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Why is good audio a man thing?

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Wow, what dank hell was this thread dug up from? I wish I hadn't read it.

How many times have I walked up to a couple of guys discussing computers, cars, stereos, whatever "guy" thing and tried to join in on the discussion, only to get a "What do YOU know about it, little girl?" attitude. More times than I can count. There's outright hostility when it comes out that I know something about these subjects that, as a girl, I should not care about.

Clearly this is an established gender norm and we're all pressured by society to obey it. It's sad, really. But a good percentage of the men I've encountered act as if I am treading upon some sacred ground and HOW DARE I? And some of the women I know think I'm into it just to steal their boyfriends. It's amazingly controversial for a woman to be into a "man thing", more than I think most of you realize.

I'm certainly not saying that's the sole reason there aren't more women into audio. I'm just interested in pointing out the attitude, demonstrated multiple times in this very thread that might turn them off. Unfortunately I don't think that the people who actually want more women in audio are the problem.
 
I am not convinced it is a man thing but depends on the environment and business plan. When I had my stores, one was located in a college town where the college at the time was all female. I noticed a trend in the store where when the staff was female there was a majority of component sales to women but when the boys were on duty, there were virtually no sales other tan from the record bins.

I did some time observing the store from the outside and questioned some of the women who would go in when the guys were on duty and came out empty handed. It turned they were willing to buy but the sales men did not know how to close a sale involving women and were throwing off sexist vibes. A number of the women still wanted to buy but felt they needed their boyfriends to get past the issues and concentrate on the sale. As a group I found they were more practical and could discern sonic differences better than most guys while not being as impressed with a zillion knobs and buttons nor into the power wars.

The manager of the store was a female as well as the top salespersons and we had several discussions about this problem. We finally came up with an outline for training the guys to forget the skirts and make the sales and it worked with a number of them.
 
I think its ridiculous to stereotype gender in any way. Its the same mentality that led us as a nation into some dark corners in our past. My wife ,although not technically savvy, is on me every day almost to get the Scott 299c back into rotation and get the Yamaha SS quote"out of here!". 'nough said, we'll do baby!
 
It is sad but also still true. So I say steal their boyfriends AND enjoy the stereo conversations!

Tinamonster said:
Wow, what dank hell was this thread dug up from? I wish I hadn't read it.

How many times have I walked up to a couple of guys discussing computers, cars, stereos, whatever "guy" thing and tried to join in on the discussion, only to get a "What do YOU know about it, little girl?" attitude. More times than I can count. There's outright hostility when it comes out that I know something about these subjects that, as a girl, I should not care about.

Clearly this is an established gender norm and we're all pressured by society to obey it. It's sad, really. But a good percentage of the men I've encountered act as if I am treading upon some sacred ground and HOW DARE I? And some of the women I know think I'm into it just to steal their boyfriends. It's amazingly controversial for a woman to be into a "man thing", more than I think most of you realize.

I'm certainly not saying that's the sole reason there aren't more women into audio. I'm just interested in pointing out the attitude, demonstrated multiple times in this very thread that might turn them off. Unfortunately I don't think that the people who actually want more women in audio are the problem.
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Lately my house has been in a state of disarray and my GF is bugging me to get it back into shape so that we can have our music and movie nights again.

She likes the good sound but has no desire herself to have a bunch of gear. That said, I have no doubts there are some serious audiophile and or gearophile gals out there. That's fine by me, I've just never personally met one.
 
This is the kind of discussion that can get sexist fast. But it seems unavoidable. At the risk of seeming sexist, yes, I've noticed this too, and I've wondered what the explanation can be. Especially considering how fussy women in my life have been (ex-wife and current gf) about many things, it puzzles me why they aren't also fussy about audio stuff. Case in point, my gf was listening to her digital files through a decent enough subwoofer and speaker system (made for computers) but ONE SPEAKER WAS OUT! She'd been listening to it like this for years. She'd complain once in a while, oh, it would be nice to hear this through both speakers, but she never bothered replacing the speaker. Finally, feeling sorry for her (and a bit guilty over all the coin I'd spilled on my audio stuff in recent months), I bought her a whole new system and surprised her with it as a gift. She was grateful and likes the system but I haven't heard much since, like, gee, it's nice to have two speakers again. Very nonplussed.

