Any gals into aquatics?

[Iona Skye]

Hello! I'm really curious.... Are there many gals on this forum or mostly dudes?

I'm a chick, but 99.9% of aquarists I meet are all dudes. Seriously, I've only met ONE gal who was getting into reefing and actually knew what she was talking about. I've run into a couple other gals at the lfs, but they predominantly fit that awful cringy stereotype of "help, I know nothing and I keep killing my fish hahaha" (which seriously ticks me off, but that's a separate issue).

Sooooo.... Have you met many gals in this hobby? What's your experience?

 

[kintle]

They are out there. Check out reefgrrl on YouTube one of the people that inspired me into this hobby. I'll admit though most of the people I'm aware of in this hobby are male.

 

[ourcoralreef]

Some of my YouTube data
Just seems there are not that many really interested

 

[Craigb350]

Very few here in the UK, I know couples whose missus are into it, but mostly the girls just pick the "pretty corals or fish" and leave the other half to worry about keeping them alive!

 

[samnaz]

Have not met a gal, but I am a gal. I’ve always found it odd that more women aren’t into reef keeping.

 

[Katrina71]

I only know one other female as well.

 

[reef lover]

I know 4 including me....

 

[Mikedawg]

Little off topic, but majority of aquarists at GA Aquarium are women. (Bet this will get me some likes, lol)

 

[samnaz]

Little off topic, but majority of aquarists at GA Aquarium are women. (Bet this will get me some likes, lol)

You mean like, likes from the female employees at GA? I'll be shocked if any of them are on here.

 

[Mikedawg]

You mean like, likes from the female employees at GA? I'll be shocked if any of them are on here.

Don't know about that. Post is more about my observation that there are quite a few women in Atl area that are "into" aquariums and very knowledgeable about marine science. I meet them regularly at LFSs

 

[halfdoz]

I’m a gal and I often laugh that my husband and I are backwards on this

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

I tried to get my wife into the hobby but when I talk about it she gives me the glazed look I give her when she talks about dollar tree crafting ...

 

[dantimdad]

First wife was into reefs as much as I am. Last time I spoke to her (about 4 years ago) she had a redsea setup in her office and one at home.

My fiance' thinks they are pretty...

 

[Adele]

This is a generalization and I do not have any numbers, data or other research to back it up, but it has been proposed that this hobby appeals to men because its a science based hobby and as such men have that area of the brain that digs math and science more so than women. This in no way assumes that women are not just as capable in the math and science part, just that for a hobby, it may not be as appealing. Also the maintenance is not for the feint of heart or body. This is a physical hobby as well as a mental one. Most of the women I know, would not be in to carrying heavy buckets & jugs of water or boxes of salt and if they ever had to clean a skimmer cup or scrape algae off a turf scrubber they would probably vomit. Again these are women I know and not representative of the masses. Being a woman, I would like to see more get into the hobby, but not because I feel ostracized or intimidated by my male counterparts who outnumber my gender, but to see more of a diverse cross section in the hobby and to see if there is much difference in Reefing style from one gender to another.

 

[Sea MunnKey]

My wife was "instrumental" for giving me the courage to venture into this salty hobby. . She hated the "hide in the shadowy corner" Discus' fish ... ;Yawn

She's not a reefer though.

 

[halfdoz]

This is a generalization and I do not have any numbers, data or other research to back it up, but it has been proposed that this hobby appeals to men because its a science based hobby and as such men have that area of the brain that digs math and science more so than women. This in no way assumes that women are not just as capable in the math and science part, just that for a hobby, it may not be as appealing. Also the maintenance is not for the feint of heart or body. This is a physical hobby as well as a mental one. Most of the women I know, would not be in to carrying heavy buckets & jugs of water or boxes of salt and if they ever had to clean a skimmer cup or scrape algae off a turf scrubber they would probably vomit. Again these are women I know and not representative of the masses. Being a woman, I would like to see more get into the hobby, but not because I feel ostracized or intimidated by my male counterparts who outnumber my gender, but to see more of a diverse cross section in the hobby and to see if there is much difference in Reefing style from one gender to another.

That’s the part i love is the science. And I love DIY though I do get my husband to build some stuff for me. The science is what makes me enjoy the hobby the most

 

[ourcoralreef]

This is a generalization and I do not have any numbers, data or other research to back it up, but it has been proposed that this hobby appeals to men because its a science based hobby and as such men have that area of the brain that digs math and science more so than women. This in no way assumes that women are not just as capable in the math and science part, just that for a hobby, it may not be as appealing. Also the maintenance is not for the feint of heart or body. This is a physical hobby as well as a mental one. Most of the women I know, would not be in to carrying heavy buckets & jugs of water or boxes of salt and if they ever had to clean a skimmer cup or scrape algae off a turf scrubber they would probably vomit. Again these are women I know and not representative of the masses. Being a woman, I would like to see more get into the hobby, but not because I feel ostracized or intimidated by my male counterparts who outnumber my gender, but to see more of a diverse cross section in the hobby and to see if there is much difference in Reefing style from one gender to another.

My own opinion as well

Its also a bit reckless spending lots of money more for the enjoyment than its worth

Its the same with gambling

 

[Iona Skye]

This is a generalization and I do not have any numbers, data or other research to back it up, but it has been proposed that this hobby appeals to men because its a science based hobby and as such men have that area of the brain that digs math and science more so than women. This in no way assumes that women are not just as capable in the math and science part, just that for a hobby, it may not be as appealing. Also the maintenance is not for the feint of heart or body. This is a physical hobby as well as a mental one. Most of the women I know, would not be in to carrying heavy buckets & jugs of water or boxes of salt and if they ever had to clean a skimmer cup or scrape algae off a turf scrubber they would probably vomit. Again these are women I know and not representative of the masses. Being a woman, I would like to see more get into the hobby, but not because I feel ostracized or intimidated by my male counterparts who outnumber my gender, but to see more of a diverse cross section in the hobby and to see if there is much difference in Reefing style from one gender to another.

I see what you're saying, but I think I'd blame the difference on our culture, not our brains. I really think girls are taught to be squeamish and encouraged to pick secretary work over hard sciences.

I think our brains were just as sharp and inquisitive, but then... we were pushed towards focusing on learning makeup brands and fashion instead of challenging ourselves with math, science, politics, and philosophy.

I'm an odd duck in this regard, and dude, am I now so grateful that I never 'fit in'! (Except for the secretary thing, that was me)

 

[ReefWeeds]

Hello! I'm really curious.... Are there many gals on this forum or mostly dudes?

I'm a chick, but 99.9% of aquarists I meet are all dudes. Seriously, I've only met ONE gal who was getting into reefing and actually knew what she was talking about. I've run into a couple other gals at the lfs, but they predominantly fit that awful cringy stereotype of "help, I know nothing and I keep killing my fish hahaha" (which seriously ticks me off, but that's a separate issue).

Sooooo.... Have you met many gals in this hobby? What's your experience?

Welcome! I actually know quite a few - my good friend @metrokat , @Adele , @Kali, @vlangel and many more! Us girls are out there, but it is definitely a male-dominated hobby. 80% of my followers on Instagram are male and I suspect about the same percentage on Facebook as well. However, I’ve made some really good friends that are male as well.

 

[shred5]

There is mostly male but here on Reef2reef I have seen pretty many women.
More than you would think.