# Non-sexual, non-physical hobbies or activities that still have high gender separation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [February 3, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938 "2017-02-03T22:50:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/21 "2017-02-04T03:14:28Z")
In the immense majority of industries, production workers tend to be male; maintenance workers are overwhelmingly male; quality techs and safety people are pretty likely to be female.
There are exceptions, such as canneries and textiles having lots of female production workers, but even in those you’re likely to have male mechanics and female lab techs.
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### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/22 "2017-02-04T03:28:21Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#):
>
> Unless you are talking about gigging hobbyists. I’ve found that if you’re talking about hobby singers who go out and perform in bars and coffee shops, they are almost overwhelmingly male. They also tend to call themselves “professional” more often than female singers even when they are performing the same amount.
I was thinking specifically about people who join and sing in choirs. Choirs tend to have plenty of altos and sopranos, but need to stretch to get enough basses and (particularly) tenors.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/23 "2017-02-04T03:34:01Z")
I was thinking of church too. Choir is mostly women with just a few guys. The pianist is probably a woman.
It varies from church to church.
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### Author:  [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/24 "2017-02-04T03:41:24Z")
Falconry: at least 90% male.
Bird rehabilitation: probably 85% female.
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### Author:  [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/25 "2017-02-04T03:41:42Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#):
>
> One of the things that bothers me about photography is that it seems to attract only guys, and only tedious know-it-all guys. Sadly, since I am a serious photographer, this probably describes me.
While I’ll grant you that the tedious types who are more interested in what cameras/lenses etc. you have and how much they cost tend to be male, I am a female enthusiast photographer and know quite a few other women who are also into that hobby. We tend to be more interested in the photos themselves and the subject matter than in the technical stuff though - it’s more a matter of focusing on the outcome than the process, generally.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/26 "2017-02-04T04:21:43Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> Ancestry research - mainly women that I have seen
Anecdotally I might be inclined to dispute that one. Back when I had a passing interest in the topic the bulk of the serious ancestry-hobby folks I’ve known have been male ( particularly those tracing genetic markers, gene geeks seem to be heavily male ). But as I implied I have no stats to back that up.
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### Author:  [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/27 "2017-02-04T04:44:27Z")
Animal rescue, especially for cats. Basically all women.
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### Author:  [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/28 "2017-02-04T05:15:10Z")
Horseback riding. Casual pleasure riding is at least 85% women, probably more.
English competitive riding (jumping, dressage) is graduated, the higher the level, the more men you will find. Women completely dominate the low and middle.
Western competitive riding has very clear gender divisions: cutting, reining, roping virtually all to all male. Slow walk jog lope classes which emphasize costume and manners, mostly women. The specific arena races of barrel racing and pole bending, only women.
Dog shows, cat shows, rabbit shows … all women. The few men at dog shows are gay.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/29 "2017-02-04T06:22:21Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> I do know one professional women electric bass player (Juliana Hatfield-- she plays lead and acoustic as well-- actually, I think she plays bass only when there’s no one else to do it).
A few other noteworthy female bassists:
- [Carol Kaye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye) (longtime studio musician and member of the “Wrecking Crew”)
- [Tina Weymouth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Weymouth) (Talking Heads)
- [Tal Wilkenfeld](http://talwilkenfeld.com/) (used to play in Jeff Beck’s band)
- Kimberly Dahme (former bassist for Boston)
- Tracy Ferne (current bassist for Boston)
- [Hagar Ben Ari](http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/hagar-ben-ari-pulse-party-after-midnight-on-the-late-show-with-james-corden/54390)(bassist in the house band for James Corden’s “Late Late Show”)
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### Author:  [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/30 "2017-02-04T08:49:36Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#):
>
> And for these, it seems to be mostly _old_ men at that, at least near me. I’ve attended a few local model railroading clubs in my area and the average age there seems to be about 60. Typically a few small children can be found, and those tend to be both girls and boys. Teens are noticeably absent, and there are scarcely any twentysomethings or thirtysomethings. I visited the ham radio booth at a local fair a while back and everyone there behind the booth were also around 60 or above.
> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> Trains are an expensive hobby. You are going to find mostly people with the money to afford the hobby doing it, which will be men who retired with a sizable pension, or a stock portfolio, or something.
