davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 9:36:42 GMT -8
On another web board a discussion mentioned ethnic demographics of backpackers here in the US as being overwhelmingly caucasian. Searching a bit on the web uncovered the following link where the media dug up some numbers and suggested reasons. Snippets from below link: White people simply love to spend their free time walking up and down mountains and sleeping in the forest. Search "hiking" in Google Images and see how far you have to scroll to find a nonwhite person. Ditto rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, and so on. That white people love the outdoors is so widely accepted as fact that it's become a running joke.
The most relevant study I found was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, which manages national forests and wilderness areas—backpacker territory, in other words. It found that between fiscal years 2008 and 2012, 95 percent of visitors were white. That corresponds with my extensive, if anecdotal, experience as a lifelong hiker.www.newrepublic.com/article/114621/national-parks-popular-white-people-not-minorities-whyThe above article is more broadly about outdoor recreation and not backpacking or hiking specifically. Most backpacking here in California is about the Sierra Nevada high country during summer. The state has the most ethnically diverse population in the nation so my own experience is certainly not representative of what may be the situation in other parts of the US. What do you see in your hiking areas. Any speculations on the general subject beyond what the article suggested? Given the ongoing significant ethnic diversification are you seeing changes or trends? rare July rains just began this Sunday morning here in the SF Bay Area, David www.davidsenesac.com/Summer_2015/summer_2015-1.htmlwww.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2015/spring_2015-1.html |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 19, 2015 9:41:32 GMT -8
In my news, I just saw an article about Koreans who love to hike the mountains, and how Americans of Korean descent are carrying on this tradition. I also have seen recently an article on a young black woman who is leading trips near her city. Thankfully, the more people we get interested in the wild, the better the chances of keeping legislation to preserve it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 10:28:59 GMT -8
I find it absolutely horrid to think that the love of walking mountains is an attribute of skin color or some obscure genetic factor of racial profile.
I don't consider myself "white." I can't recall anytime in life when my skin was anything near to "white." And as near as elaborate research has been able to disclose, no significant portion of my ancestry lived anywhere close to the Caucasus Mountains.
Whatever factors keep a sizable majority of detectable outdoor recreationists in the "white" category, they are far more likely to be socio-economic factors rather than genetic factors. In the 18th century, the vast majority of outdoor participants in the West were Native Americans — not exactly fitting of our simplistic and all-too-convenient "white" characterization.
Do we really suppose that in a few short generations, some bizarre genetic shift replaced those folks with "white" people? I'm all in favor of involving minorities in outdoor recreation — but not at the price of some preposterous notion that for "white" people, it's in the blood that other ethnic groups somehow lack. Absurd.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 11:18:02 GMT -8
Travis I don't see anything in the article that discusses something innate in caucasian ie "white" ethnic demographics that presupposes them to prefer outdoor recreation more than other ethnicities. Instead the article relates a number of reasons just as you described including "socio-economic factors". I doubt anyone would try to argue whites have some innate orientation to outdoor recreation that would as you stated would be absurd so am wondering why you made that input?
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jay
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Post by jay on Jul 19, 2015 11:21:44 GMT -8
What I am going to say is in no way directed at the person posting the above article but at the author of it. It boils down, in my mind, to one simple question.
Why does race, or in this case, skin color have anything to do with enjoying the outdoors?
When I am out in the boonies (one of the benefits of it is being out of the media loop for a few days) the only thing I really am interested in relating to meeting others is are they a jackass or not. This article seems more intent on stirring controversy than actually offering anything useful.
His comments on expense is pretty laughable to me, as well. The statement that the necessary gear will run at least $1000 makes me think I am an exception to this rule. I think that hiking and backpacking as a hobby is like any other; you can spend as much or as little as you want on it.
I guess, though, that given the name of the article, the real intent of this was simply to get people to click on the article. A controversial heading for a poorly put together article is what I got from it.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 11:35:00 GMT -8
Jay >>>"Why does race, or in this case, skin color have anything to do with enjoying the outdoors?"
