Why don't women get it?

[annebends]

Well, here's one from one of the few girls here.

I am a real newbie at the whole audio equipment thing. I got into it because of my last boyfriend who had a fabulous collection of tubes, speakers, etc. I just loved the way it all sounded and how lovely those tubes looked as they glowed in the dark. We played lots and lots of his incredible records - 78s, 45s and LPs. At one time, I was a semi-pro musician, so I have always been interested in music but hadn't given audio equipment any thought at all. I am very grateful that he turned me on to audio in this way.

Now that we're no longer together, I am trying to learn a little more so I can maybe assemble a nice bunch of stuff myself that will yield all of that rather glorious sound.

As for why women don't tinker like many of you do...no one has talked about gender expectations. While I think that younger folks have fewer gender stereotypes, it's still sort of "expected" that guys will be "into" certain things and not girls. Some of you may have hung around with your dads or other male relatives while they did some of those things...fixing cars, tinkering around the house, etc. Any girl that did those things would have been considered very odd. It wasn't encouraged and not considered "feminine." Fortunately, this is changing...but I still think those expectations still exist.

...now if I can just get this damn record player to work...

 

[just dave]

Welcome Aboard

 

[terra1]

alert! alert! ... rant ahead ...

Well, here's one from one of the few girls here.

I am a real newbie at the whole audio equipment thing. I got into it because of my last boyfriend who had a fabulous collection of tubes, speakers, etc. I just loved the way it all sounded and how lovely those tubes looked as they glowed in the dark. We played lots and lots of his incredible records - 78s, 45s and LPs. At one time, I was a semi-pro musician, so I have always been interested in music but hadn't given audio equipment any thought at all. I am very grateful that he turned me on to audio in this way.

Now that we're no longer together, I am trying to learn a little more so I can maybe assemble a nice bunch of stuff myself that will yield all of that rather glorious sound.

As for why women don't tinker like many of you do...no one has talked about gender expectations. While I think that younger folks have fewer gender stereotypes, it's still sort of "expected" that guys will be "into" certain things and not girls. Some of you may have hung around with your dads or other male relatives while they did some of those things...fixing cars, tinkering around the house, etc. Any girl that did those things would have been considered very odd. It wasn't encouraged and not considered "feminine." Fortunately, this is changing...but I still think those expectations still exist.

...now if I can just get this damn record player to work...

Thanks for the perspective.

It's easy to blame wiring. It's easy to make sweeping stereotypes of a whole gender instead of individuals. It's easy to limit our truth only by what we see. Which is why the title made me cringe. But if this thread brings some depth to look at the other side for anyone for a moment, then it may have been worth it.

But your explanation certainly allows that women are capable and can make choices and gain skills if mentored or encouraged.

I think I have been trying to restrain myself a bit because of the recent cop killings in Washington where a female officer was wounded and whose partner was killed in a patrol car. She radioed it in and emptied her gun into the fleeing vehicle. Or the cold-blooded assassination of 4 cops in a coffee shop where one victim was a woman. During the memorial she was shown as a tough but loving feminine mother. The Ft. Hood shooting where a female police officer put herself in the line of fire and helped take down the shooter. Let alone the many military female who have died in Iraq.

And all we have to do is look at history. Woman kept the nation going in construction and factory jobs during the World Wars.

Somehow, the cute musing about women not getting it or being wired differently, just seemed so shallow and ignorant in that light. That somehow women can't handle themselves in non-traditional roles. Or less than we manly men because they just don't get our hobby.

 

[virak]

The percentage of audiophiles (as in interested in getting really good sound on whatever your budget is) amongst the male sex is not that big, and women are in general simply not as interested in joining the gear merry-go-round as men are, but some women do indeed "get it", though.

 

[annebends]

@ Dave...thanks. @terra1 - yes, sweeping generalizations are never good and the title of this thread did make me cringe too. Nothing is ever as simple as it looks, including the reasons why folks may or may not do things. As the culture loosens its grip on what's "feminine" behavior and what's "masculine" behavior, things will change. @ virak.. amen to that.

 

[subwoofwoof]

Well, here's one from one of the few girls here.

I am a real newbie at the whole audio equipment thing. I got into it because of my last boyfriend who had a fabulous collection of tubes, speakers, etc. I just loved the way it all sounded and how lovely those tubes looked as they glowed in the dark. We played lots and lots of his incredible records - 78s, 45s and LPs. At one time, I was a semi-pro musician, so I have always been interested in music but hadn't given audio equipment any thought at all. I am very grateful that he turned me on to audio in this way.

Now that we're no longer together, I am trying to learn a little more so I can maybe assemble a nice bunch of stuff myself that will yield all of that rather glorious sound.

As for why women don't tinker like many of you do...no one has talked about gender expectations. While I think that younger folks have fewer gender stereotypes, it's still sort of "expected" that guys will be "into" certain things and not girls. Some of you may have hung around with your dads or other male relatives while they did some of those things...fixing cars, tinkering around the house, etc. Any girl that did those things would have been considered very odd. It wasn't encouraged and not considered "feminine." Fortunately, this is changing...but I still think those expectations still exist.

...now if I can just get this damn record player to work...

+10

My female perspective as well. Many times people "don't get it" is because they've not been introduced to it or shown the "fun" side of something. I'm learning, or at least trying to, and thanks to MANY on this sight, my education is coming along quite nicely!

I do appreciate the end result more than the mechanics, and the visual aspects are also important. But like Stacy said, I don't have an interest in refurbing any equipment. Just not my cup-o-tea!

 

[Freedom]

I have asked my wife to read this thread & comment.

Watch for her comments within the next few days.

My wifes name is Lori.


I can't wait to read it myself.


Happy Listening!

 

[catch 22]

Well......some of them "get it" somewhat, my girlfriend has been living with me for almost a year now. She REALLY likes the sound of my system (Mitsubishi seperates) and wanted one of my recievers and a set of speakers for herself (became livingroom system) so "she" now has a Marantz 2240 a pair of Sansui SP-X8700's and she added a Toshiba CD/DVD and of coarse an I pod dock......but hey I was able to justify buying another reciever for the one I "lost" to her and it's neat that she is getting into it, she actually wanted to e-bay her own reciever, she ended up with a mint Harman Kardon 75+ quad unit....I told her she NEEDED another pair of speakers 'cause she got a QUAD unit so now she is looking for a pair of Dynacos (she likes mine) of coarse I'll tell her the Dynacos don't MATCH the Sui's so she'll need to "upgrade" to another pair of them or some other nice vintage speaks.....you see where I'm leading her?

 

[Old1625]

I'll still refuse to make such generalization. But my late GF took one look at my stereo and said she didn't want to hear it--don't bother to turn it on. She appreciated the work I must have put into it, but she wanted no part of it. OK.

But that doesn't mean that the next female is going to be like that. I've seen a general disinclination in general by the females among us as regards this stuff, but I'm still trying to keep an open mind.