Discovering that they were heading out for an adventure under the guidance and protection of two young women was not what they had imagined when signing on for the 80 kilometer paddle through one of New Zealand's newest river parks. This immediate shock upon discovering that they are trusting their lives and limbs to a 'girl' is something I have become used to when meeting groups of clients for the first time. You can almost hear the collective gulp. The men in the United States are rarely so blunt as to come right out and ask me if I know what I'm doing, but they are not alone in their concern. The women often share their uncertainty as to whether they can put their faith in a female guide.
Leadership styles vary from person to person.
It is difficult and perhaps dangerous to generalize the variations according to gender, but the fact remains that men continue to be central figures of authority in most of our lives. While many of us have strong female role models, the heroes of young Americans are typically male sports figures and action film stars. There are fewer 'scripts' for women assuming leadership positions commonly held by men. Fortunately my experience has been that it is not employers and co-workers who are resistant to seeing women in leadership roles. Quality tour and guiding companies know that good judgment, experience and attitude play a greater role in hiring a leader than does gender.