why are there not more women in this hobby?

[maxxkatt]

ok, maybe this has been discussed before. But I noticed when reading post of people new to metal detecting, they seem to always be men.

Is there something that is unique about men and metal detecting?

Here is my theory:

Men have hobbies and women have women friends. They spend their time with their women friends and talking on the cell phone all the time. Well at least that describes my wife. She has a mom and dad, three sisters, two daughters and a gaggle of friends and works full time and two grandsons. I know for her she has no time for hobbies.

I enjoy metal detecting to forget work and get away from daily routine.

There are a few female detectorists on youtube. Relic recoverists is one of them that is genuine about metal detecting and not just trying to be some youtube star in my opinion.

 

[needler420]

ok, maybe this has been discussed before. But I noticed when reading post of people new to metal detecting, they seem to always be men.

Is there something that is unique about men and metal detecting?

Here is my theory:

Men have hobbies and women have women friends. They spend their time with their women friends and talking on the cell phone all the time. Well at least that describes my wife. She has a mom and dad, three sisters, two daughters and a gaggle of friends and works full time and two grandsons. I know for her she has no time for hobbies.

I enjoy metal detecting to forget work and get away from daily routine.

There are a few female detectorists on youtube. Relic recoverists is one of them that is genuine about metal detecting and not just trying to be some youtube star in my opinion.

hmm sounds like my friend I've wanted to date for awhile. Though she does have some hobbies they are stuff like comics, video games and indoor stuff. She likes drinking a lot. My bigger hobby is video games anyway. That is my biggest hobby. Then coins, knives and metal detecting.

My guess is woman don't want to get their hands dirty, break a nail, rough work etc. I work construction and I wouldn't see types like my mom or sister or woman I'd date in the industry. Sounds sexist and stereotypical but it's the truth lol.

 

[zeemang]

I think it is a hobby that women are not generally advertised to in the US. I do know a few women who detect and they more than hold their own against the men.

 

[flyguy784]

Manufacturers don't advertise to women because there's no ROI. Believe me, if there was a huge untapped market out there (women) they'd be all over it.
Think about most of the women you know. Worms, bugs, sweat, dirt and more importantly almost total isolation via headphones. I don't see anything in there that appeals to women. Especially when the reward is a crusty old penny that you can hardly read anything on.

 

[DIGGER27]

1...lots of women don't want to identify themselves as such because on these public forums there are a lot of great guys but there also could be a few losers that won't stop bothering them.
I remember once a new member joined one of these forums and her avatar was her picture and she was good looking.
Because she was new she didn't know to contact mods and admins privately when at least one if not more than one of the other members started bothering her with private messages that she didn't want or need to respond to.
She complained and this whole thing was played out in posts and replies in the forum so this private thing was more public and I noticed.
Offending members were warned, many others posted about how this was a horrible thing and those idiot members were jerks but trolls are trolls and there was only so much that could be done.
I believe eventually there was some banning but by then the damage was done...the female member left the forum and never returned much after that bad experience.

2...Go check out a club and see how many women actually are in the hobby in the real world.
I was in a great one in Kansas and yea, there were a ton of male members but we also had a pretty high percentage of females in that club too from young teen aged to older.
I was surprised how many were there because I never came across any when I was hunting in my public parks and site s but then again I never came across a whole lot of guys out there either even though there are a lot more of them.

There are a lot of female hunters on this forum and also in vids on youtube but you really can't always tell by their name.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

....
Men have hobbies and women have women friends. They spend their time with their women friends and talking on the cell phone all the time. .....

Maxxkatt, where have you been ? Don't you know we're in the 2000's now ? The women's lib. movement of the late 1960s to early 1970s is long past now. Gloria Steinem would be totally aghast at your above statement. You would be tarred and feathered by that crowd. How can you be so cruel and out of date ?

Don't you know that we are now in an "enlightened" era. Where it is now known that there is utterly no difference between the sexes. Other than indoor vs outdoor plumbing. Beyond that, any *perceived" differences are NOT "nature". They are "nurture". Ie.: Stereotypes pushed on to us, since the time we were infants, toddlers, kindergarten, etc....