Enthusiasm for real, full-size railways and locomotives – this, not necessarily an expensive pursuit – is in my experience (I’m a male follower of the avocation) a highly-overwhelmingly male thing. I have been acquainted with a very few female genuine rail enthusiasts; but they seem vanishingly rare.
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### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/31 "2017-02-04T10:25:14Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> A few other noteworthy female bassists:
>
> - [Carol Kaye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye) (longtime studio musician and member of the “Wrecking Crew”)
> - [Tina Weymouth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Weymouth) (Talking Heads)
> - [Tal Wilkenfeld](http://talwilkenfeld.com/) (used to play in Jeff Beck’s band)
> - Kimberly Dahme (former bassist for Boston)
> - Tracy Ferne (current bassist for Boston)
> - [Hagar Ben Ari](http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/hagar-ben-ari-pulse-party-after-midnight-on-the-late-show-with-james-corden/54390)(bassist in the house band for James Corden’s “Late Late Show”)
Suzi Quatro would like a word.
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### Author:  [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/32 "2017-02-04T11:36:30Z")
At least here in Peru.
Kindergarten teachers are almost exclusively female.
Lower primary teachers are also overwhelmingly female.
Secondary math teachers: mostly male.
Non-native ESL/EFL teachers: mostly female.
Native ESL/EFL teachers: majority male.
(School) MUN faculty advisors: mostly male.
Fast Food Delivery: Almost exclusively male.
> [@MaxTheVool](#):
>
> I was thinking specifically about people who join and sing in choirs. Choirs tend to have plenty of altos and sopranos, but need to stretch to get enough basses and (particularly) tenors.
I was part of my English Academy and it was 15 women and me. I’m on the lighter side of baritone, but the conductor had me singing in the lowest part of my register for almost every song.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/33 "2017-02-04T12:00:29Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#):
>
> I was thinking specifically about people who join and sing in choirs. Choirs tend to have plenty of altos and sopranos, but need to stretch to get enough basses and (particularly) tenors.
Except for the hundreds of gay choruses all over the world… the majority of which are male.
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### Author:  [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/34 "2017-02-04T13:15:37Z")
Hunting is almost all male. Fishing is close, but ladies are becoming more common (ime).
My hunting club has been in existence since WWII, and we inducted our first female member two years ago. When her application for membership was put before the club, the “yes” vote was unanimous. I was pleasantly surprised, given the average age and political makeup of the club.
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/35 "2017-02-04T14:00:01Z")
Civil War reenactors, war memorabilia, male.
Fans of Rush, male.
Fans of Twilight, Fifty Shades, female.
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### Author:  [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/36 "2017-02-04T14:19:06Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#):
>
> I visited the ham radio booth at a local fair a while back and everyone there behind the booth were also around 60 or above.
Hiram Percy Maxim was 44 years old when he co-founded the American Radio Relay League. Most of the members at that time were in their teens and twenties, so Maxim was known as “The Old Man”. I saw one recent comment that today he would be known as “the young guy”.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/37 "2017-02-04T14:34:14Z")
A lot of these things seem to stem from the toys that boys and girls are “supposed” to play with. Planes, trains, and automobiles for boys and dolls, clothes, horses etc for girls. Now, do boys and girls play with stereotypical toys because they are hardwired to or because we (adults) expect them to?
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/38 "2017-02-04T14:36:18Z")
I suppose that it’s technically a subset of “strategy board games”, but chess is pretty male-dominated.
And I’m a tuba player. While tuba players do skew male, it’s not overwhelmingly so (65-35 maybe), and that might just be due to differences in strength (even though I’m weaker than most women). But I have never, not once, seen a female trombone player. Euphonium/baritone (which plays in the same range), sure, but not trombone.
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### Author:  [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/39 "2017-02-04T14:36:20Z")
Homebrewing beer, almost exclusively male. Which I find a bit odd, since, historically, it was the women who brewed. Brewster is “a female brewer” and one of the few female occupations used as last name in English.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-non-physical-hobbies-or-activities-that-still-have-high-gender-separation/778938/40 "2017-02-04T14:37:05Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#):
>
> Animal rescue, especially for cats. Basically all women.
Yep. A friend is in a cat rescue. _One_ guy, and he’s a very strange character (and that’s a charitable description).
Kayaking is 50/50. I stopped going on Meetup kayak trips because it was basically dating-in-boats.
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