Class for females only

[Shay]

I was approached today by a close friend wanting me to train his girlfriend in the defensive use of a pistol. I told him it was prefect timing as I had some classes coming up at the end of October and she would be welcome in at least the Intro class if not both days if she felt ready. He told me that he had already talked to her about taking a formal class, but that she had performance anxiety about having to train with other people. He asked her if it was other people in general or men specifically. After she thought about it she said that she would be open to taking a female-only class.

I have resisted doing these types of classes in the past because I think it's important that women train around and against their most likely threat. I also do not ever want to be accused of training women to a different standard than male students. All of the female students I have had (there have been many) have said that they felt comfortable in my classes, but that obviously only samples women who took that leap and registered for a co-ed class.

I am now considering doing a women only class early next year. The curriculum would be the same as any other Intro to Force on Force class I would teach, but all of the students would be women.

What do you all think about having a class restricted to females only?

Please give me some feedback from your perspectives.

[stilllearning09]

I understand the "performance anxiety" of a mixed class, but there is so much to be learned in a mixed setting.
On one hand, that may be the only way to get someone to learn how to handle a gun and survival strategies.
For me, I would rather be in a mixed class to watch and learn from both sexes. Watching men and women react in class would help me think through my survival reactions and scenarios.

[Jay]

I've taught both co-ed and ladies only classes. It's been my experience that most ladies from the ladies only classes pursue the co-ed classes after the initial intimidation is behind them. I also hold periodic orientation classes on site, so folks can see exactly what's involved before they pressure themselves with the unknkown. Those have worked out well.

Good luck

[IndyGunSafety]

I also hold periodic orientation classes on site, so folks can see exactly what's involved before they pressure themselves with the unknkown.

That's a great idea Jay.

[Pami]

Is this the same class I took when you were testing your curriculum? If so...

I can see the comfort level of taking a women-only class. In the classroom portions, and even in the blue gun and standing-still-shooting portions, I can see women being more comfortable asking certain questions. (I'm thinking along the lines of: they might think their question is silly or insignificant if men are around and not ask it, whereas they might be more comfortable asking the question if other women are around. Such as... "How do I hold my gun at retention without my boobs getting in the way?" Serious question, but the guys might laugh at her, so she won't ask.)

However... when you do the scenario, would you still have guys involved as the BG? How would that affect the comfort level? Would they still ask those questions when you do the individual review? I think it'd be an interesting experiment, and I think you'd have a good amount of interest in it.

[theweakerbrother]

Originally Posted by Pami

Such as... "How do I hold my gun at retention without my boobs getting in the way?" Serious question, but the guys might laugh at her, so she won't ask.)

She?! I'm suing for discrimination. I asked this same question when I took my NRA Basic/Ohio CCW class.

[SC_Shooter]

I think there is a lot to be gained by mixing it up with a coed group, but Pami is also right on this one. If having a women-only class gets a half dozen additional people to register than would take the co-ed class, then that's a half dozen more who will be less likely to be a victim and more likely to make the BG sorry he tried. I know that fits well with your philosophy Shay.

All that said, DEFINITELY use men for the BG role - both in the scenario and also in some of the draw/retention portions of the training. Given the likelihood that the BG in real life will be a man vs. a woman, it seems pretty logical to use one in training.

I agree with you Shay that there shouldn't be a different level of training, but I do think there are a larger number of women out there than we know who would be very comfortable in a women-only course vs. the co-ed option. When I've asked my wife the same question, she said she would prefer to "start out" with other women until she got very comfortable. Her logic was "guys grow up shooting, fighting and that sort of thing and I (my wife) didn't."

To her, SD concepts are relatively new, whereas many of us have been thinking about that sort of thing since we were relatively young.

It's all relative to how someone was raised I suppose, but I'll stand by my belief that if such a class gets a few more people a little better prepared to defend themselves (and if you can make it worth your while, of course), I think it's a good idea.

[No Time to Shoot]

I would like to find a women only class for my wife near Fort Wayne. She has expressed interest in a women only class for the same reasons listed above.

I think it's a great idea!

[Jay]

Can set up anything she wants if she's willing to come to Grant County.

[tyler34]

I think my wife would enjoy an all female class as she really wants to take a class but is intimidated to a certain extent.