Women-of-Colour in Climbing
We want to acknowledge that we’re living, playing, climbing and recreating on stolen lands. Land that always was and always will belong to the Aboriginal people, the Traditional Custodians of the land.

Marginalised groups have historically been excluded from the white feminism movement. This includes Black women, Indigenous women, Black & Indigenous women, Asians, Muslims, gender queer folks, non-binary folks, adaptive ability folks, trans folks, and especially trans folks of colour.

We want to know how this affects us in the climbing community, especially in a cis-white heterosexual male dominated space. These discussions are not only important but essential to how we are as an affinity group to move forward and make climbing a safer place for people like us.

Research & data surrounding diversity in climbing are widely available in the United States, but on the other hand, hardly any is available for Australia.

Thank you for taking a step in making change to challenge the status quo in the community!

Every completed survey participants will gain access to all of our climbing workshops for (almost!) free for all of 2021. Think Trad is Rad, Trad Crusher, Weekend Warrior, Learn to Lead outdoors, all the indoor and outdoor climbing meet-ups for all of 2021 at minimal cost (this cost strictly goes back to the Indigenous communities in VIC and NSW)

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About You
First and last name *
E-mail address please =) *
Pronouns, if you're comfortable disclosing
Age *
Where are you based? *
What cultural identity do you identify with? *
Required
Gender *
Required
Choose all that apply *
Required
What form of climbing do you do the most? *
Required
How much time do you spend climbing outdoors? *
If there are workshops catered specifically to you at a minimal price/free, would you commit to attend? *
What do you think is the biggest barrier to climbing indoors/outdoors for new climbers? Tick all that applies. *
Required
What is the biggest barrier for you to go climb outdoors and participate in lead/trad climbing? Tick all that applies. *
Required
About Your Community (Pt. 1)
This section covers issues that don’t generally get brought up, and may be triggering to some. We value your privacy, and your feedback will be treated with utmost respect. If it gets too overwhelming, do take a few minutes to recentre yourself before coming back to the questions. Some questions require some thought and reflection, and we appreciate your time into curating the answers for these.
How diverse do you feel that the climbing community is? *
I don't see climbers like me at all
I see climbers like me all the time
I believe that it is important that the climbing community address diversity and inclusion within the sport. *
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
What does safe spaces in the climbing community look like to you? *
About Your Community (Pt. 2)
This section covers issues around racism and can be complicated as whiteness is seen as a default in the outdoors, and may not seem obvious at first. It can manifest as a feeling or discomfort and unable to point a finger as to why, to fearing for your safety. We’ve provided a breakdown of what some terms and examples of what they mean to help you with the next questions. These are all forms of racism in a range of spectrum and is not an exhaustive list:-

Micro-aggression: The involvement of negative stereotypes or prejudices against people based on race, colour or ethnicity. It is a type of racism that is extremely normalised against people-of-colour. It is not always blunt and straightforward.

E.g “You speak really good English”. “Where are you from?”. “You’re so pretty for an Asian/Black girl”.

Tone policing: Is a conversational tactic that dismisses the ideas being communicated when they are perceived to be delivered in an angry, frustrated, sad, fearful, or otherwise emotionally charged manner. It can be used by anyone against anyone else, often against someone when they discuss the harm that has happened to them, and usually by the ones that created the harm. Black and Brown people will be referred to as “aggressive” which attempts to justify control or dominance. Asians are often told to model minority myth to be subservient, quiet and passive.

E.g “You’re getting too emotional, calm down”. “People would listen to you if you were a bit more polite”. “I don’t like your tone”. “It’s too complicated for you”.

Gaslighting: A form of psychological and emotional abuse that involves manipulating another into doubting or disbelieving their experiences, feelings, perceptions of reality or even their sanity. It includes a pattern of continued behaviour that denies visible facts of experiences.

E.g “It was just a joke”. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing”. “You’re being too sensitive”.

I don't see colour: "I don't see colour" dismisses the reality of a person's physical existence, denies their lived experience of racism and derails the conversation on racial justice. It supports, condones and perpetuates racism. It is also insensitive and dismissive of cultural diversity and the nuances of our existences - the construct of race is not real, however the concept of culture still very much is.

E.g "Not all white people", "Not all men", "All lives matter", "We're all humans and the same", "What does race have to do with anything?"

How comfortable are you talking about racial injustices with your white climbing partners? *
Very comfortable
Never!
I feel welcome and that I belong in the climbing community. *
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
If you've selected 1- 3 in the previous question, has there been a barrier for those conversations to take place? *
Have you ever experienced racism (not limited to microaggressions, tone policing, gaslighting, "I don't see colour") in climbing? Regardless whether it’s directly from a friend, a mutual group, strangers or in a social media space. *
If you are aware that an organisation or climbing gym has an ongoing history of oppressing or causing harm to their staff-of-colour/customers-of-colour, would you still patronise the establishment? *
What do you want to see outdoor brands, not-for-profits and organisations do better or do more to support marginalised and underrepresented communities? *
Moving forward..
We would like to know more about representation in position of leadership for folks who look like us in the outdoors and climbing. This is the last 2 questions, thanks for your patience!
Would you consider making climbing a profession? E.g climbing coach, climbing guide outdoors, youth coach, position of leadership in gyms, a sponsored brand ambassador? *
If yes, what support would you need to consider making climbing a profession?
Done!
We appreciate you so much for taking the time to do this. If you've signed up to be in the draw for our free Weekend Warrior session, we'll be in touch soon!
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