobby but not for every thing.

Birdwatching as well, ffs. A hobby where there's no actual need for any social interaction if she didn't feel comfortable. You can literally do it on your own, in your back garden or any open area where you feel comfortable. You could sit in your car! At most, perhaps going to a meet up or group where you know everyone might be more experienced than you, or whatever, might be described as "a bit intimidating" - but terrifying? Get a grip, Lucy!

Is bird watching male? First I’ve heard and I’m usually aware of such things. It’s usually women I meet involved in anything nature-oriented, the only issue is being alone outside.

I know you were joking/exaggerating when you referred to giving birth but seriously. Since I had a carcrash-like birth experience I just could not GAF about being anxious about what men think.

That kind of wishy washy anxiety, about something mundane, is a sign that that person has never had to do anything truly difficult before. Honestly I have no time for someone like that, ugh

I've got some binoculars sat on top of my microwave. I didnt realise they were scary, I'll have to give them a wide berth.

And with the ones on my bedroom window sill, I should probably sleep on the far side of the bed.

"I didn’t hear the programme but it is intimidating to have a hobby that is traditionally male."
But is it?????
I have been bird watching for years and it is very mixed sex (in equal measures).
I would say it is no more male dominated than something like dog walking.

"She's probably a Mumsnetter.
Just opening the front door when the caller hasn't pre-booked an appointment, can make some MNetters shit kittens."
Exactly.
It is hardly a scary or challenging hobby.☹️

Anyway, Malcombe introduced Brenda to birding and SHE was the scary one..... he was definitely the wet lettuce!
("Watching" for the unknowing).

Is bird watching male?

I think of twitching as being male oriented. I have no stats to back that up, just sweeping generalisations.