Ladies, letโs face itโwhen it comes to women and firearms, the myths are endless and the stereotypes are laughable. Apparently, weโre too delicate, too weak, and too feminine to own, train with, or carry a gun. And if we do carry one, we get the sideways glances, the comments like, โBut you donโt look like someone who carries a gun,โ or the oh-so-enlightening advice: โWhy not just carry pepper spray instead?โ
Excuse me? Since when did being prepared for your safety become a personality clash? Since when did personal defense become a men-only club?
Today, weโre going to rip apart three of the most commonโand most ridiculousโmyths women hear about guns:
- That being feminine and being armed donโt mix,
- That pepper spray or a taser is โgood enough,โ and
- That weโre just too weak to rack the slide of a semi-automatic handgun.
Grab your holster, ladies, because weโre about to dismantle these lies faster than you can say “loaded and ready.”
Myth 1: You Canโt Be Feminine and Own a Gun
Ah yes, the tired trope that femininity and firearms are mutually exclusive. As if your favorite pink lipstick and a Glock canโt exist in the same purse. Letโs clear something up right now: being feminine is not the opposite of being fierce. You can wear heels, paint your nails, and still outshoot the guy next to you at the range. Owning a gun doesnโt mean you have to give up what makes you you.
Hereโs the truth: femininity is power, and power is preparedness. Carrying a firearm isnโt about fitting into someone elseโs box of what a โgun ownerโ should look like. Itโs about being confident enough to say, โI value my life, and Iโm willing to protect it.โ
In fact, more women are proving this every day. Weโre showing up at the range in yoga pants, work boots, or dresses whatever we feel like and shooting with precision and confidence. Guns donโt have a dress code. And the next time someone says you donโt โlook the part,โ remind them that safety isnโt a fashion statement.
So whether youโre rocking designer bags or concealed carry purses, lace or leather, you can and should show up exactly as yourself. The ultimate accessory? Confidence.
Myth 2: You Donโt Need a Gun If You Have Pepper Spray or a Taser
Hereโs a question: if pepper spray is so effective, why donโt people tell men to carry it? Why is it only women who get the โjust carry pepper sprayโ speech? Youโll rarely hear someone tell a 6โ2โ guy to rely on a can of mist or a plastic shock stick. Nopeโmen are encouraged to arm themselves with firearms because itโs practical, effective, and deadly when it needs to be. But for women? Somehow, weโre told to be โmore delicateโ about it.
That logic is not only outdated, itโs dangerous. Women face a physical disadvantage in almost every violent encounter. Weโre usually smaller, lighter, and not as strong as our attacker. Thatโs not weaknessโitโs biology. And itโs exactly why a firearm is our weapon. Guns bridge the gap. They put us on equal ground.
Telling women to โjust carry pepper sprayโ suggests that our lives are worth less, that we donโt deserve the same tools to protect ourselves. Itโs backwards thinking, and we need to call it out. Because hereโs the truth:
- Guns Work: A firearm doesnโt rely on brute strength, proximity, or pain tolerance. It stops a deadly threat. Period.
- We Are Not Fragile: Thereโs nothing inappropriate about a woman carrying a gun. Thereโs something empowering about it.
- The Disparity is Real: Men donโt need a gun because theyโre fragile. They carry one because it works. Women deserve the same advantage.
Hereโs the bottom line: violence isnโt fair, and life doesnโt come with timeouts. The tools we carry are what can level the playing field. Men carry guns without question because it makes sense. Women should too because when push comes to shove, a gun is a womanโs weapon.
Myth 3: Women Arenโt Strong Enough to Rack a Slide
This one might be my favorite because, honestly, itโs insulting on every level. Women give birth. Women lift children, groceries, furniture, and sometimes entire families. And youโre telling me weโre too weak to rack a slide? Please.
Hereโs the deal: if youโve ever struggled to rack a slide, it has nothing to do with your strengthโitโs all about technique. Most women who think they canโt rack the slide are trying to โmuscle itโ with brute force instead of working smarter.
Hereโs the quick fix:
- Instead of pulling the slide back with just your fingers, use your whole hand. Grip the slide firmly, push forward with your strong hand (the one holding the gun), and pull back with your support hand in a smooth motion.
- If thatโs not working, consider a handgun designed with an easier-to-rack slide. Manufacturers like Smith & Wesson and Sig Sauer offer options specifically for shooters who need a bit less resistance.
- Train those hands. Dry fire practice, using snap caps, or even squeezing a stress ball can strengthen your grip and make racking that slide a breeze.
Confidence comes from doing. Once you master the technique, youโll wonder why you ever thought racking a slide was an issue. And when someone tries to tell you otherwise? Invite them to the range and outshoot them. Problem solved.
Final Thoughts: Break the Myths, Own Your Power
The myths about women and guns have been around for far too long, and itโs time we shut them down once and for all. Whether youโre a first-time shooter or an experienced carrier, remember this: your safety, your preparedness, and your empowerment are yours alone.
You can be as feminine as you want while carrying a gun. You can choose the right tool for the job and know that your safety deserves more than second-best. And you can absolutely rack that slide with confidenceโno excuses, no doubts, no limits.
So letโs keep busting myths, taking up space at the range, and proving every day that women belong in this world of firearms. We arenโt just showing upโweโre showing out.
And trust me, nothing looks better than a confident woman who knows sheโs got her safety handled.
Related article : 5 Reasons why every woman should learn to shoot
