Lack of Female Representation

In what world does this even make sense:

So you want to attract more women, you got your work cut out for you. A public rebuke of the people who contributed to the rap threads will be a start. 

In order to attract more women to the audio hobby someone needs to string up the contributors to a rap thread on Audiogon? This forum = the hobby as a whole? Women don’t listen to rap? 

On other audio forums, Audiogon is a joke. Women not only consume rap but also make it. 

Goodness what a lot of opinions.

I am a female audiophile. My reasons are the same as men's -- I love music, and a good system makes it so much more enjoyable and engaging.

As for why there are not more female audiophiles -- well, the attitudes expressed here have a lot to do with it. Women are hyper-aware of where they are welcome and where they are not. If they sense that it's a "boy's club" and that they are going to be made to feel uncomfortable, they are going to shy away.

I attended an audio society meeting in my area for the first time a couple of years ago -- it was intimidating. I walked in as a new person, and the person signing me in asked me "who are you with?" It was assumed that I was the wife or girlfriend of someone who was already there.

Most of the people there were very nice. But the "barriers to entry" are huge for most women, who do not want to be the unicorn, regarded as an oddity.

That said, I hope more women do get involved. Some of the comments here, full of stereotypes and assumptions, are an indication that too many audiophiles have not encountered any actual women in the context of their hobby, and it would be a healthy thing if they did!

@towertone - sums up my wife pretty well too.
She'll play background music while she's working on something.

Almost the only time she will sit still are if we are out listening to live music at events, like one we're probably going to this coming week. It is nice to see her dressed up (I often think it's to look good in front of the other ladies).

I must admit that going to listen to live music, especially unmiked, it really calibrates the mind to what music and singing actually sounds like in the flesh.

Guys, as a woman who loves music first and equipment second, I can offer a few hints. First women are nervous about being in all male environments where trash talk could hurt. For the record, the way that @oldhvymec and @millercarbon talk about women counts as hurtful. Remember that the culture of sexism that reigned when you were growing up in the 1940s or 1950s is over. Just like the culture of racism is hopefully ending.
I remember reading comments on a Steve Guttenberg YouTube asking about why there were so few women audiophiles. For the most part, guys were very respectful but some wrote comments like “they are in the kitchen where they belong.” Even a few posts like that are enough to push a lot of women out of the forum.”
I appreciate guys that actually asked their wives and daughters. Just a show of respect rather than answering based on your own experience. Your experience is of you, not others. Be curious.

Terrific feedback and thrilled to have two wonderful women in the fold. The average IQ here spiked and Audiogon is a better place due to your presence. Continued happy listening and please do start a thread on a topic that interests you. Be well.