I've been interested in survival training for quite awhile but right now all my extra money has been stashed into savings to fund my relocation back to the east coast to be near my family (currently on the west coast). I just got a job offer a few days ago so I'll be heading to Va in about 2 weeks. Once I'm settled in, I want to seriously focus on it.

I read the other survival topics here but it seems to be mostly men and I don't really feel comfortable joining in the conversations. So I just try to learn as much as possible. But I know I need the hands-on experience. I had a guy friend living with me for awhile and he was a survivalist and I felt safe with him around but he had an occasional drunken rant every now and then that required police intervention so I had to get rid of him.

So I'm on my own with 2 pets and that's why I want to be closer to the family. But finding some other people that I can talk with and learn from would be great... both men and women.


[edit on 5-7-2008 by annestacey]

Originally posted by annestaceyI read the other survival topics here but it seems to be mostly men and I don't really feel comfortable joining in the conversations.

There are lots of survival forums. Remember online no one knows who you are, choose a nick that sounds male, or does not define gender and then maybe you can feel comfortable joining in.

May the Gods bless you lass!

Go forth an learn the ways & arts of survival.


Bring lots of friends.

Hi im a guy and was just reading through your post i believe in survivalism myself and salute anyone with a get up and go attitude but cant always understand why people equate that with going into the wilds and camping. Especially in the uk there just isnt enough wilds to be had to really get away from the masses. Personally i think its more realistic to yes get out of the cities but you would probably find yourself in a small town or village where social skills would play a prominent role so this is where i base where i would survive some of the skills you suggested would still be really useful in that situation though of course everything depends on what sort of sitx event unfolds good luck in any event its a good idea to make contacts so good luck with your girl group.

great thread!!..... im a 25 year old fem from the uk... was born in northampton so not to far from you!

i too am very interested in survivalism, i often fear i would not fair well in a survival situation, due to my lack of experience, because although i love camping, i do love my shower blocks with the hairdryers!...

...on a serious note, i have an 8 year old son, me and my mum rent together along with my teenage sister, we are all single, so in an emergency ''get out and head for the hills'' type situation, it would just be us women, which unfortunately i think would make us vunerable... (no offence to the guys)..

....im still working on my survival kit, but id be useless with big tools and even putting up a tent!! so i hope this thread progresses because i think its a great idea!!

Sorry for jumping in here girls but a guy here with a few thoughts for every one .

Our family there was very little division of labor growing up . Male or female did the job that needed done dig a ditch plant garden shoot a deer or skin it . Mom and Grand maw could both shoot better than most men we went hunting with . I remember times a heard of deer would be spooked out Grand Maw would shoot and kill a deer hand the rifle to Mom and she would kill one as well .

We camped out a lot. Some times we went on a family camping trip 2 + weeks minimal supplies basically the current bug out bags have more in them than what we took. Knifes guns string fishing line and hooks canteen clothes hand ax some rope a few staples crackers bread and spices the pots and pans were optional and matches were a luxury . And we didn't lose weight we ate decent . God I wish i could remember all the things grand paw taught me 40 years ago. In my 20s and to the 40s i didn't think it would come in handy I was so wrong now I am trying to recreate these lessons with my family .

Grand paw would gather berries roots with the girls . And the females would hunt fish and gather wood along side the men .Out side of the basic biological differences men physical stronger and female child birth thats is far as it goes.

My 2 cents men get off your high horse about females in survival situations , and females take your rightfully place beside the males .

Chew, if you really want to survive then you do it by being with people you know like your family and friends. When the brown stuff truly hits the fan it wont be no fun being with a group of strangers each looking to fight for themselves. Try and find like minded relatives and friends and then gradually adding outsiders otherwise all you will end up with is a camping trip in the woods.

Survival is just not about skills its about sustainability, too many think its about having big guns and little else. Imagine you and your family had to survive in any environment and then make plans to how you will bring this about.

I personally have been stock piling supplies for along time, I have started growing lots of fruit and veg, have back up fuel supplies etc. Forget the camping in the woods crap you will learn little about survival doing that.

