What is it about our hobby/passion that makes it so male-dominated?

[---------]

Why are there so few women that are interested in audio-video equipment? How many women buy the AVSA magazine and/or contribute to this forum? Are women simply not interested in hifi or does the dominance of males in the industry repel them? Although women seems to be disinterested in hifi, they do have an impact on sales. A quote from Audioholics website: "According to research studies conducted by several companies, such as Sony, Apple, Nintendo, McIntosh, Pioneer and many others among the Consumer Electronics Market, 50-63% of women have the final say and power for purchase, but for some reason they are not engaged like men in consumer electronics. One of the top 10 sales reps in the second largest Sony selling store in the country, Ms. Molly Gibson, focused on women in the CE world and the percentage of their purchases.  Her data also showed 63% of women have the final input in consumer electronics purchases.. She used this information and made Sony’s sales sky rocket and influenced a new marketing strategy targeted to women and men alike".

[BigWoodenSpoon]

Why are there so few women that are interested in audio-video equipment?

For the same reason the are so few men interested in knitting clubs 

[d0dja]

An interesting question ... the auto industry has been wrestling with it for decades. Women control the majority of sales (inasmuch as they often make the final call either because it's their car, or if a couple their choice drives the selection), but almost never buy car mags or read car sites.

I suspect one big aspect is that women buy a lot of consumer electronics, but are only really interested in what it does for them - does it provide the functionality and features they want, is it styled to their taste? They are not terribly interested in the techie nitty gritty and specifications which men love. So men will endlessly debate and compare their tech, women will go into a shop, pick on they like, buy it, and use it.

~R

[Rodney_gold]

I will willingly bet that the women who make the final decisions base their decisions on funds availibilty and aesthetics , im pretty sure they dont actually "choose" the item , thats the mans job , the woman is just there for the validation.
At any rate , I would hate a partner that has a hifi interest , I mean , who sleeps on the wet--erm sweet spot? who listens to what ? and who chooses the next upgrade and do you really want to listen to the Barbara streisand complete 27cd set? I like my partner to be ignorant of my hobbies and to give me the space and time to indulge. We work at home on a tit for tat basis , she got a louis the 15th bathroom I can't take a p-e in and I got a BIG credit for more hifi... I got a new corvette and she got a new washing machine and tumble drier - fair's fair of course

[d0dja]

Jayzuz. Is it 1955 already?

[chipwelder]

Think the validation thing is spot-on, and when making large purchases men often want the "OK" from partners because it makes it feel less selfish... It is strange that most of us seem to need it...

[Stefan]

This may sound a bit chauvinist, but generally I find that women don't have any hobbies.
If you take shopping for clothes and shoes, yes. Otherwise they are pretty boring creatures.
They don't collect music, stamps, toys, model cars, etc. They don't pursue anything with great interest other than what celebs do in a heat or you magazine.

Yes, there are a few who read, have interest in language or history, and do some photography, scuba diving, playing music etc. But hobbies, IMO are mostly reserved for men.

*flame suite on*

[BigWoodenSpoon]

This may sound a bit chauvinist, but generally I find that women don't have any hobbies.
If you take shopping for clothes and shoes, yes. Otherwise they are pretty boring creatures.
They don't collect music, stamps, toys, model cars, etc. They don't pursue anything with great interest other than what celebs do in a heat or you magazine.

Yes, there are a few who read, have interest in language or history, and do some photography, scuba diving, playing music etc. But hobbies, IMO are mostly reserved for men.

*flame suite on*

Either you've been married for a long time or are soon to be divorced 

[Stefan]

single and loving it(most of the time)

[Rodney_gold]

Women have no time for hobbys , they need to cook , clean , look after and schlep kids , look after hubby , get a job to pay for the mans luxuries and general household expenses  , take the garbage out , oversee the pool ppl and the garden service, learn pole and belly dancing  and so on...  

[chipwelder]

I find their hobbies sound like work to me... gardening, mosaicing, health, children...

[GearSlave]

Women have no time for hobbys , they need to cook , clean , look after and schlep kids , look after hubby , get a job to pay for the mans luxuries and general household expenses  , take the garbage out , oversee the pool ppl and the garden service, learn pole and belly dancing  and so on...  

Agreed, we don't want them distracted from what should be important in their lives.

[BigWoodenSpoon]

Agreed, we don't want them distracted from what should be important in their lives.

Do you prefer red or yellow flowers on your tombstone ?

[Stefan]

Do you prefer red or yellow flowers on your tombstone ?

is your wife by any chance wearing the pants in the relationship?

[BigWoodenSpoon]

is your wife by any chance wearing the pants in the relationship?

Thats what I let her believe