Real reasons why there is scant female presence on Anandtech

[moshquerade]

Why do you think that is? I don't think the answer is, "because it's a tech site" anymore.

 

[BurnItDwn]

It's because most women are not smart enough to use computers

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

because there is no subforum for designer shoes and bags.

 

[Crono]

Why do you think that is? I don't think the answer is, "because it's a tech site" anymore.

I'm pretty sure that is still the answer.

Computer hardware still isn't a major interest of most - but not all, obviously - women.

 

[Ns1]

It's because most women are not smart enough to use computers

oh snap

 

[dank69]

sammich forum

 

[Ruptga]

Because we are all assholes.

Wait that can't be it, chicks dig jerks :hmm:

 

[Platypus]

probably because of the overly archetypical macho persona so many people here wear

 

[Riverhound777]

Why do you think that is? I don't think the answer is, "because it's a tech site" anymore.

I think it is because few women post on forums of any kind. At least not a single one I know.

 

[Kirby]

if i was a woman, i would be lezzing out, not posting with the likes of amdhunter and tridentboy.

 

[AreaCode707]

1. Why would they arrive here? It's not like most women are doing searches that would result in AT as the top result.
2. Perusing the forums, why would they sign up here? L&R is invisible until you sign up and the other forums don't have a lot of topics that are compelling reason for a female to sign up.
3. Assuming they did sign up, why would they stay here? Until you're over a few hundred posts you're assumed to be a male with a second account (frequently true even if you don't claim to be female), subjected to pics requests, receive few if any serious answers and many gals start off with the big mistake of "hi, I'm a girl!" post which is never a good path.

Plus this

 

[moshquerade]

1. Why would they arrive here? It's not like most women are doing searches that would result in AT as the top result.
2. Perusing the forums, why would they sign up here? L&R is invisible until you sign up and the other forums don't have a lot of topics that are compelling reason for a female to sign up.
3. Assuming they did sign up, why would they stay here? Until you're over a few hundred posts you're assumed to be a male with a second account (frequently true even if you don't claim to be female), subjected to pics requests, receive few if any serious answers and many gals start off with the big mistake of "hi, I'm a girl!" post which is never a good path.

Plus this

Why did you arrive here? I came here for the Hot Deals forum. I'd bet other females have arrived here via the Hot Deals, and don't stick around, even if they do venture into OT, for reasons that you have brought up.
I would say OT is not very inviting to females. I stick around for the abuse.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Before anyone gets to the forums, they have to pass through "Anandtech: Your Source For Hardware Analysis and News". Presumably anyone who gets there was interested enough in computer hardware to search or it. It's an interest that a relatively small percentage of men and an even smaller percentage of women have. This is not a website I can imagine most women "stumbling upon whilst perusing the internet". I bet a lot more men are captured by bodybuilding, car, and ATV forums while a lot more women are captured by forums relating to clothing and current hair styles simply because that's what most of each group googles.

 

[moshquerade]

Before anyone gets to the forums, they have to pass through "Anandtech: Your Source For Hardware Analysis and News". Presumably anyone who gets there was interested enough in computer hardware to search or it. It's an interest that a relatively small percentage of men and an even smaller percentage of women have. This is not a website I can imagine most women "stumbling upon whilst perusing the internet". I bet a lot more men are captured by bodybuilding, car, and ATV forums while a lot more women are captured by forums relating to clothing and current hair styles simply because that's what most of each group googles.

Like I've said above. I searched for sites with "hot deals" on them and came upon anandtech. Women like to shop online, and like deals. So it's not just the tech part of the site that shows up when you search.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

There are two major theories:
#1:
They are hunted to extinction.

#2:
There aren't any computers in the kitchen.

...both are stupid.

 

[AreaCode707]

Why did you arrive here? I came here for the Hot Deals forum. I'd bet other females have arrived here via the Hot Deals, and don't stick around, even if they do venture into OT, for reasons that you have brought up.
I would say OT is not very inviting to females. I stick around for the abuse.

BF at the time was a member, I was at college with nothing to do (just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis so I had a hard time getting around) and I was bored so I checked out the site he had mentioned.

