Now you're Talking
Editor's note
The following was originally a letter to AMA District XI Vice President Ed McCollough. It is reprinted here with the permission of both parties.
I have been an active AMA member and RC pilot since 1982. When I became an AMA member and first got involved in this wonderful hobby, it was very much a man's world. In the past 14 years, women have made significant headway into areas that were traditionally dominated by men. However, in RC modeling, it is still largely a man's world.
Several weeks ago I was contacted by a gentleman from the AMA, former Public Relations Director Tom Clark. He told me that the AMA was concerned about the lack of women (as well as minorities) involved in modeling and was looking into ways to encourage their participation. I was surprised and gratified that a special effort was being made to address these issues, although I got the impression Tom was looking for a quick solution.
I told him he had an uphill battle, at least as far as women were concerned, and that there really was no quick, easy fix. He did not seem too encouraged by my response, although this was—and is—my honest opinion.
After speaking with Tom, I took a hard look at the latest Model Aviation. After 14 years, I must confess I have become hardened to the subtle and not-so-subtle sexist digs that often appear in the modeling press. Much to my surprise, I did not see a single ad featuring buxom beauties; a great improvement. I also noted, in the Soaring column, pictures of fliers who just happened to be female. This is great. Soaring seems to be leading the way; in the March 1996 issue the entire Radio Control Soaring column is devoted to women in soaring.
What is the best way to get women interested? Accept us. Don't make a big deal out of women fliers. Although I think some articles, like the latest Soaring column, are great, it is even better to just show women involved—not as novelty, but as part of the crowd. Deanna Vignolini said it best: "We just want to fly and get the respect that the other pilots get."
If the AMA is really serious about encouraging the participation of women, there is an issue I feel I must bring to your attention.
There are a couple of features in the modeling magazines that I make an effort never to read, because they raise my blood pressure. "The Modeler's Wife" is one that appears in some other publications. Sadly, "The Microhenrys" appears in our national magazine, Model Aviation.
One of the principal themes in Mr. Henry's cartoons is conflict between men and women over model airplanes. In the very same issue of Model Aviation that featured women in soaring, three of seven cartoons in "The Microhenrys" depict women assaulting or belittling their partners over modeling.
I mentioned my concerns to Mr. Clark, and his response was that some people like "The Microhenrys." I'm sure some people do. However, I feel the message Mr. Henry sends with a large percentage of his cartoons is not encouraging to would-be female modelers.
I was even more concerned when I received an unsolicited book of Mr. Henry's cartoons in the mail with the AMA logo on the front. The AMA logo and the blurb about the AMA in the front of the book give the reader the impression that, true or not, the AMA agrees with the picture of modeling Mr. Henry presents through his cartoons.
Since I have recently made a practice of ignoring "The Microhenrys" in the magazine, I took this opportunity to review the book of 600 cartoons to see if my perception of this feature as sexist and offensive had any statistical basis. I found that:
- 45 (7.5%) of the 600 cartoons depicted men and women in conflict over model airplanes.
- 96 (16%) depicted men and women in his common "us vs. them" configuration, where the men are in the front, flying; the women are standing behind them; and both sides are making snide or belittling comments about the other.
- 11 (1.8%) of the cartoons actually showed women flying. Unfortunately, of these 11, seven depicted the female pilot as a love interest. Two made pointed reference to the fact the flyer was female, and one was outright sexual harassment. The woman flying was shown in a short skirt, unlike all the other women in his cartoons.
I fear Mr. Henry does more harm than good by trying to show women involved in flying. We don't want to be singled out; we just want to fly our airplanes.
I am not a raving feminist. I am an active pattern flier who competes at the national level, and I am a contest director and Leader Member. I have served as a club officer for six of my 14 years as an AMA member—four of those years as president of two different clubs. I currently serve as Vice President of the National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics, District 8. I am an avid supporter of my organization, the AMA.
I am embarrassed by the picture of modeling painted every month by Mr. Henry in the pages of Model Aviation. I do not believe we, as AMA officers and Leader Members, can say we are making an effort to change the attitudes of women toward modeling, and the attitudes of modelers toward women involved in modeling, as long as "The Microhenrys" appears in our national publication. Such contention is the height of hypocrisy.
I am aware of Mr. Henry's long history and many contributions to model aviation and the Academy of Model Aeronautics. However, it is very evident from the self-serving, arrogant, and offensive foreword he chose to include in his book that Mr. Henry lacks sensitivity to the reality of women's place in the activity and to the AMA—he simply doesn't "get it."
I encourage the AMA's efforts to bring our hobby to a larger segment of the population. I would be honored to help in any way I can, if that effort is a serious one. But as long as we show two faces of modeling, how can anyone believe this effort is sincere?
Feel free to share these feelings with the Executive Council. Thanks for all your great work on our behalf.
Joan Anastasio 15618 NE 56th Way Redmond, WA 98052
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
