I would like to point out one thing: female shooters who are interested in firearms such that they'll go into shops and shows on their own, are incredibly rare in my experience.
Hi, my name is Sara and I buy guns without male oversight.
But, sometimes my husband tags along. It's easier to navigate a gun show when there's someone to help with the kid (especially now that she is tall enough to reach the tabletops laden with knives
), and after all, I married the guy. We like spending time together.
That I don't always go to stores and shows alone simply means I don't like being alone. It doesn't mean I am not alone because I am not comfortable enough, competant enough, or interested enough to go alone.
Hm, ok, guns we have purchased:
Rossi matched pair: bought by me, alone, from gun shop. Sexist morons. I shoulda' walked, but I was intimidated by my first gun purchase and thought I couldn't expect better.
870 Wingmaster: bought by me, alone, birtday gift for husband. Gander Mountain. Nice guys, good price. I don't like the gun, but then it wasn't for me, and he likes it.
S&W model 59: no one bought it. Wedding gift from my best friend to my husband.
Benelli Montefeltro: bought by me, alone, from a guy on a shotgun forum.
Marlin model 60: Bought by me, alone, from a small gun shop. Nice guys. In shopping for that gun, I found a local gun store whose door I will never darken again for reasons of sexist bs and general moronitude.
Mosin m91/30: Bought by us, for us, picked out by me because I'd done a bit more research. Bought this one at a gun show. He treated me and us fine. Maybe a bit paternal, but he was aobut fifty years older than me and I was all excited about my pretty new mil-surp, so it was cool.
Hm, so our ratio on gun buys: Her-4, Him-0, Them-1.
Maybe we're weird. *shrug*
But given our experience, maybe rethink that if a woman is with a man in a shop/show she is tagging along.
Oddly, we are spot on with the gender stereotypes: I like to do the shopping.