Audiophile demographics?

They're too cheap.

Much of this discussion is thought provoking and revealing about the authors. What some posts do provide is a look backwards to say, the 1950’s. Certain comments, especially those about wives afraid to mess with the gear controls, caused me to cringe. Were they shown how to use them? Were they uninterested or afraid to learn? Or were they warned not to go there?It shows how far we haven’t come. And sadly, many women still seem to be afraid to push boundaries and venture where no woman has gone before. 

I think it is just that they are uncomfortable or disinterested (many of them) with the technology complexity and demo areas. Some of the high end rooms look like physics labs. Less women go into STEM. If you told an audiophile demographic survey, it would probably lean more towards science/engineering/technology/math types or mechanically inclined guys that like to fix things. BTW, it also holds true for video. My wife doesn't even know (or probably care) if a channel she is watching is HD or not. But she likes music, but is scared to touch anything on the stereo except the volume knob. Never has made it louder....

I bet more women are into cars than stereos. Now, they may not be into high performance cars always, but they seem to have pretty strong opinions and know what they like. BTW, many HATE high performance cars.

Most college girls do not need a great stereo to hook up.  Many did not have the income from summer jobs to purchase one.  Who wants to go to a female's house to listen to girley music?

Do not mean to offend anyone. But this is a dumb hobby.  Women are smarter they know it's the music which is the thing, not the gear.

@theo714 got it. If a group has been historically discouraged or denied participation in something, like STEM fields that relate directly to "gearhead" interests, it takes much more effort for a member of that group to pursue an interest in that thing, as well as a willingness to endure regular questions about why they have the interest and judgments about the validity of their interest.

Women, in case it's been unnoticed, are physically different, and also have different priorities.

There's no reason why they shouldn't be different or should have the same priorities as men, is there?

These differences seem to be even more exacerbated with computer technology, science fiction and high performance cars.

My 16 year old daughter has very little interest in the current Hollywood zeitgeist of superheroes and science fiction. She and her friends have terms for those that do, and they are not pleasant.

Really liked this thought provoking question and the responses are equally thought provoking. Don't normally chime in but was motivated by this question.

I love music and all genres but I'm not sure I'm a true audiophile though. My wife on the other hand can pick up the most subtle deltas in sound performance. I keep joking with her that she should have been in quality assurance and she has the knack for it.

Agree about the emotional aspect being a difference between the sexes. Men seem more passionate about the sound of the perfect note and women just want to hear and assimilate the perfect note.

@gg987
Yeah, kinda. The cabinet is the giveaway. Before the divorce we had one as well. Now everything is what I would call "freeform".

I always had music in the house growing up, an actually pretty awesome Magnavox cabinet TT and tuner.  My love of music and equipment just kept on growing.  My sister OTOH couldn't care less as an adult.

My daughter grew up with a really good stereo in our house and would make requests from a very early age.  She would actually sit and listen to complete albums at four years old.  Now at 32 yo she still loves music, but it's in the form of "Alexia play Steely Dan Aja". Go Figure. 

My wife loves music as well, but very rarely sits and listens.  Whatever is pouring out of the music room is good for her.  She will not attempt to turn the rig on or change music if it is on.  I've tried, but she has no desire to touch any of the gear.  

My wife is not an audiophile but she enjoys most music except rap. She is not into the technical aspects of the hobby. I just got back into it in the last year after a 25 year hiatus. I recently bought a turntable and started purchasing some of the vinyl I trade those many years ago. Now what my wife is really into is sports and much more than I am. She grew up a Rangers baseball fan. Yes she is probably smarter than me. She is a prolific reader and spent 40 years in radiology. But I am a lucky guy to have her if I might say so....!

I am a female audiophile.

As to why there are so few ... I'm not sure myself, but the simple fact that the field is so heavily dominated by men is one reason, I think. Women are very aware of where they are not welcome, or where they MAY not be welcome, or where they may be denigrated, talked down to, patronized, or in other ways made to feel different or "other". Think of how people of color have to worry about being put down or subtly denigrated in situations where they are in the distinct minority. It's the same kind of dynamic at work.

And don't why there aren't more females in the hobby. 

But females generally have better hearing so it seems like something they could appreciate.

Have you seen some of the sound rooms, they scream nerd bachelor. Speakers in the middle of the room. Monoblocks on the floor, cables everywhere.
Think about the speakers. Some are attractive and inconspicuous, many are room dominant with crazy colours ( Kanta!), shapes or bases.
Music is meant to be shared.
Hardly suits a solo listening chair laser located.
Function over form.
Does that partly explain the male dominated audiophile world. Maybe we males get sucked into the chase, aspiring to the next level.
Why are we never content?
Some thoughts.

prior to covid i did a weeklong socal drive with some pca/track pals

agree that mulholland is undriveable even in early mornings now, upper topanga still ok - rest of socal good drives are north of santa barbara - greater LA region is just too congested

norcal is better, but also getting harder and harder to enjoy the roads

Excellent. I’m in Washington. Have only driven parts of Mulholland, but drove the roads around Mt Tamalpais where in my 79 SC many curves are so tight and steep you cannot go slow in 2nd. You either go very slow in 1st, or very fast in 2nd. There is no in-between. So I know just what you mean. And congratulations, because that is not something a lot of people can do. Male or female. (I know, from being stuck behind them! 😂😂)

@millercarbon 

I've always loved cars. When I was sixteen I wanted my first car to be a racing green MGB. It was a silver Chevy Vega. But it had an engine and 4 wheels, so no complaints. In my twenties, my ex-husband taught me to drive a stick because they got better mileage. It was a Honda Civic, but I was hooked on driving a manual transmission. In the 911, I used to see if I could drive Mulholland from one end to the other in second and never touch the brake. You either feel it or you don't..

