Our friends over at Abel Reels shared this information on their Able Women campaign:
It’s not easy being a woman.
Modern society imposes values and expectations on women that are rarely more than skin deep. And all too often, women are judged by their outer, superficial selves, while their real beauty – that which lies within them – goes unnoticed. Though a woman may well-know the real beauty of their inner spirit, the weight of it all can sometimes make even the strongest of us weary. The facts bear this out:
- Only 2% of women think they are beautiful.
- 90% of all women want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance
- 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape
- The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females
- Women are much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.
Here is where Able Women comes in:
Able Women is a public outreach initiative designed to spread the word about fly fishing and the many emotional, physical and spiritual benefits it brings to women. Fly fishing teaches independence, strength, and creativity. It is a sport very much defined by grace. And who understands grace better than a woman? Fly fishing binds us to astoundingly beautiful creatures that live in remarkably beautiful places. And fly fishing binds us – perhaps most importantly of all – to our inner, most beautiful selves.
Members of the Able Women Team have begun speaking about their relationship with fly fishing at outdoor shows and women’s events across the country, and will soon appear in media outlets throughout the entire U.S. Longer term, Able Women will develop women-specific fly fishing schools and seminars designed to teach women who’ve never fly fished what a beautiful sport it is and how it can impact their life. Details about these outreach efforts can be found at ablewomenflyfish.com
Meet the Able Women Team
They’re fly fishing world-record holders, licensed guides, outdoor educators, wounded veterans, film makers, artists and broadcast producers. But most importantly, they’re amazing, capable women – each and every one. The women that comprise the Able Women team – despite the differences in their backgrounds – all share a common understanding of how enriching fly fishing can be. For some, its been a life saver. For others, its shaped a career. But no matter the particular role fly fishing has played in their lives, each of the founding members of the Able Women Team are a living testament to the positive role fly fishing can play in a woman’s life. And they are all equally passionate about sharing that with women throughout the U.S., and even the world. Founding members of the Able Women Team include: Meredith McCord, Andrea Larko, Diana Rudolph, Rebekka Redd, Kami Swingle, Kim Smith, Lori Ann Murphy, Jessica Callihan and Kate McMonigle. For complete bios on each of these remarkable women, visit ablewomenflyfish.com
Seeking Able Women:
Has fly fishing already touched your life in a powerful way? If so, we’d like to hear from you. You don’t have to be the most accomplished fly fisherwoman ever to cast a line. That’s really not what we’re about. Instead, we want to know how fly fishing has positively shaped your life. And as interest in Able Women grows, we’ll need to grow our team to help spread the word. Who knows, you may be our next great addition!
Seeking with Able Partners:
Do you or your organization have an interest in women’s issues? Do you or your products believe that the true measure of a woman’s beauty lies well below the surface of her skin? We’d love to partner with firms or organizations that share our interest in improving the lives and well-being of women throughout the world. Our message is strong, but with your help it can be even stronger. Able Women is a non-profit 501(c)(3). For information on partnering with, or supporting Able Women, please contact: Kate McMonigle at: kate@ablewomenflyfish.com
Able Women was established thanks to start up grants from Abel Reels and Project Healing Waters.