Archery clubs and inclusive names.

Pooleman

Supporter
Supporter
AIUK Saviour
A new member of our club has questioned the inclusive, or otherwise, nature of the club's name. The name includes the word "Bowmen".
Does that suggest women will not be welcome?
I never gave this a thought until it was brought to my attention.
Well Geoff, I see the issue I raised with you has raised quite a discussion -I look forward to hearing how your views have changed.
 

deadb0y

New member
From my wife.

"If I want to do archery I'd go to the nearest club and if I didn't like that one, the people, the location, the training. I'd go somewhere else. I don't care what it's called. Changing things to "include" women is just fucking insulting!!"

Her words people..

I am suprised at how many men don't understand the peril inherent in changing things to try and accommodate women.. Did your fathers not teach you the way of women?
 

Emmadragon

Supporter
Supporter
AIUK Saviour
Speaking as a woman, I don't find a club changing it's name, to be more inclusive, to be insulting at all. I do object somewhat to the language employed in the post, though.
 

Sinbad

Member
From the Collins dictionary and others, Definition of Bowman is "an archer", doesn't state man or woman. I shoot at a club that uses Archers, so doesn't really count.

When you look how the word is used, it then points towards men, but that would be because they have used it in a form of encounter where men usually were the main warmonger in war.

If people at the club feel that it needs to be changed, then it need to be raised. I can understand some people think it needs to be changed, and I can see why others, usually classed as the old guard or whatever don't, but is that because the name of the club has been around for many years, when it may have been perceived as men only, even though you see pictures from many years ago with women taking part. The sites I have been on that have Bowman in the name have pictures that have women shooting at the club, so doesn't show that its men only.

Maybe if it was raised with AGB or similar with the majority supporting the change, then it needs to be pushed for.
 

Big George

Supporter
Supporter
AIUK Saviour
Language is a funny thing, especially English. The word “actress” seems to be mainly disappearing except possible at award ceremonies.
perhaps like female thespians referring to themselves as actors, female archers referring to themselves as bowmen would have the same degenderising effect. Those of other gender definitions would also consider what term is suitable for themselves.

My club is “Archery” so either way it’s not going to affect me. That said, there will likely be a number of ”Bowmen” clubs with a long and proud history. Pushing name change needs to carefully consider all factors.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
AGB are aware of this matter and have had discussions, but inconclusive at present.
There are certainly different opinions and different reasons behind them. Some thinking is shared by both men and women.
We raised this at a club committee meeting and voted to keep "Bowmen". It was not an all male committee either.
 

Sinbad

Member
I think it is down to how each person preserves the word Bowman, if they take it that it is a masculine word, it may put them off. For me, it does just mean archer.
 

chuffalump

Well-known member
AGB are aware of this matter and have had discussions, but inconclusive at present.
There are certainly different opinions and different reasons behind them. Some thinking is shared by both men and women.
We raised this at a club committee meeting and voted to keep "Bowmen". It was not an all male committee either.
Ah well. But was the female vote split? I mean, if twenty percent of the committee was female and they all voted to change the name, then you haven't solved anything.
 

olis

Supporter
Supporter
I think it is worth pointing out (if it hasn't already) that nobody uses the term Bow-woman. Therefore Bowman is equivalent to Archer.
People got over the Waiter/Waitress problem with Server.
Therefore Bowster!
and they tend to be men, so it would really work!
 

English Bowman

Well-known member
We have bowmen in our name, and we have several ladies and junior girls in the club, we did ask them how they felt about the name, and with only one exception no one wanted to change the name to archers. The majority of them, including all the girls hadn't even thought about it and wondered what the fuss was about. It's more about how the club treats people than what it's called.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
Yes, that is my view too. I suppose some might say, we don't get a chance to treat everyone the same way if the name puts women off .
 
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