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Women in the Outdoors Programme Breaks Barriers in Male-Dominated Sports

From climbing gyms to mountain peaks, women are redefining their place in the outdoors. One university programme is leading the charge—with grit, resilience, and 17 miles of Arizona desert.

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2 min read
The image shows two women running in a marathon on a city street, surrounded by a group of people...
The image shows two women running in a marathon on a city street, surrounded by a group of people standing on the ground, a fence, a banner with some text on it, some poles, plants, a building with windows, and a cloudy sky. Both women are wearing sports uniforms and footwear.

Women in the Outdoors Programme Breaks Barriers in Male-Dominated Sports

Women continue to face challenges in outdoor sports despite growing participation. In 2021, indoor climbing alone attracted 5.6 million people, with 42% being women. Yet barriers persist, from cultural stereotypes to underrepresentation in leadership roles.

At Grand Canyon University, the Women in the Outdoors (WIO) programme is working to change this. The initiative aims to break down obstacles and prepare women to lead with confidence in the outdoor industry.

The gap between men and women in outdoor sports remains noticeable. A 2024 survey by Climbing Magazine found that 76% of women climbers reported being underestimated due to their gender. Another 65% felt uncomfortable in climbing gyms, compared to just 29% of men. These attitudes extend beyond climbing—only one-third of indoor climbing coaches and one-fifth of routesetters are women. In mountain guiding, the numbers are even lower, with fewer than 2% of International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations guides and about 8% of American Mountain Guides Association certified guides being women.

Historical milestones also highlight the disparity. Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest in 1975—22 years after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent. Progress is being made, though. In 2025, Brooke Raboutou set a new women's sport climbing record at 5.15c, closing the performance gap at the elite level.

The WIO programme at Grand Canyon University takes a hands-on approach to empowering women. It runs over two semesters, starting with a camping trip focused on teamwork and goal-setting. Monthly events follow, including hiking, training, and climbing, all designed to build skills and resilience. Recently, programme leaders Hannah Lanchbury and Kate Halverson guided seven young women on a demanding three-day backpacking trip through Arizona's Superstition Mountains, covering 17 miles of rugged terrain in extreme heat.

The initiative's goal is clear: to develop the next generation of female leaders in the outdoor industry. By lowering entry barriers and fostering confidence, the programme hopes to create lasting change.

The WIO programme's efforts come at a time when women's participation in outdoor activities is rising but still lags behind men's. While indoor climbing saw nearly half of its participants as women in 2021, broader outdoor engagement shows a gap—51.9% of American women took part in outdoor activities in 2024, compared to 63% of men. Programmes like WIO aim to shift these numbers by providing support, training, and leadership opportunities for women in the outdoors.

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