There is a perception that an RV is a man's toy and that Rving is a man's hobby. Hubby drives, wifey navigates. Maybe once in a while she spells him off at the wheel, but he is still chief pilot.
That image is shifting. According to RVing Women, a website for women RVers, there is "diverse group of women across the U.S. and Canada who enjoy RVing and love to travel."
There are many factors behind the growing number of women who want to see the country through the windows of an RV without husband or family to accompany them:
- death of a spouse
- rising income
- delayed marriage
- divorce
- social change which has reduced taboos on women traveling
A woman and a couple of friends may hop into the RV for a few days away from the stresses of work, spouses, children, housekeeping. A widow may elect to keep the rig and continue a well-loved lifestyle. Whatever the reason, more women seem to be RVing.
Who Are RVing Women?
- RVing Women's 2,500 members cover a wide range in age, interests, and careers, according to their site.
- The age ranges between 20 and 90+; most are between 50 and 70.
- "Many are professional and more than a third are retired or semi-retired."
- Motor homes are the most commonly owned type of RV, followed in order by vans, fifth wheels, travel trailers, tent trailers and campers.
- Some members don't yet own RVs, but are learning and planning for future purchase.
RV Sales and Attitudes to Women
How do RV sales staff treat women in the sales process? Suite101 has over the past few months spoken to several women who have recently purchased or shopped for RVs with or without their husband or boyfriend along. While most reported being treated respectfully, a few comments indicated old-style attitudes especially from male sales staff.
- Being treated as ignorant, as though she knows nothing about RVs or mechanics
- Condescension – as though floor plans and décor were all she would be interested in
- Being ignored, having a salesman talk only to her man friend
- One salesman is reported as saying, "Why don't you come back with your husband and we'll look at these"
Fortunately, these attitudes – guaranteed to drive a woman shopper out of the dealership! – seem to be few and far between.
RV Buying Decisions and Women
Malia Lane, in a column at RVTravel.com, quotes two salesmen at a Seattle RV show about the difference in selling RVs to single women vs. couples.
- "Glenn said that even with couples, the woman is usually still the decision maker. He said of motor homes, 'If you can get women behind the wheel, 90 percent of the selling is done.'"
- Debbie said she tells women "Now's not the time to be wimpy about size, ladies" – that's always good for a chuckle. She tells women it's "so empowering to handle something that big…."
When Women Go RVing
When women do overcome the roadblocks, whether it's antiquated attitudes or their own fear or lack of confidence, the rewards of RVing are theirs. "I love the freedom of being able to go where I want and stay as long as I want," said Darlene, a square dancer and snowbird who travels to Arizona during the winter and parks her rig in a friend's field in Alberta during the summer. "It's a good life."
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