Blatant Sexism in Audio Reviews

Outfitter03

Fortunately I rarely see this at Club Polk. But it abounds on other Audio Sites.

The OP is reviewing a change in his system: new cables, interconnects or gear and notices a dramatic change in the SQL or sound stage. Fair enough. But for added emphasis the OP's wife or girlfriend comes into the room and makes a comment that the sound is better! Now that means this upgrade must be really good because:

Wives or girlfriends have poor hearing?

Women never pay attention to detail?

Nice stereo systems are a man's thing?

In all of these reviews, I have never seen a follow on comment taking the OP to task. Maybe I am more sensitive because my only child is a daughter, but I would put her hearing up against any mans and with a few more years of Dad's training she will be able to hold her own on technical issues also.

Now for music selection, that's another story! I guess my age shows.

grimmace19

I understand where you are coming from but know for a fact I have said nearly the exact same thing when I have changed stuff around. I don't believe anyone means to be sexist but in most cases it's more of an A/B testing grounds. If I had a male roommate it would be the same comment "so and so walked into the room and said that things sounded better and asked what I switched around". It has nothing to do with male or female but rather the blind test of someone who isn't as familiar with the system as the owner.

bobman1235

The fact remains that the vast majority of women don't know or care about things like that.

Whether ti's societal or physical I don't know, but it's still something that exists, and pointing out something that is true and noticeable shouldn't be considered sexist.

Toolfan66

It might be that I need another cup of coffee but I'm not getting your post.My wife has said a few times how much better my system sounds when I have upgraded gear.even after I upgraded my cables.

She pays more attention then she did at first.she knows what I'm talking about know when I say clarity and depth..

TroyD

I've said things like this and sexism has nothing to do with it.

My wife could care less about gear. It's not her hobby, just like I don't get jazzed about her sewing gear....

It's a comment made for effect.....ie, "even someone who doesn't give a rat's patoot about the gear hears a difference"

BDT

quadzilla

bobman1235 wrote: »

The fact remains that the vast majority of women don't know or care about things like that.

Whether ti's societal or physical I don't know, but it's still something that exists, and pointing out something that is true and noticeable shouldn't be considered sexist.

I have to go with this. My wife doesn't notice most changes I make in the system, so when she does notice one, it's nice. She also says that she thinks my hearing is better, thought statistically, the opposite is likely to be true. But I do listen more closely, I think. I'm also just more into music than she is.

This is where I think most of these comments come from; that, in general, wifes/gfs just don't pay as much attention to the details of the reproduction, so don't notice the more subtle aspects.

steveinaz

There's nothing sexist about it. I have my wife listen to new equipment all the time, just to verify what I think I'm hearing---she's way less biased.

obieone

Another member, is desperate need of this::rolleyes:



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VR3

My roommate (A dude) comments all the time about the changes in the system and he knows jack about audio. Definitely a reference of mine...

Face

shack

The OP is reviewing a change in his system: new cables, interconnects or gear and notices a dramatic change in the SQL or sound stage. Fair enough. But for added emphasis the OP's wife or girlfriend comes into the room and makes a comment that the sound is better! Now that means this upgrade must be really good because:

Wives or girlfriends have poor hearing?

Women never pay attention to detail?

Nice stereo systems are a man's thing?

It means a second person who happens to live with the reviewer has heard the system and noticed the change. Since most the time the reviewer is male and the majority of males have a "significant other" of the opposite sex that person will be a female. Nothing sexist about it IMO.

In all of these reviews, I have never seen a follow on comment taking the OP to task.

Why should they be taken to task? There is nothing sexist in what you have recounted IMO.

Maybe I am more sensitive because my only child is a daughter, but I would put her hearing up against any mans and with a few more years of Dad's training she will be able to hold her own on technical issues also.

No...you are being OVERLY sensitive. I have two children...both daughters...and they don't need me to get all hyper sensitive about their lot in life. They are now their 20s and can hold their own with just about anyone. I would let her decide whether or not she want training on the technical issues of audio. My girls are both music lovers...both are pretty hi-tech when it comes to computers and such...but could care less about audio gear

mdaudioguy

Really?

Dumbest thread of the year, so far...

George Grand

After almost 25 years of transiting through my sound room in order to access the garage smoking area, I can honestly say my wife has never once commented on the quality, lack of quality, etc., etc. that the rig possessed. She couldn't be less concerned.

shack

George Grand wrote:

After almost 25 years of transiting through my sound room in order to access the garage smoking area, I can honestly say my wife has never once commented on the quality, lack of quality, etc., etc. that the rig possessed. She couldn't be less concerned.

Your wife sounds a lot like my wife. She will occasionally tell me it is too loud...but that is the extent of her commentary.

tonyb

Sexism ??? Sorry, I don't see it by what was described. My wife can tell what sounds good and what doesn't. She likes when things sound good, but could really care less when things sound bad. Just not important to a degree to her. She would admit to something sounding better, then question if the money spent was worth it. Her hearing is way better than mine, but no matter how good ones hearing is, if your not listening for something, you won't hear it.

cfrizz

LOL! I'm a woman and I can tell you that it is not sexist at all, and the plain truth is that most women don't care about stereo systems.