The article is merely speculating on why the demographic is so unbalanced not why there is some innate orientation the different ethnic groups have with outdoor recreation. In other words no where does it state that any ethnic group has some innate orientation to outdoor recreation but rather suggests cultural, economic, and social reasons why it is skewed. And then reports on how various organizations have been trying to correct that with various programs. Obviously the author shares your view and was concerned enough to investigate information to help bring about balance.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 12:12:12 GMT -8
The vast majority of so-called "white" people that I know do not do any of those things — despite the fact that they live quite close to mountains and forests. Where is the love? In other words no where does it state that any ethnic group has some innate orientation to outdoor recreation but rather suggests cultural, economic, and social reasons why it is skewed. I disagree, Dave. If that is indeed the goal, the author is somewhere near inept at introducing that idea in his first paragraph of the article. |
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 12:34:45 GMT -8
Travis to understand the piece clearly you might consider the last lines in the article to assess the authors purpose for starting with those statements. He structured the piece up front with an absurd parody of the status quo and not as some statement of his own sentiments. Obviously a tricky piece to absorb especially for an audience like this board but appropriate for some bite with a New Republic magazine audience.
"The idea of roughing it in a tent, however, can feel to some people like going backward, said Ms. Cain, a first-generation American who said the stories in her family about escaping the hard rural life still resonate."
This strikes me as the truest line in the piece—and the biggest hurdle to diversifying outdoor participation.
...
Even I can't answer that question—not without embodying the parody of a white man, anyway.
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johnnyray
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Post by johnnyray on Jul 19, 2015 12:40:58 GMT -8
Chalk it up to economics, demographics, opportunity, and culture. Most of the white people I know do not hike, BP, or do other types of back country / wilderness travel. Friends that I went hiking and BPing with in my younger days just don't do it anymore. I prefer solo travel anyhow.
Some organizations (Sierra Club) have programs to help introduce inner city kids, who may be minorities, to outdoor activities that they would not otherwise have access to.
Gassing up the car, or flying cross country, to get to real wild country is expensive for someone from Chicago like me. There is a real dearth of public land around here.
In a nation of 360 million or so I'd guess the number who do multi day BP, or paddling trips is pretty small.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 12:47:06 GMT -8
Travis to understand the piece clearly you might consider the last lines in the article to assess the authors purpose for starting with those statements. He structured the piece up front with an absurd parody of the status quo and not as some statement of his own sentiments. Unfortunately nowhere in the article does the author clearly distance himself from HIS OWN opening lines. Obviously a tricky piece to absorb especially for an audience like this board but appropriate for some bite with a New Republic magazine audience. I think my reading comprehension is as acute as the author's favored audience. Suggesting that I am simply a member of "an audience like this board" is a fallacious stereotype. The fact of my participation in these forums says nothing more about my reading comprehension than it says about yours. Are you saying, Dave, that you yourself disagree with the first paragraph of the article you linked? |
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Admin
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Post by Admin on Jul 19, 2015 13:00:20 GMT -8
Funny to see this discussion because when this forum opened up and the old names started appearing, it crossed my mind that the audience is pretty much plain vanilla best I can guess! As luck would have it, I also heard an interview on NPR with a woman in Berkeley who runs a website called OutdoorAfro.com and they support hikers and backpackers in NorCal. I found a contact address and sent an invitation to please come look at the forum and join in. I did have to offer a bit of explanation that the forum was new but replaced a broken forum and that the audience here was a good one, and there is (or will be again) a good supply of help and travel info. I sent the letter, days and days passed, and I thought it must have been missed! I created a new invitation, sent that and waited, and days and days later, still no reply. So I tried to get some new voices, but without success. |
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 14:44:34 GMT -8
travis >>>"Are you saying, Dave, that you yourself disagree with the first paragraph of the article you linked?"
It's an exaggerated parody of the situation posed so to hook its New Republic audience to continue reading. Of course the knee jerk reaction of most readers would be one of relative disagreement so they will tend to read down where they will see the author is actually dismayed at that situation as he explores ways various organizations try to broaden the demographic base.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 15:00:26 GMT -8
bp2go,
Fine gesture in any case. Of course they may have in fact forwarded your invitation to their group while quietly lurking to see what it is about. And may at some point anonymously pose input or questions given some need. Would expect they can make good use the gear forum especially since most are likely to be novices. The regional Southwest forum where they might ask for backcountry advice has unfortunately been rather stale the last few years and regional sites like highsierratopix and yosemiteinfo have much more to offer. The magazine cannot expect to compete with such regional enthusiast boards for location information and certainly understands that.
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Deborah
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Post by Deborah on Jul 19, 2015 15:10:07 GMT -8
especially since most are likely to be novices. Why would you assume that most would be novices? Seems like a rather odd comment. |
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 19, 2015 15:54:37 GMT -8
Members of the support group would certainly have experience while those they are introducing to the recreation would be novices that would have gear questions our forum and the magazine resources could assist with.
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