Whoa there — let’s talk a little marketing basics first.

To what extent is hominology a male-dominated field? Where do you get your figures, and how current are they?

Are you extrapolating from the perceived percentage of women who comment on blogs or have their own blogs, participate in general or specific cryptozoology forums , or who participate in field expeditions? Does the degree of participation of women in online forums have any connection with forum policies favoring dialogue and respect over “no holds barred” debate?

Do you have any market research that confirms a gender disparity in buyers of Bigfoot books, or books on cryptozoology in general? What’s the average age of the women who participate in some way in Bigfoot studies, and are there age differences between women who participate in Bigfoot studies in the various different ways? Are the newest Bigfoot researchers always young, or are they people who bring maturity and experience to their work? Are there enough new ones to be statistically significant, or is the group too small to generalize?

Just how do you want to “market” new researchers in the field? To sell books? To get on TV and make videos and be all Carl Sagan-y? To become academic superstars who will finally force the science world to look at non-mainstream subjects with the objective scientific scrutiny that is needed? I’d have to say the fringe science and religion groups with the sexiest, best-looking members are the Raelians, and the Rajneesh followers — but is that what we want?

I have to ask all this, because your assumption that NASCAR is currently male-dominated is contradicted by the figures a search gives, which is that the NASCAR fan base seems to be 40% female. You also don’t take into consideration the fact that the NASCAR culture started in the South, and that there may be cultural reasons for what look goes over best for their fans (you noted fellow athlete Billy Jean King in that photo, who clearly isn’t trying to pander to their stereotypes).

When we talk about displays in the animal world, we understand that they are usually behaviors or visual indications that will help an animal mate most successfully or rise in the hierarchy. Look how successfully the women drivers display the sponsorship of the alpha corporations, both on themselves and their cars. In a very expensive sport, safety and ability to win races may hinge on ability to get financing for your car and your crew. You may have noticed that corporations love having attractive people representing them. But would getting Jane Goodall to wear a Home Depot t-shirt in her publicity shots get us anywhere?

I’m trying to figure out whether those hoping to interpret Sasquatch culture and drives know enough about this hominid culture to compare and contrast effectively.

I hope no one ever publishes a photo of ole bub in a speedo…LOL

live and let live…

ole bub and the dawgs

CONGRATULATIONS, Lady Drivers!!

Well, yeah, most expeditions incorporate pheromone displays, and female (and children’s) voices as well as music and laughter and women visibly having “normal” conversations - almost anything but dog barks - may bring a Sasq closer.

But it’s like call blasting - we have to be careful what attractant or harmless appearance we utilize, because we don’t really know (yet) what we’re “saying” to the creatures.

But that’s not what Loren’s blogging about, is it?

That being said, I feel the way for women to be acknowledged in this or any field is to do original research and put forth solid time and effort. While I’m sure physical beauty will never hurt in getting extra attention from visual media, if you have unique information, you will be sought out by various venues. I’m a middle-aged woman and no Danica Patrick looks-wise, but I’ve been featured in dozens of documentaries from local to international TV, and hundreds of radio shows. In fact, I’ve recently been turning down TV and film appearances until I look more like myself again after cancer treatment, but those asking have still been willing to feature me. It’s just my own vanity (and some health issues) stopping me. And radio shows have continued unabated.

Have I encountered sexism as one of the few female authors writing books about cryptids? Occasionally, but not from Loren Coleman or any other of the other well-known researchers or radio hosts in the field. But to give one example, one TV documentary producer (national) had written a script that intended to show me vacuuming, making beds, and then running out to investigate a Manwolf sighting….the little housewife who sometimes put on a cryptozoologist hat. Never mind that I’ve never listed my occupation as housewife…I’ve spent my adult life as a newspaper reporter, editorial cartoonist (one of 3 female members of the AAEC at one time), art teacher, professional artist, and author. Needless to say, I told them the only way they would get me to hold a vacuum cleaner on film was to insert it into my cold, dead hand.

Thankfully, those types of incidents have been mercifully few. There may be more males iinvestigating unknown cryptids, the same way there are inexplicably many more male editorial cartoonists, but it isn’t due to any Old Boys club bent on keeping women out as far as I’ve been able to see. In my experience, the work is what counts. Other issues are always secondary. - Linda S. Godfrey

Dr. House: “And dogs should stop licking themselves. It’s not gonna happen.”

Seriously, I am still searching for the significant meaning in this thread. Women have had trouble being taken seriously in a lot of fields. Between their own efforts, the encouragement of more enlightened men, and the gradual changes in the norms of society, women have pushed successfully into activities from quantum physics to driving Indy cars to flying space shuttles to studying Sasquatch. Yes, they have sometimes used sex appeal - why not? Men use it if they’re handsome.

The blogging exchange that started all this no doubt irked Loren, and with good reason, but if there’s a new and important point to be made about cryptozoology in general, I’m not seeing it.

I am with Melissa…I seriously can’t see the scientists and scoftics winning over to the other side because of a crypto of the month calendar or attractive females going along on research hunts for the Discovery Channel…

…but hey, then what do I know…I’m one of the dim-wits according to some of the scoftics:):):)