Guy or Gal?

[back alley]

perhaps it's a question that will forever go unanswered...

welcome mae and please feel free to do more than lurk!

joe

 

[Jocko]

I'm a lady, but I only lurk here. I've noticed the same though, seems to be more male photographers in general. I'm not sure why.

Welcome Mae - and remember the great words of Chairman Mao - a journey of 10,000 cameras starts with a single post!

All the best, Ian!

 

[Natalia]

Welcome, Mae! Good to see another gal here......(Although I should visit RFF more frequently myself🙂 .....

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hey Natalia,
Too right! We haven't heard from you in a while. How are doing?

Kim

Although I should visit RFF more frequently myself: .....

 

[nomade]

I'm a lady, but I only lurk here. I've noticed the same though, seems to be more male photographers in general. I'm not sure why.

Hey, i'm from he same gender 😀

Welcome to the forums, i think that girls will be invading these forums sooner or later 😉

 

[mae]

Thanks everyone for the welcome.

Wow, I can’t believe that there are only 6% of us.

I have a feeling that the reason there are more male rangefinder users is because rangefinders are a classic camera that was popular at a time when inequality was more predominant. This is why younger people are not drawn to rangefinders like the older crowd. Since women may have been discouraged from taking an interest in photography back in the day, there are naturally more older men interested in rangefinder photography. This is just a guess, but I bet that in general there are less young people on this forum and of the few that are here the ratio between male and females is about equal which is very much in contrast to the older generation. This is all just speculation so if I offended anyone I apologize in advance.

I’m a bit of a gearhead myself, which is a little strange because I’m not a “techie” person in any other area of my life.

 

[Rachel]

I have a feeling that the reason there are more male rangefinder users is because rangefinders are a classic camera that was popular at a time when inequality was more predominant. This is why younger people are not drawn to rangefinders like the older crowd. Since women may have been discouraged from taking an interest in photography back in the day, there are naturally more older men interested in rangefinder photography. This is just a guess, but I bet that in general there are less young people on this forum and of the few that are here the ratio between male and females is about equal which is very much in contrast to the older generation. This is all just speculation so if I offended anyone I apologize in advance.

I think it may also be that young women like me (well, not so young, I'm almost 30) have the preconceived idea that Rangefinder=Leica=$$$$. If it weren't for the fact that my dad gave me his Leica, I'd would have settled for the fact that I'd never be able to afford a rangefinder. When my friend Lynn showed me her Yashica and told me about this forum, it was then that I saw the proverbial "light" and realized that rangefinders come in a whole range of attractive price tags.

Everytime I see a Canonet GIII QL17 on e-Bay, I have to restrain myself.

 

[jrong]

I worked as an engineer in a telco for some years. I have a masters in electrical engineering, and yet after many a technical seminar, there would be men who would come up to me and ask me if the lecture was "too technical" for me. If I asked a question, it would be misinterpreted to mean something extremely basic (and quite stupid).

This behaviour was manifest in all sorts; from engineering colleagues, technicians to salesmen (although I can't imagine why they'd expect me to endorse their product to my boss after having been heavily patronised...)

Nevertheless, women who are minorities in any profession or field will tend to resent it when men suggest that something might be "too technical" for them, although I truly appreciate your good intentions, Ruben, and have not taken offense. 🙂 However, there are other off-hand remarks such as "women mostly want to take pretty pictures" or even the question "are you MAN enough to admit that you carry a man purse, etc.etc" which insinuate something inferior, weak or negative about the female gender, however subtly (esp in that last example). It's everywhere in our society so most people do not notice it, and it is unfortunate that when one points it out, one is often accused of being a militant feminist. It's not that we lack a sense of humour either. 😉

In my personal experience, there are quite a few women who are into photography (all aspects) but a great many of them just do not enjoy participating in web fora. I do not know the reasons for this. I suspect they vary too much for a simple generalisation to be made?

 

[ruben]

Thanks everyone for the welcome.

Wow, I can’t believe that there are only 6% of us.

I have a feeling that the reason there are more male rangefinder users is because rangefinders are a classic camera that was popular at a time when inequality was more predominant. This is why younger people are not drawn to rangefinders like the older crowd. Since women may have been discouraged from taking an interest in photography back in the day, there are naturally more older men interested in rangefinder photography. This is just a guess, but I bet that in general there are less young people on this forum and of the few that are here the ratio between male and females is about equal which is very much in contrast to the older generation. This is all just speculation so if I offended anyone I apologize in advance.

