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General Climbing Discussion

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(Institutional) Racism in Climbing? 5-Apr-2011 At 7:47:12 AM Mindtaker

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I think some of the trouble in understanding why other 'races' don't climb is because we don't understand why ours does.

I think it is safe to suggest that the majority of climbers are from middle class backgrounds. Those that are not, at least that I have met, are usually upwardly mobile.

In sociology, there are strong arguments that the middle class in particular are moving away from traditional, collective modes of managing risks and becoming more individualised. This is largely because of neoliberal policies (the breakdown of unions or privatisation of healthcare are good examples).

I argue that this is causing a shift towards positive focus on individualised leisure objectives, ones where the individual, not a group or team, manage the risks.

Other cultures still give greater focus to family/community. Perhaps going away on a month-long trip to climb a pile of rock does not appear as important as being a part of that community? It leads to another question that seems to be avoided (or the answer is assumed): what is so good about going climbing?