Selective hearing : the unrecognised contribution of women to the outdoor profession

The role, place, and often invisible contributions of women working in the outdoor learning profession have become an area for increased scrutiny. Alarmingly, there is an underrepresentation of women cited in research and practice, yet women make up approximately half those involved in outdoor education and outdoor recreation. A male-dominated narrative seems to prevail. The intention of this paper is to serve as a focal point for critical analysis and discourse about the status of women in the outdoor learning profession. We investigate the prevalence of females presenting keynotes at Australian national and state outdoor education conferences, complemented by dialogical engagement with women working in the outdoor learning profession regarding the opportunities for their voices to be heard. Our analysis clarifies some of the key issues and identifies constructive ways to recognise and support women’s contributions with the aim of enabling both women and men to be valued for their unique and shared involvements in the outdoor learning profession.