Don't get me wrong I love most of what Pax has to say. She has a great website and knows her stuff but in her quest to make things not about gender too often she makes it about gender.
She overlooks the fact that there are differences in shooters and that some of those differences can be gender specific or related. She brings attention to the gender issue too often without addressing the questions asked.
99% of the time people are simply looking for knowledge and are trying to give enough info so that others can make meaningful recommendations. Turning every what is a good gun for my wife/girlfriend/mother thread into a gender war is fruitless IMHO.
We would be much better off ignoring the gender equation and focus on the question by asking questions about the prospective shooter/owner which are not gender specific. Things like:
- What is the intended use for the pistol. Range/Gungames/Self Defense/Combo etc...
- What size handgun are you/they looking at Fullsized/semi-compact/compact/micro-pocket gun and why.
- If not listed caliber preference and why.
- Description of hands... Large/small? Long or short fingers?
- Strength: Including upper body and hand strength
- If Carrying what method of carry... on the body holster or bag.
- Handgun experience... Any formal or informal training.
- What guns have they/you shot before and what did they/you like and dislike about them.
- How often will the perspective shooter shoot?
This is just the tip of the iceberg but asking these questions without worrying about the gender markers more sense to me than drawing more attention or expressing outrage at the mention of gender. YMMV