I'm one of the minority of women who got into it simply because I was raised around music.

My Dad was a professional musician, who played the violin. He was Concert Master of the West Roxbury Orchestra. He would spend hours practicing his craft at home in his bedroom, and hours more in between working and getting his Masters Degree in music while we were growing up. That degree enabled him to spend maybe 10 years teaching children musical education in the Watertown public school system, before he passed away in 1982.

My Mom liked to sing and for a few years took singing lessons. One Uncle taught me how to play the guitar, another Uncle played the piano (self-taught). My older brother Tom played the piano, and Mark is an organist, who was taught by his choir director when he sang in the St. Pauls Cathedral in downtown Boston.

If you want your girls to be interested in music, it is up to you to introduce them to it. And I'm NOT talking about **** around with the gear. I'm talking about listening to music TOGETHER.

Introduce her to different types of music, so that she is well rounded in her musical choices and knows that there is more than pop music to listen to. If you plan to make changes to your system, bring her with you, and explain what the changes are, (in easy to understand language & have her help you.) then put on some of her favorite music and see if she can hear a difference.

But most of all make it about the music, and not about the gear. If you get her interested in the music first, she will understand in time that having good gear, is required for hearing good music.

Outfitter03

Just to clarify on my post, I said that these showed blatant sexism not sexist.

Sexism definition: attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles.

Ok so now I get it, this is a figurative way of saying that the second reviewer is impartial and not as familiar with the system so the change must be very SIGNIFICANT.

Sorry for stirring the crap. I learned my lesson. Won't happen again!

cfrizz

No apologies are necessary Outfitter. By the definition, I suppose it could be considered correct, however, audio gear is generally thought of as mans hobby, and it's because most of you get caught up in the gear rather than the music. (ie, jumping further & further down the EXPENSIVE rabbit hole of gear searching for the never to be found perfect sound.)

Most of my clashes on the forum come about because I have a totally different outlook and approach about this hobby the majority of you do especially when it comes to powering a system. Because I want to get it sounding great the first time around rather than endlessly shuffling through gear.

Which is why I stressed making it truly about the music. The interest in the gear may follow behind it if only to just like me to assemble a terrific system to now sit back and enjoy the music.

steveinaz

Sometimes our audio geekness blinds us a bit, it's good to get an opinion from an otherwise uninterested party. I know if my wife can detect a difference in a component, it's a real difference--and not the placebo effect at work.

Polkersince85

Cathy, your post should be a sticky. Well said.

bobman1235

Outfitter03 wrote: »

Just to clarify on my post, I said that these showed blatant sexism not sexist.

Bah? Sexist is the adjective form of sexism.

TroyD

Would it be sexist of me to inquire if the volume knob on my preamp could be retrofitted in the shape of a woman's hooter?

BDT

inspiredsports

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

It might be that I need another cup of coffee but I'm not getting your post.My wife has said a few times how much better my system sounds when I have upgraded gear.even after I upgraded my cables.

She pays more attention then she did at first.she knows what I'm talking about know when I say clarity and depth..

Same thing here; I don't get the criticism the OP is making.

I listen to my rig which is in my home office at least 40 hours each week. My wife listens to music in the car or when she happens into my office. Knowing how important music is to me, I'm sure she gives it a critical listen when she's there.

When the magnitude of an upgrade is large, she picks up on it immediately and comments, but it's not in here set of interests to sit there and listen like I do.

Using wife/girlfriend/daughter as a control group or soundboard is a compliment and testament to their ability to hear the differences.

OP has it wrong (and I can trump your one daughter with my three) :biggrin:

cfrizz

Polkersince85 wrote: »

Cathy, your post should be a sticky. Well said.

Thank you.

Jetmaker737

steveinaz wrote: »

Sometimes our audio geekness blinds us a bit, it's good to get an opinion from an otherwise uninterested party. I know if my wife can detect a difference in a component, it's a real difference--and not the placebo effect at work.

Agree with that.

fossy

I live alone & a second pair of ears would be wonderful ....

My doggy loves rock & roll though ....:biggrin:

kawizx9r

You're over analyzing things.

Tour2ma

cfrizz wrote: »

If you want your girls to be interested in music, it is up to you to introduce them to it.

Somehow I jsut knew it would end up being the man's fault...

Happy New Year, cathy... :biggrin:

kevhed72

I can't even get my wife to admit a HD video signal is superior to a SD signal...but, my 8 year old son yesterday was flipping between the SD and HD channels of iCarly and exclaimed, "Dad, your right!!! High Definition is much better!" I couldn't be prouder as a father.
What was this thread about?

F1nut

TroyD wrote: »

Would it be sexist of me to inquire if the volume knob on my preamp could be retrofitted in the shape of a woman's hooter?

BDT

LOL.....not in my book, but I don't live in mamby pamby land either.

Face