And any statements, like yours, that suggest there is inherent differences , are simply perpetuating that exact stereotype ! Repent !

 

[needler420]

Maxxkatt, where have you been ? Don't you know we're in the 2000's now ? The women's lib. movement of the late 1960s to early 1970s is long past now. Gloria Steinem would be totally aghast at your above statement. You would be tarred and feathered by that crowd. How can you be so cruel and out of date ?

Don't you know that we are now in an "enlightened" era. Where it is now known that there is utterly no difference between the sexes. Other than indoor vs outdoor plumbing. Beyond that, any *perceived" differences are NOT "nature". They are "nurture". Ie.: Stereotypes pushed on to us, since the time we were infants, toddlers, kindergarten, etc....

And any statements, like yours, that suggest there is inherent differences , are simply perpetuating that exact stereotype ! Repent !

None of that changes the fact the metal detecting is probably a male dominant hobby lol.

Don't go by political correctness. Go by statistics and numbers.


I've worked framing construction for many years, while I have seen a few woman it's still a male dominated industry.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

OOoohhh, needler, you are cruising for a bruising. I am reporting you to Gloria Steinem right now.

None of that changes the fact the metal detecting is probably a male dominant hobby lol....

Correct. But that is d/t "nurture", not "nature". And the "nurture" is for THE VERY REASON of statements such as yours. That cruely subjugate women into sexist roles & stereotypes. By the psychological cultural pressure to act certain ways, take up certain hobbies, etc....

....Don't go by political correctness......

Is "political correctness" , as used here, just another way of saying "male chauvinism" ?

.... I've worked framing construction for many years, while I have seen a few woman it's still a male dominated industry

Perhaps. And from that anecdotal observation, you're trying to conclude that there's inherent (ie.: nature) differences. Right ? But no: The reason you don't see women running jackhammers , framing, jet pilots, and such, is ONLY because of repressive mean males, like yourself, that "nurture" (steer from infancy) women into these repressed secondary roles, stereotypes, etc... Repent !

 

[needler420]

OOoohhh, needler, you are cruising for a bruising. I am reporting you to Gloria Steinem right now.



Correct. But that is d/t "nurture", not "nature". And the "nurture" is for THE VERY REASON of statements such as yours. That cruely subjugate women into sexist roles & stereotypes. By the psychological cultural pressure to act certain ways, take up certain hobbies, etc....



Is "political correctness" , as used here, just another way of saying "male chauvinism" ?




Perhaps. And from that anecdotal observation, you're trying to conclude that there's inherent (ie.: nature) differences. Right ? But no: The reason you don't see women running jackhammers and such, is ONLY because of repressive mean males, like yourself, that "nurture" (steer from infancy) women into these repressed secondary roles, stereotypes, etc... Repent !

I'm all for letting my sister or mom operate power tools or work whatever industries they want. They choose not to. What do I get out of being repressive to a gender? A sausage fest? I have no problem if woman want to metal detect lol. They are the ones that don't want to.

 

[GTS225]

I suggest that it all goes deeper than that, actually. While what I say might sound sexist and stereotypical, in reality, it's the truth.
I suggest it's because women are more social, if you will. (Flyguy touched on this in his post) They are more inclined to speak with others (women) about a great many things, while men have a primal(?) tendency to be more aloof and private.
It very well could be influenced by the ancient(?) practice of men being the hunter/gatherer, while the women stayed back and took care of the home front, but I'm not an archeological forensics expert.
Like it or not, even in this "enlightened" age, (as Tom_in_Ca put it), those ancient practices still influence all our lives.

Just my 2-pence.....Roger

 

[Tom_in_CA]

....They choose not to.... They are the ones that don't want to.

Yes. But the million dollar question is: WHY ?

Are you saying it's in their inherent nature ? Or are you agreeing with me that it's nurture ?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I suggest that it all goes deeper than that, actually. While what I say might sound sexist and stereotypical, in reality, it's the truth.
I suggest it's because women are more social, if you will. (Flyguy touched on this in his post) They are more inclined to speak with others (women) about a great many things, while men have a primal(?) tendency to be more aloof and private....

