Sofie Kjærsig was the only woman when Pan Outventures went on outdoor and hiking trips, so she joined the steering committee – more women were needed on the team. In the spring, the Women to the Front initiative had its first women's trip.
Most people enjoy doing outdoor activities best when they do it with someone similar to themselves. As a member of Pan Outventures, however, Sofie Kjærsig experienced that the places at the club's outdoor activities were occupied by men, and although they were certainly nice and nice, Sofie Kjærsig missed having women by her side:
"Many people come to the association to meet like-minded people. As a lesbian woman among almost exclusively men, it became a great need for me that there were also other women on the trips! The men are incredibly nice, and you always feel welcome, but I missed someone just like myself," says Sofie Kjærsig.
The first steps
Sofie Kjærsig joined the steering group, where she took on various initiatives aimed at attracting more women to the trips.
“I and another woman on the steering committee tried to be more visible by, among other things, being the ones who posted Facebook events about trips, while also encouraging women to join,” says Sofie Kjærsig.
They also commented on general posts urging women to participate.
“But unfortunately it didn’t work out,” says Sofie Kjærsig. “The women often sit on the sidelines and are more waiting behind the screen – they want to assess whether the trip is something for them, whether other women will come along, etc. The men, on the other hand, can always be sure that there are other men on the trip. They therefore register quickly, and suddenly all the places are occupied by men.”
It wasn't until Sofie Kjærsig created a dedicated women's tour that something happened.
Women to the Front
When a trip to the Mørkebakken tent and campsite at Ravnsholt Forest in Allerød was launched as an all-women trip, several curious women signed up in addition to Sofie Kjærsig herself. In fact, a total of seven women were able to lace up their hiking boots for a tent trip with the Women to the Front initiative!
And as Sofie Kjærsig says: “There were more, they just couldn't! So I'm sure that was what made the difference.”
The Women to the Front initiative is something Sofie Kjærsig wants to continue working on, perhaps in the form of a women's trip every quarter. Either way, it's about shaking up the women and giving them the courage to go on regular trips together, so that the trips mix men and women.
“The trips don’t have to be different just because only women are participating. But we want to create a culture where it’s easier for women to sign up. I think that can be done this way!”
Read much more about Outventures here
