To my great distress, my sharp and flawless descriptions on US politics did not lead to overwhelming traffic on my blog site. I realized I had to try something different. I did, and within two hours I got more reads and comments than on all of my previous posts combined. All it took was to show a tiny bit of my nipple, be mean to belly fliers, and start talking about sex. We have come a long way from what Diderot wrote about in his Encyclopédie.
I obviously appreciate the shares, likes, and especially the feedback. Thank you! Quite a few felt that one important issue was left unaddressed: the sexism concerning skydive records in general and the upcoming female vertical record in Chicago in particular. The formation records have traditionally been unisex; if you got the skills you can join, gender makes no difference. But what about the female records? Should we accept that our community, which for many is a haven of equality, can suddenly exclude based on gender?
Yes, female records are absolutely hypocritical! You cannot ask to be treated as an equal and then turn around and exclude a bunch of fliers based on their gender. What would the reaction be if implemented the other way around? You cannot have your cake and eat it! Well, apparently you can, but that will leave some people grumpy and offended. Some women claim that the unisex records have only been so on paper and in reality, they have been directly hostile to women.
Women blame men for not letting them into their boy clubs, whereas men blame women for getting special treatment. They cannot both be right, but they can both be wrong and therefore mutually contribute to gender inequality as Mary Wollstonecraft claimed.
It all comes down to the unequal methods that are being used to gain an advantage. Among men, the rules of the game are reasonably balanced. The path to success is primarily based on skill which is built upon relentless training in the trenches. Sure, good looks, money, and a bare nipple can in some cases open up possibilities for short cuts, but they are few. Women, on the other hand, stand on a much more uneven scale. Some are able to take advantage of all the benefits of what being a woman can give; whereas others will suffer all the disadvantages, including the blame.
I would argue that this is why men have a greater tendency to cheer each other on, and as a group push the successful forward. Women are often quick to point out when someone uses one-tenth of a nipple to get an advantage.
I've met experienced female skydivers that have never given their equipment any kind of maintenance. Never even changed a loop. When you are a hot babe, why bother? There will always be a desperate alpha male around who gladly brings you cake, gives you a foot massage, and takes care of your needs.
Not too long ago a friend of mine who was working as a load organizer approached a man who worked at the drop zone. She was wondering why he seemed so hostile towards her. Bluntly he spoke his mind: "I don't think you should be organizing, because you are a woman!" To let the jealousy get the better of you is understandable, to admit it out loud is less tolerable. The criticism she got was totally uncalled for. Ironically, a few months later she got an opportunity partly because of her gender, and after that, she got an opening to work that required her to be a woman.
I have lost work to women with less experience, skill, and training. When I eventually got the job due to cancellation, I was paid far less for my work. There was never any doubt why this was the case. The beauty, gender, and sex appeal my competitor had to offer gave her a higher market value than my pink socks. The invisible hand of the market economy is a beautiful thing even though it sometimes stings like ice cold water around your testicles.
What about that flat chested hobbit looking power-lifter chick with bad skin? She can hardly be blamed for the opportunities that some women so efficiently use to their advantage. No filter, camera angle or duckface pose is going to save her from changing her loop. She will suffer from sore feet, and unless she is extremely determined; the unrealistic beauty standards of today will eventually push her towards the horrible fate of becoming a belly flier.
What I'm trying to say is that it is complicated. In the complex maze of opportunities, gender undoubtedly plays its part. For us to distinguish when that is the case and to what extent is often difficult and sometimes impossible. When we don´t get what we want we easily want to blame it on characteristics that we cannot control. It is hard for us to admit that occasionally the reason why we are not successful is the fact that we suck. Either due to our skill level or just because we failed to live by the golden rule: do your best not to be a mean, selfish c**t.
In the Democratic primaries, 2016 Bernie Sanders had an excellent chance of becoming the parties nominee. But politics came in the way, and the leadership of the party unfairly disregarded him, and he never got a fair chance. But as far as I know, Bernie never complained claiming that the reason was him being Jewish or that his opponent was a woman. Bernie took the humiliating pain like a mute woman giving birth without epidural injection. I have a sneaking suspicion that Crocked Hillary Clinton would have taken the disgrace differently.
But I will not bore you with political nitpicking because I know what feeds the soul of this social media generation: nipples, sex, and drama. Categorizing these issues solely based on gender is an attempt to simplify a multifaceted problem to explain one's shortcomings. Some women claim that vertical records have been directly hostile to women; other women say that men have been incredibly supportive and given them a chance largely because of their gender.
Society will never be 100% fair and equal; someone else will always have some tool in their arsenal unreachable to the rest of us. By default, we will see this as unjust. The million dollar question is: when should we settle, accept it, and take the humiliating pain of rejection like Bernie?
One of the athletes I respect the most in the sport happens to be a woman. She ones said: "if I see you cry because you did not get on the record I will laugh in your face!"
So, to all you women and especially MEN out there who feel unfairly treated by the hostile, gold digging, and cake-eating discriminators; you can choose to be bitter and carry that cross of sexism on your personal Via Dolorosa of pity. Or you can try and maximize those few opportunities that we poor skydivers have in this cruel, unequal, and unforgiving world.
I strongly feel that the skydiving women have deserved to have their cake and eat it when it comes to vertical records. It might be hypocritical, just like it is hypocritical of men to be chivalrous towards the hot babes and then complain that women get special treatment. The female records inspire women not only to train more but also to start skydiving in the first place. Isn´t that what we men ultimately want? More women in the sport to cheer for our amazing swoops and back layouts.
For the next 15 months, I will be manufacturing loops and working on my massage techniques. Finally, there will be an event where women are in the majority. My Arrogant Bastard friends and I will not miss the opportunity to be part of it and truly put the power of the male nipple to the test. There will be a swarm of women stressed out about the drama that always comes with records. They will need a shoulder not to cry on. Surely I will be able to find at least one unicorn that doesn't mind my short legs and will be impressed by my inflated calves? If it ends up being that hobbit looking power-lifter then so be it, at least we will have something in common. See you in Chicago!
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