Geez, now I feel all stereotypical.

OT is definitely not friendly. I don't recall getting an overlot of abuse when I signed up in 2001 (surprisingly) but it definitely got rougher over the years. The low point was coming home from a crappy day at work in 2004 to find out that a member I'd never heard of started a thread about how ugly I was, complete with pictures, and it descended into a full fledged flamewar before I even saw it. Overall I'm average looking but I don't post pictures anymore.

 

[darkxshade]

Like I've said above. I searched for sites with "hot deals" on them and came upon anandtech. Women like to shop online, and like deals. So it's not just the tech part of the site that shows up when you search.

Considering you joined in 2001 that's understandable but I doubt AT will even show up on the first page of any search relating to hot deals now.

 

[Crono]

Why did you arrive here? I came here for the Hot Deals forum. I'd bet other females have arrived here via the Hot Deals, and don't stick around, even if they do venture into OT, for reasons that you have brought up.
I would say OT is not very inviting to females. I stick around for the abuse.

OT is pretty interesting.
No matter what background you come or views you have, you're bound to take abuse for something or other. Being a female isn't that high or low on the list of stuff that could potentially cause inflammatory remarks or entice trolls. You have to have a thick skin regardless, especially if you plan on entering any of the more serious topics.

I don't know how many people find these forums through Hot Deals, but probably not as much as find the site through hardware related stuff. Building a computer the first time is what brought me here, though. Probably less females find the site that way than do males.

 

[Azraele]

I'd say it's just a difference in interests.

OT is definitely not friendly

This is definitely not a good thing.

 

[moshquerade]

BF at the time was a member, I was at college with nothing to do (just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis so I had a hard time getting around) and I was bored so I checked out the site he had mentioned.

Geez, now I feel all stereotypical.

OT is definitely not friendly. I don't recall getting an overlot of abuse when I signed up in 2001 (surprisingly) but it definitely got rougher over the years. The low point was coming home from a crappy day at work in 2004 to find out that a member I'd never heard of started a thread about how ugly I was, complete with pictures, and it descended into a full fledged flamewar before I even saw it.

Well, I'm glad you're here. It gets so ronery with so few females. : /

 

[Crono]

Considering you joined in 2001 that's understandable but I doubt AT will even show up on the first page of any search relating to hot deals now.

Yup, Hot Deals isn't that active anymore, and a ridiculous number of other sites have popped up since then.

 

[Onita]

Like I've said above. I searched for sites with "hot deals" on them and came upon anandtech. Women like to shop online, and like deals. So it's not just the tech part of the site that shows up when you search.

Yes, and how long ago was that? Hot deals isn't exactly full of traffic, and I'm pretty sure a few other sites will come up first. Besides the fact that most hot deals here are tech related as well.

 

[dank69]

BF at the time was a member, I was at college with nothing to do (just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis so I had a hard time getting around) and I was bored so I checked out the site he had mentioned.

Geez, now I feel all stereotypical.

OT is definitely not friendly. I don't recall getting an overlot of abuse when I signed up in 2001 (surprisingly) but it definitely got rougher over the years. The low point was coming home from a crappy day at work in 2004 to find out that a member I'd never heard of started a thread about how ugly I was, complete with pictures, and it descended into a full fledged flamewar before I even saw it. Overall I'm average looking but I don't post pictures anymore.

We were all told that chicks like it rough.

 

[moshquerade]

Yes, and how long ago was that? Hot deals isn't exactly full of traffic, and I'm pretty sure a few other sites will come up first. Besides the fact that most hot deals here are tech related as well.

look at my joindate, that was how long ago it was obviously.

haven't searched to see if anandtech has any "hot deals site" presence anymore through the search engines.

 

[Crono]

I'd say it's just a difference in interests.

Most succinct way of saying it.

I don't doubt that this will change over time as more girls and women get into the technical aspects of computers, but most girls and women I know right now are more interested in the social aspects and even casual gaming than specs and the future of computers.

Though I am a bit surprised at how quickly the number of women interested in consumer tech gadgets (including smartphones... I know plenty of girls who are more up to date on mobile OSes and apps than I am) has increased in such a short time.