I’m a bit of a gearhead myself, which is a little strange because I’m not a “techie” person in any other area of my life.

I truly find your point as quite original and interesting. You already have given us something good at your third post !

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[ruben]

.... 🙂 However, there are other off-hand remarks such as "women mostly want to take pretty pictures" or even the question "are you MAN enough to admit that you carry a man purse, etc.etc" which insinuate something inferior, weak or negative about the female gender, however subtly (esp in that last example). It's everywhere in our society so most people do not notice it, and it is unfortunate that when one points it out, one is often accused of being a militant feminist. It's not that we lack a sense of humour either. 😉....

As a militant feminist from the fifth column at the male sex, I can only ask you not to bow to any single discriminatory posting.

We males, including me!, are so immersed in our millenarium sex traditions, and so used to the privileges of our twisted status, that most of the times we are not quite aware of our mistaken behaviours. There is no room at RFF for any member to be hurt, nor any female member being hurt directly or undirectly for being a woman. This is for me absolute, unconditional, out of discussion.

Don't bow Jrong a single inch. As a male I know too, most of us are more than ready to redress our jungle inherited behaviour, when properly addressed.

Don't bow Jrong, have confidence in our good sides with which we will overcome our bad ones.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Leica-Virgin]

Let us keep Fangorn Forest undiminished.

Let us keep Fangorn Forest undiminished.

We must on no account let the female Ents leave the forest. Let us learn the lessons of our prehistory . We ignore the loss of the female Ents at our peril.No entlings and a loss of vitality in the forest.

 

[Leica-Virgin]

We must on no account let the female Ents leave the forest. Let us learn the lessons of our prehistory . We ignore the loss of the female Ents at our peril.No entlings and a loss of vitality in the forest.

To expand on this if I am being abit obscure:
The ents are found in the novel Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien , an ancient form of very intelligent tree which lived in the ancient forest of Fangorn. The female of their species left the forest to be lost forever and the male ents became very woody and set in their ways. They became very sad and slow to respond to change as a result of their loss.

 

[mae]

I think it may also be that young women like me (well, not so young, I'm almost 30) have the preconceived idea that Rangefinder=Leica=$$$$. If it weren't for the fact that my dad gave me his Leica, I'd would have settled for the fact that I'd never be able to afford a rangefinder. When my friend Lynn showed me her Yashica and told me about this forum, it was then that I saw the proverbial "light" and realized that rangefinders come in a whole range of attractive price tags.

Everytime I see a Canonet GIII QL17 on e-Bay, I have to restrain myself.

yes, I think preconceived ideas about cost may also be a factor but I'm not sure if expense is something that women in general are more sensitive than men.

that said, I have a canonet QL19 and love it! and I can't help being jealous that you inherited a leica, man was I born into the wrong family😉

ps. 29,30 is still young in my book

 

[akalai]

Hey Rachel,

I stumbled across your website in some random Google search awhile ago but then, annoyingly, forgot the name of your site!!! Agggghhhhh! 🙂

Thankfully I have found it again. Brilliant photos, brilliant design and plenty of goodness in the archives/links!!!

http://www.brownglasses.com

LOVE IT!

Cheers!

 

[Rachel]

Hey Rachel,

I stumbled across your website in some random Google search awhile ago but then, annoyingly, forgot the name of your site!!! Agggghhhhh! 🙂

Thankfully I have found it again. Brilliant photos, brilliant design and plenty of goodness in the archives/links!!!

http://www.brownglasses.com

LOVE IT!

Cheers!

Cool. Thanks. 🙂

 

[suzums]

I'm a lady, but I only lurk here. I've noticed the same though, seems to be more male photographers in general. I'm not sure why.

Welcome to the forum Mae 🙂 I spend most of my time lurking around here too! LOL too many guy intimidate me!

 

[rover]

OK, lets let this all pass. Deep breath, I just did my Pilates so I am in tune with my person. Lets all feel good today..... breath in.....breath out.....

Welcome Mea.

 

[back alley]

good morning all!

beautiful day here in sunny alberta, gonna climb to about 30c today.

the ice is starting to melt and the dogs are restless.

peace out.
joe

 

[aad]

After all the buildup, nothing. The Mod Squad must have got here first.

 

[Rich Silfver]

After all the buildup, nothing. The Mod Squad must have got here first.

Nope, as far as I know this was all there ever was.