The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution did not specify gender. But, it was only in 1920 that women were allowed to vote, and only after that could they even consider purchasing firearms. This is just one of the many disparities between the rights of men and women.
For the longest time, women were pictured as stay-at-home wives and mothers, fit to clean the house and feed their husbands and children. Carrying guns was out of the question. That picture seems almost a lifetime ago.
Over the last few years, the number of women owning guns has steadily increased. Let’s take a look at how firearm ownership is slowly being de-stigmatized for women and can play a role in empowering them.
The Steady Rise Of Gun Ownership Among Women
Surveys have shown that, as of 2021, 22% of gun owners in the US are women, compared to 40% of male gun owners.
However, statistics concerning new gun owners tell a different story. From 2019 to 2021, women accounted for close to half of new gun purchases. The report was based on the preliminary results of a Harvard study, which showed that 3.5 million women became new gun owners compared to 4 million men.
Moreover, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, in a survey, found that female gun ownership increased by 40% from 2019 to 2020.
Why Are Women Arming Themselves?
Protection is the most commonly cited reason for women owning firearms. Guns are often called the great equalizer, which is particularly true when it comes to women’s safety. Biologically, men are stronger than women, which makes women more vulnerable to violent crimes including assault and rape because of their size and strength.
Women are also more prone to become victims of stalking. Millions of women are stalked every year, with women who are separated or divorced from their partners at a higher risk.
In 2020, A Girl and A Gun (AG & AG) Women’s Shooting League conducted a survey on why more women are buying guns. They found that approximately 34% of the women surveyed cited protection-related reasons, such as fear of riots, mobs, and civil unrest (14%); fear of targeted violence/discrimination (7%), fear of crime (7%), and recent safety or crime experience (6%).
In simple terms, many women own a gun out of sheer necessity.
Men, on the other hand, usually own guns because of their exposure. About 58% of male gun owners go to a gun range and 37% go hunting regularly, while nearly 27% attend gun shows. Although men also say that protection is a major reason they own a gun, it’s just one of the many reasons.
In the same 2020 AG & AG survey mentioned earlier, 12% of men said they bought a gun because they were urged by a family member/friend. Moreover, 4% said they just wanted to try something fun while 3% said they received extra money that prompted them to buy a gun.
Changing Landscape of Female Gun Ownership
Recent statistics have certainly proven that the need to be protected is certainly helping destigmatize female gun ownership. With an increasing number of women buying guns every year, gun designs have also evolved.
To attract women, most are designed to be light and handy, with some even coming in pink color. Some companies have also made it fashionable to carry guns with “carrywear” or outfits designed for women to carry and conceal firearms. The National Rifle Association, the premier gun advocacy group in the US, even organizes an annual concealed carry fashion show.
With the necessity of gun ownership among women, it is also important to note that many women are proud and responsible gun owners. According to AG & AG, 40% of the women surveyed had gun training. A news report also stated that men were responsible for 98% of mass shootings in the US. Of the 40 active shooters in 2020, 35 were male shooters and only three were female. The others were unspecified.
Conclusion
While women have had the right to bear arms since the Second Amendment was established, there was a stigma surrounding female gun ownership for a long time.
That stigma is slowly but surely getting eradicated, proof of which is the growing number of women owning and buying guns in the last few years. With more women getting educated about their rights, one can hope that arbitrary societal standards will no longer stop them from enforcing their rights.
