The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition is launching an advocacy program aimed in part at ensuring more women land positions at the top of the outdoor, snowsports and cycling industries and earn equal pay for equal work.


The OIWC was formed in 1995 and now includes 1,500 members in the outdoor, snowsports and bicycle industries. In the coming six months its new advocacy program will focus on letting companes in the outdoor, snowsports and cycling industries know that OIWC is tackling gender issues in the industry, and to raise funds to support this program. This will include a series of gatherings at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Interbike, October regional events, online, via press releases, and more. The program will:



  • Identify the gender-related issues in the outdoor industries
  • Educate the industry on these issues;
  • Provide a venue through which individual and companies can ask questions, build a network, and find solutions to these issues, creating open and honest dialogue around sensitive topic;
  • Work with the industry to implement solutions by showcasing best practices and case studies; hosting workshops, forums and keynote speakers, helping companies build Womens Leadership programs, and more


For 2012, OIWC has defined the first steps in the advocacy program as research, research, and then more research. After conducting comprehensive surveys in the outdoor, bike and snowsports industries, OIWC (and the entire industry) will have a solid understanding of what the big issues are. Then, OIWC will work with the industries to find and implement solutions to these issues.



Based on past OIWC studies and research from outside of the outdoor industries, we do know that while women have made great strides in the workplace, the vision of Respect, Inclusion and Gender Equality has not been reached. Issues that OIWC will tackle through the Advocacy Program include:



  • Equal pay for equal work
  • Under-representation of women at higher-level and higher-paying jobs
  • Sexual harassment
  • The need for workplaces to provide support and flexibility so working mothers and fathers can stay in the workforce (and be supported) after having children
  • Communication/leadership styles of men and women

In addition to research, OIWC will also address advocacy in the following ways in 2012:



  • Host a keynote speaker at trade shows, providing inspiration and motivation from top female executives in our industry and beyond
  • Add an advocacy center to our website
  • Extend the OIWC Executive Roundtable to also include an advisory meeting with the leaders in each industry