Originally posted by magicmushroom
Chew, if you really want to survive then you do it by being with people you know like your family and friends. When the brown stuff truly hits the fan it wont be no fun being with a group of strangers each looking to fight for themselves. Try and find like minded relatives and friends and then gradually adding outsiders otherwise all you will end up with is a camping trip in the woods.

Survival is just not about skills its about sustainability, too many think its about having big guns and little else. Imagine you and your family had to survive in any environment and then make plans to how you will bring this about.

I personally have been stock piling supplies for along time, I have started growing lots of fruit and veg, have back up fuel supplies etc. Forget the camping in the woods crap you will learn little about survival doing that.

Anyone who is a true survivalist knows it is not just about having "big guns and little else". It's about being able to survive with the "little else". When i was growing up my dad taught me how to survive in the wild with nothing, not even a knife. Learn those skills and you will have no problems.

Fact is in situation x the scariest predators will be human males. Your best allies in survival, among strangers, will also be human males (they can lift heavy stuff and have an advantage when fending off human predators).

Okay at first it may be each person for themselves....but after the worst is over things will revert to old school gender defined tasks for the majority of the few survivors. But don't get too excited boys, some may like to think domineering women are a new phemonia...but they aren't.

[edit on 5-7-2008 by Sonya610]

This is a good thread, hopefully you can get more women aware of learning survival skills. In my opinion EVERYONE should know them. I myself don't give a sh!t if your a man or a woman, if you have the skill and your not going to be a liability, then your welcome in my group. People take women for granted, but don't realise there was a reason the ninja trained women to be assassins. Smaller frames and usually more quiet than a man. They could do things that men never could!

The problem for most who think of survival is that they lack the imagination to look at the bigger picture. Its always about fending off the dangeorus people etc., surviving in the woods and all the rest of it.

Well how about this, imagine a situation where your confined to your home, martial law etc. no gas no electric, no water very litle food, and very little if any medical help what do you do how will you and your family survive.

Many people who have been affected by recent natural disasters have faced just such a scenario what did they do to survive?

Originally posted by magicmushroom
Many people who have been affected by recent natural disasters have faced just such a scenario what did they do to survive?

True, many have faced bad situations. But realize in some areas martial law was NOT required, in some areas of the country robbing/killing/raping ones neighbor is not the first thing that crosses people's minds.

Not argueing with you, just pointing out that some areas are a lot more dangerous than others.

I think a female based survivalist group is an excellent idea. There are many single women w/ and w/out children all over the country and world who need a plan and support group to prepare for such a potential situation, but don't know how to go about it. I am one of those women. I want to be prepared for a sitx plan but I know in order for such a plan to be sucessful you need to form a group of like-minded people, and it's difficult for single women to connect with groups like that, which are ofter male dominated. We all need to connect and be a part of a group we can trust with our and our children's lives. That's why I think it's essential that single women, with or without children, group together to protect and support ourselves, our families and each other in an emdeavor such as this. If anyone out there has or is intersted in forming an internet group like that and creating regional chapters, I would like to be a part of that. If anyone would like to discuss this further, please u2u me and let's talk. Women who are facing an uncertain future can help each other become more empowered and less vulnerable in these uncertain times.

Thank your starting this thread. This is an issue that is very important to me as I'm sure it is to many other women.

Hi I'm a 38yr old female. I live outside Memphis, TN. and have been around this board for a while but finally signed up to be a member.
I'm very creative and I never do anything the easy way first.

Ladies don't forget to look way back on the ATS survival forums. there is a lot of knowledge stored here that works for both males and females.

Also a lot of us on ATS have links in our signature to our favorite knowledge sites. its a resource you don't want to over look.

One more thing. Look up a ATS member by the name of julesmac8 She is one heck of a female survivalist. She is also a moderator of my survival site. She is very determined and I am proud to call her friend.

Whether I am with men or women it doesn't bother me, my only fear is getting a yeast infection when I'm out in the woods