Another case in point, after my now ex-wife was recovering from labor with our first child, I took a break and went out and got something to eat--and stopped at the audio store to pick out a new turntable. She couldn't understand why this was such a priority that I had to do it just then. But I guess that's a different story.
 
I guess it's a lot of those reasons (except anything sexist), but I have to ask "why". Why is it that way? Why should it be? I would like to see more females involved in the hobby if they so desire. We guys could learn a thing or two from them at some point. They have a different veiw and that could help. Might help our wallets in some cases as well.
We recently had a really nice young lady getting into the hobby for the first time visit and ask questions here on AK and it was a pleasure being involved in helping her out. (Too bad this is such a rare thing). She also started a couple of really good fun threads. Haven't seen her in a while, but I hope she is enjoying her gear and will visit again some time.
 
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Tinamonster said:
Wow, what dank hell was this thread dug up from? I wish I hadn't read it.

How many times have I walked up to a couple of guys discussing computers, cars, stereos, whatever "guy" thing and tried to join in on the discussion, only to get a "What do YOU know about it, little girl?" attitude. More times than I can count. There's outright hostility when it comes out that I know something about these subjects that, as a girl, I should not care about.

Clearly this is an established gender norm and we're all pressured by society to obey it. It's sad, really. But a good percentage of the men I've encountered act as if I am treading upon some sacred ground and HOW DARE I? And some of the women I know think I'm into it just to steal their boyfriends. It's amazingly controversial for a woman to be into a "man thing", more than I think most of you realize.

I'm certainly not saying that's the sole reason there aren't more women into audio. I'm just interested in pointing out the attitude, demonstrated multiple times in this very thread that might turn them off. Unfortunately I don't think that the people who actually want more women in audio are the problem.
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Don't pay any attention to those types Tinamonster you just keep on keeping on! I'm delighted to know your around here. I think it's great that you enjoy this hobby and your welcome anytime into this so-called "man hobby". Hobbies are hobbies and open to all regardless of gender and such.
 
js1138 said:
The simple fact is that you don't need the best and most expensive equipment in order to hear the music.

Money should be conserved for important things, like shoes.
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Don't forget the purses. I was shocked to find out how much one can go for. More than what I paid for the pioneer Spec rack....
 
SolderIron said:
Don't forget the purses. I was shocked to find out how much one can go for. More than what I paid for the pioneer Spec rack....
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Yeah. My wife's purse cost more than everything I've spent on audio in the last 40 years.

But it was a gift from our daughter.
 
I don't buy into that women aren't into sound, music, or stereos.

There's lot's of companies that I have dealt with or worked for that had plenty of female engineers. I doubt that these female engineers went home to tend to housework, babies, or cooking. I mean, maybe they did, but not in any way different than men and not conforming to any stereotypes.

One of my favorite stories, one that I've probably told before because I find it so awesome was:

I used to work for a very high end stereo store in Palo Alto CA. I won't give the name, but it rhymes with "The Audible Difference" Oops, cat's out of the bag. Anyway, an attractive Asian woman came in and was looking at some systems and components. Our store carried Sonic Frontiers, Linn, Wilson, Aerial Acoustics, Levinson, etc. The chauvanistic salesmen basically told her "Why don't you bring your boyfreind or husband in and we can all really talk about your needs".

Well, turns out this woman was very offended and wrote a letter to the owner of the store complaining about the salesman's presumptions of her capabilities. This little lady was studying for her doctorate in Electrical Engineering at a little university across the street called Stanford. Whoops. Now where's that egg on face emoticon?
 
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In my days as a computer programmer in Bell Canada we wre split about 50/50 men/women. The ladies could run circles ariund the men writing code.
 
