Why DO women like prog?

I never realized that females usually stay away from prog, but then again, I don't talk to many girls, so I wouldn't know.  Personally, I started listening to prog because I got sick of death metal and black metal (which is much less feminine than prog) because I wanted something more melodic and listenable.  I used to be a HUGE Opeth fan, so that opened the door for me, leading me to discover more and more prog bands.  Another reason that I love this genre is because I'm a musician of sorts, so I have the utmost respect for anyone who can create such masterpieces as most prog songs are.

Ghost Rider wrote: I've noticed that, in the past few days, quite a few fellow women have joined the PA forum - hopefully to stay for a while and not just disappear into thin air immediately afterwards. In the past, there have been several threads and polls about why women can't get into prog, some of them descending into gratuitous, sexist stereotypes about women being only interested in 'mating' music like all kinds of dance music. I thought it was time to have a thread dedicated to the opposite situation, i.e. women like me and others here who do like prog, and have for some time. I, for instance, have never been able to stand either dance music or, even worse, traditional 'female' music such as romantic pop songs, and have been into classic rock, prog and even metal for as long as I can remember. I suppose all the women who frequent these forums have a similar story to tell. Of course, guys are welcome to come here and discuss their own experiences with prog-loving ladies. So, what do you think makes a woman go for such an 'unwomanly' genre as prog, instead of piling up the Celine Dion or Barry White CDs?

And what, pray tell, is wrong with Barry White?!!



                                          
                                       

Seriously though, statistically, aren't men more likely to be serious music fans, in whatever genre, than women? (Look around you in a record or hi fidelity store.)

I don't think men are naturally interested in mechanics etc. I think it's more of a case of that's how guys are raised. That's the mould, if you see what i mean. It's just been that guys are brought into the world expecting to be hands on kind of people, and women caring and empathic. Maybe that's what you meant though. Thankfully i think this is deteriorating more and more as time progresses. But you may have a point YYZed. It's an interesting idea.

Well anyway, i used to be a complete metal head, and i still enjoy heavy metal, and am in a heavy metal band. And i can safely say that there are PLENTY of females who like metal. Hell, the bassist in my band is a chick, and we have an interested vocalist who is a chick (yeah, a chick death metal singer, and she does it very well).
I was at a Dark Tranquillity (melodic death metal) gig last night, and while males may have made up the percentages, there were a vast array of females as well.

So that kind of supports that those moulds are expanding i think, and that women don't just listen to dance music and love ballads at all. I know metal is not (necessarily) prog, but the principle is the same.
    

Edited by Reverie - September 19 2006 at 21:27

mickstafa wrote: Many women just don't listen to highly technical music for that sake alone like we do.

Most of the time, that is typical. However, I know many women musicians who listen to classical music (some of which can be much more challenging than prog). The biggest problem is the brainwashing: before music became corporate-driven, women listened to pretty much the same as men. For example, my grandmother listened to jazz (Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington) in the 30s and 40s.

Well, let's see if Dr. Cham can solve this one.

I am very fortunate that my wife not only tolerates most of my music, but actually likes some of it. Because of me she loves Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, Marillion, Genesis, Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant. 

What are women?

Drew wrote: What are women?

Peter Rideout wrote: stonebeard wrote: Drew wrote: What are women?   I'll create a poll. That's pole.