Cars are a digression. Porsche? Far from it. You are right though about women being rare. I ran Driver Skills a few years and we tried all kinds of things to encourage more women, but they just aren't interested. What got you hooked? Was it the experience of driving a Porsche? The 987 is one beautifully balanced remarkably responsive car. Or were you always into driving?

does 987 signify first gen cayman??? hope so :)

I have driven a cayman at the Porsche Sport Driving School in Birmingham. I know, I'm weird for a girl. But actually for about 15 years I drove 911 convertibles. Stick shift, of course, it's the only way. Driving that car with an automatic transmission is just wrong. You're missing all the fun!
Sorry to digress....

@audiokinesis 

great point, i very much agree

@gg987 

so glad you are posting!

does 987 signify first gen cayman???  hope so  :)

Music often plays a role in the emotional lives of men.

For whatever reason, we men do not give ourselves permission to feel, let alone show, many of our deepest (and often most poignant) emotions. We bury them, and we’re damn good at it.

For whatever reason, women are not nearly so inhibited.

Music is a place where we men can feel things, and it’s okay for us to do so. So we are more likely to value and seek a musical experience which conveys emotion.

There’s more to it, but that’s one often overlooked aspect, in my opinion.

For a deeper insight into the role music can play, you might check out this YouTube clip.  Ironically, the audio is pretty bad: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXEHIHtMFL0    

Duke

@gg987
Glad to virtually meet you.
I certainly don't want to treat you like some sort of oddity, but it would be fair so say that you are in the minority.
If you don't mind, could you answer a couple of questions.
How did you become interested in audio?
Why do you think that more women aren't audiophiles?

I have been interested in audio for as long as I can remember. When I was a young teenager, I didn't listen to the music of my generation. I listed to Sinatra and Ella and Broadway etc. We had a cassette recorder and I tried to record TV musical shows I liked (Sinatra specials and others) but the quality with the mike that came with the player was awful. So I took the back off the TV and connected alligator clips to the speaker terminals. Quality of the recording was much improved! I guess I'd read it somewhere. I mostly remember my mother telling me I was going to electrocute myself. I did unplug the TV before I removed the back.
 
I've always been fascinated by the qualities of sound reproduction, and I love music. And I always like to learn something new.

I think women have traditionally not been audiophiles because they had no one to show them the way and excite them about it. I pretty much blazed my own way. My daughters are both very bright and accomplished in their careers, but were never interested in anything technical, which I think you have to be to be an audiophile. They just liked it when things worked, and they knew I could get it to work. 

@gg987
Glad to virtually meet you. 
I certainly don't want to treat you like some sort of oddity, but it would be fair so say that you are in the minority.
If you don't mind, could you answer a couple of questions.
How did you become interested in audio?
Why do you think that more women aren't audiophiles?

My best female friend loves music maybe more than I do. Before Covid, she'd go to a music club 3 times a week. She plays guitar.

We have 'music days' often when we listen to new music (for her anyway)on my 14K system, which really sounds amazing. I sit her in 'THE' chair, where her head is located exactly where it should be. I'm excited to hear her response to my latest upgrades...
What does she say?
"I think I'll lay on the floor, it's more comfortable."
I guess she didn't even notice my new $1,200 chair....Women

I'm a female audiophile. And a female MD, when there weren't so many. I also like fast cars and fast lenses. And men. Imagine that!

I hope Tammy is reading this thread.

Most Women like to talk too much to listen to music for extended periods of time, although my brothers are the same way. We audiophiles are wired special!

@oldhvymec  Thanks for proving my point.

Women are not smarter, they are less gullible.

I know two people both (still) into hi-fi (one very much so) who became transgender and now both have changed sex  

Like vets (animal doctors not retired soldiers) women are more prevalent than their male counterparts in lots of things- musicians being one example and not just flautists and bands of old such as The Breeders, Girlshcool, Siouxie and the Banshees, Susie Quattro, Alice Coltrane, Barbara Dennerlein and Barbara Thompson etc..- also compare modern orchestras to the 50’s.

Strangely not yet in the weird world of hi-fi ( though my mum still has fond memories of my folk’s first place where there was no furniture apart from a bed but there was Quad and Kefs- ESLs were too expensive even then).

No their not! Men are just dumber. Does that make sense.
One's just dumber than the other, No quarters given here. Same women 45 + year, Worlds longest on going WAR!!! With no blood shed!!

Me and the dog on one side. The wife the goat and the bunny on the other.. pretty even so far...

Things we have in common... MUSIC... other than that, man the barricades. LOL

Regards

Women are smarter than men.

not just women but is there any audiophiles under 30

Coincidentally, far more guys are into the gal in your avatar than are gearheads.

Far more guys are gearheads than are gals. 

I can hear the rimshots now......

JJ... That must be some nearfield listening... ;)

OP, thank God for that. Enjoy the music

Except for rock instrumentalists, I would guess that the ratio is pretty even.

What are the ratios among:
-rock instrumentalists
-pop singers
-singer/songwriters
-professional classical musicians?

Women like the concert- social part of music and occasionally comment how they like some music I’m playing at home or in the car, but they much prefer talking which usually means I have to turn down the sound of my music to hear what they say.

@tooblue 

I know. Isn't it wonderful.

@ebm 

As they say, "There are no silly questions. Only silly answers."

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.