IMO the finest audio retail store in Oregon is owned by a woman. Good sound is of paramount importance to her.
 
I'd say my wife and daughters enjoy music alot but not necessarily critical on sound quality like I am. I've met people who arent critical of other things I am such as tv, cars, photography but then again I may not be critical on something they are. I agree that women in general arent critical about sound quality but they do know it to some extent. I've heard comments from the wife now n then...."that sounds like crap" (from an awful lightweight surround amp). I was impressed, she noticed! She's made comments about bass, that it sounded good not just thumpyboomy "like those cars." But for the most part she doesnt seem to care much. What that exact reason is, I'll never know. I do know that my critical ear results in some decent sounding setups for low cost and she does appreciate that music is being played and that it sounds decent to her.
 
If my girlfriend is watching TV, and there is some movie on instead of a show, she will ask me to turn on (Or does it herself while asking cute questions) the stereo.

So yes, she notices sound differences. She will sometimes turn on the radio and dance around the room, but sitting down and listening for listening sake rarely happens.

Generally, "earth moving" loud is not a good thing with her. ITs not that she doesn't like it, I think she cannot enjoy it because she is thinking about the neighbors.

Not many men actually listen to audio either on a grand scale. Its just basic listening.

We are a bit geeky actually.

Hi geeks!

:music:
 
The few women I've met that are seriously involved in this hobby all have IMO very good gear. Their systems tend to be meticulously setup and extremely well maintained. I've seen no GW "scroes", SA "cheapies" or "vintage" gear. What I have seen are systems put together with a lot of thought and careful selection of the components. The ones I've heard sound very, very good, probably better than what a lot of posters here listen to. None of their systems have screechy highs, bloated bass or an overly forward midrange.

I wish the few women that are interested in "Hi-Fi" would participate more in forums such as this. Frankly, my experience with my first wife made me more apt to listen to their opinions. "Golden Ears" doesn't even come close to describing her hearing. She could consistently identify IC's under DBT conditions. She would come home from work and holler down to my man-cave, "Did you change an amplifier or something? Things sound different.". She was never wrong when she asked. I learned a lot about hearing subtle differences from her. I also learned a lot about system synergy thanks to her. I now have a system that visiting female friends (I'm single and have an active social life.) ask me to turn up.

That they do IMO means my system sounds pretty good.
 
Ever since ancient times man has always been in charge of the clan's drum...
 
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I have met and know women who are into music, even play music in live bands, but 'they still are not' into stereos, in general. My brother's wife listens to and loves music on the cable TV channel 'constantly' and plays bass in a local band. She has a storage chest full of LPs, and I mean FULL, all great rock stuff which most of us would LOVE to have! (Actually it's worth some cash, all 'original pressings' in minty shape). She has a regular stereo system but 'never uses it'. She also has a TT but no cart. So...I gave her a new AT cart that I had extra, for free, a good regular one with maybe 20 hours on it and it sounds really ok nice really for a $125 cart. I installed it on her TT and set the TT up for her. She 'NEVER' even spun a record, not one. After 2 months I asked her if she used the TT. She said no. So I said "OK, if you not using the TT would you mind if I took the cart back?" (I mean, I could use it someday, it's a nice sounding cart). She said..."sure, no problem". I took the cart off and she put the TT 'into the closet'. Man, don't even leave the TT out for looks on top of the stereo...put it in the closet! Know what I mean??????? That's what I'm talkin about.

Women are not into stereos. I don't really get it and I don't really care. Tried to care but it didn't work. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Think I will 'make a deal' with her on the records. Been thinking about that for a few years. She did tell me she really don't care anymore about them, no emotional attachment what-so-ever to the music anymore (cool, that's a great thing for me!!) Next time I talk with her! She doesn't need the cash at all so maybe I could get them for free. Which would even be very super cooler, an LP freebee minty collection!!!! But the wife would scream! So I guess even if I could get them for free,
 
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