Oooohhh, another one siding with "nature". Another one to report to Gloria Steinem. (the "N.O.W." crowd) Tsk tsk

 

[ZR2guy]

There are more women in this hobby now than 10 years ago. Look at YouTube and you will see there are quite a few that metal detect.

 

[maxxkatt]

There are more women in this hobby now than 10 years ago. Look at YouTube and you will see there are quite a few that metal detect.

but few of them are on MD forums. I never see Relic Recoverist on any MD forums only on her youtube videos. She, I think is a true metal detectorists. I found some older video and before metal detecting she was really into flipping old stuff from thrift shops and selling on eBay. She really knew her old stuff and what was valuable and what was not. She seemed to have been somewhat of an understudy with another lady who was an expert on old items.

maybe she did not want to put up with some !!!! from some jerks. Her videos are fun to watch and especially when she hunts with other guys. Garrett sponsors her and for good reason.

 

[pacer]

Interesting topic. I belong to a club that has approximately 75 members. This is a rough estimate, but I would say we have around a dozen ladies who detect and have their own machines.

 

[ZR2guy]

You are correct in that most don’t join the forums. Not sure why. Maybe it’s because this hobby has always been more of the men’s club kinda thing; presumed the “No girls allowed” mentality which isn’t true at all.

 

[Cfmct]

You are correct in that most don’t join the forums. Not sure why. Maybe it’s because this hobby has always been more of the men’s club kinda thing; presumed the “No girls allowed” mentality which isn’t true at all.

There are quite a few members on the forum who are women... we have had some on the forum since the beginning.. some are still here.. some have gone on to other things... new women sign up all the time..

 

[RBachman]

Great thread!

Just thinking/contemplating a-loud here, didn't the hobby mostly start off with excess/surplus military equipment? If so, it began as a male leaning activity where women were not readily introduced to the equipment. Then the equipment became more complicated, more target specific, more technology, more knobs, etc.

At the time, our culture/society was pushing women more toward a typical home maker roll, and males more of a technology/vocational roll. Most men typically like playing with gadgets. Many of us can never have too many tools, guns, boats, fishing rods, spare parts, etc. It's a good bit of the fun for me...the gadgetry, learning, shopping, comparing, researching, study, configuring, technology, and then the prize at the end for all that work...a Shiny Pull Tab!!!

Most women I know would look at a lot of that stuff as superfluous. However, women are usually more patient than men, more persistent, think things through more, are more excited/happy when they make a find and tend to stay more dedicated to a hobby. They are also more determined and stick with things more. This thought is why I believe that many women would actually be better at the hobby than men.

With all that said, the hobby hasn't strongly pursued female inclusion and marketing except for the bikini models in their advertising. Not good. Market to women, have women targeted classes, instructional videos, etc.. (and not just the "watch me dig up a quarter" videos.) Market the hobby as a couples and family activity. Have women demonstrating how to use the things, get the Girl Scouts involved, encourage high school clubs, and etc. and then you'll see more ladies enjoying, expanding and having fun with the hobby.

Or I could be wrong. LOL

 

[RBachman]

Manufacturers don't advertise to women because there's no ROI. Believe me, if there was a huge untapped market out there (women) they'd be all over it.
Think about most of the women you know. Worms, bugs, sweat, dirt and more importantly almost total isolation via headphones. I don't see anything in there that appeals to women. Especially when the reward is a crusty old penny that you can hardly read anything on.

Agree to a point. But women do most of the gardening, planting, weeding and etc. Every Spring my wife comes home with a lot of perennials, annuals, other plants and etc. to plant in our yard. She has her OWN garden tools, shovels, hand spades, trimmers, etc. and they are HERS! Don't touch. LOL

 

[KinTN]

Is there a way to filter this thread so that only responses from Females show up? Those are the only opinions that I care to hear on this subject.




.
after post #24 edited to add: I was being facetious.
But I would like for the female members to weigh in with their opinions.