By Stevie Nicole Jones
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here are stereotypes and judgmental people everywhere. And at some point, we are all at both ends of that stick. Trust me, I have been on both ends of it. I’ve looked at photos of ladies holding big fish wearing nothing but a tiny triangle over her boobs and thought some super ugly thoughts. And I’ve walked up to tournaments where I know that people have looked at me and thought, silly girl. I have been told that people only want me on their Pro Staff because I’m a pretty girl that likes to fish and it’s an easy way to advertise their product. And when I’ve heard comments like this about me, I think back to the ladies so skimpily dressed and curse them and blame them. But that’s not right of me. Who am I really?
I can tell you that I have zero pictures of myself fishing in a tiny bikini, and I never will. I don’t want to look like a burnt and crispy lobster. We all know the dangers and lasting effects of sun damage. I also have some dignity and self-respect. I have a loving supportive husband and two young boys of my own. I know that through hard work, you can achieve a lot. I would rather my husband’s buddy’s see a picture of me fully clothed and be talking about the fish that I busted my butt to catch than about how hot I am. Same with my boys. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for flaunt what you got. And I know I got some stuff to flaunt. But that’s not what I want to be known for. I’d rather flaunt big fish.
In the winners circle.
What I want out of this experience is to know that everything I accomplish as a lady angler has been from my skills and my ability to compete side by side with the top men anglers. I want to set an example for the young anglers in the making. I want anglers of all aspects to know that this is simply something you can do from hard work and dedication. It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you grew up, what kind of kayak you have, or if you have the best rods and reels on the market! I want to instill confidence in people. With confidence you feel on top of the world no matter what is going on around you. When you believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter what anyone says. And when you have confidence, you can do great things.
We all want to be rewarded in some form or fashion. Some want comments, others want perks and swag. To each their own. I love when I get likes and comments. I live off words of affirmation. It’s what keeps me going. And that is also what has opened my eyes to all that’s going on these days. Every day, I’m added to some new fishing page. I see pictures of almost naked girls that appear to be fishing. This is fueling the fire of stereotyping women and setting a bad example to the young anglers out there. The only thing these women are representing is sex. They are combining eye candy with a manly hobby and setting an example that women in the field are only for entertainment. They are not representing strong women anglers for our daughters or our sons. We should be leading our youth with images of hard work and dedication, not sex. Integrity is what gets you somewhere. Respecting yourself and others is what creates goodness in our society. Why can’t we promote a better image? Let’s show the young men and ladies that look up to us that woman can do great things and not just be around for entertainment. They can look good while fishing. The look they get from the beautiful fish they spent hours on end to catch is far better than the look they get when all anyone is looking at is their boobs.
Day off with a son.
I have been on an amazing journey this year. That is no secret for those that know me. I have made my family proud. My kids think I’m Super Woman. And I have critics. But one thing is for sure: I’ve gained the success that I have from being true to who I am. I have not sought anything from greed or selfishness. I have never sold myself for anything short of my skills. I have always kept my family in mind when opportunity has knocked. And I will remain that way.
Source: Kayak Fishing Blog . . .
