Why DO women like prog?

Ah, Ghost Rider, you’re fast becoming my new prog hero ! And with a thread like this, you’d think all female proggers would finally be coming out of the woodwork. But alas... So here I go.

First, let me say that I’m a 56-year old female (don’t ever say you’re too old for prog!). The way I see it is women’s brains are different from men’s, with possible repercussions on (among other things) our respective music appreciation. For the same reason you won’t find many females standing with their hands crossed behind their backs, staring at a construction site (althrough there are some), you don’t find too many females who enjoy highly technical music (again, there are some but they are a minority) - and prog provides plenty of this.

I, myself, don’t easily make concessions when it comes to melody contents: a piece can feature odd-time signatures and take many crazy twists & turns, but some harmony must come of it all to satisfy my female brain (that’s why I like mostly symphonic and neo prog). When music steers too far away from melody, I feel like I’m trying to connect with someone lacking basic human emotions. This doesn’t mean I like syrupy ballads, far from it: hip-hop, new age music and crooners absolutely bore me to death.

I’d say if you’re female, not only must you have an ear for music, but you must make music a priority in your life if you want to enjoy prog : turn the phone off the hook, don’t answer the door, “don’t talk to me for the next four hours while I strap my headphones on” sort of thing. Very few women are encouraged to endulge in such a “selfish” pastime, what with our family lives, raising the kids and all.

One day, surely, someone will find a satisfying explanation for this female lack of interest in prog. But something tells me it has to do with (1) the way our respective brains process musical information and (2) the socialogical context that discourages women from indulging in a hobby you mostly emjoy alone.

Sorry for raveling on so. I don’t write often but I just couldn’t let that wonderful thread pass without putting my two cents in. Keep on progging, ladies, and don’t ever let that proggy flame die inside .