Bike Forums - Why the gender bias?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by delcrossv (Post 16847762)

"Biology is destiny" is neither overwhelming nor nonexistent.

Nicely said. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim199 (Post 16833667)

Edit: Oh and I'd actually go as far as to say that some of the documented differences in the adult male and female brains are partly due to the activities they are encouraged to do as children and throughout life. I don't have evidence to back that up specifically, but there is increasing evidence now that what activities we focus on do affect our brains.

Yeah, there have been studies that do things like have students play video games with a lot of spatial maneuvering -- they get better at academic tasks that require good visualization (like mechanical engineering). I couldn't find a good quick link, but a few seconds on google has this overview article that lists citations for the real studies at the end: Spatial intelligence in children: Why training matters

And basically if you intentionally teach those skills, the gap between men and women closes right up. We think of spatial reasoning as an innate talent, but it can be taught/improved with practice. So play first-person-shooters with your daughters, it's good for them. :)

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Originally Posted by antimonysarah (Post 16860974)

And basically if you intentionally teach those skills, the gap between men and women closes right up. We think of spatial reasoning as an innate talent, but it can be taught/improved with practice. So play first-person-shooters with your daughters, it's good for them. :)

Nice link thanks. Yeah spatial reasoning was specifically what I was thinking. My thought was toy blocks, wooden, Legos, whatever, but if video games works, fine. Blocks have been said to be the most valuable toy a child can play with. It's can be a social experience with a parent or other children along with spacial and reasoning, mathematics, etc. It's not that kids can't learn valuable social and empathy skills from playing house and dolls etc, but when I hear people say legos are for boys, here's a doll to play with it makes me sad and angry. A child should be able to play with both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermespan (Post 16726334)

If philosophical discussion of bicycle social issues do not belong here, moderstors please move this post.

short story: Why are bikes 'a guy thing?'

Long story: Whether as an elementary school boy or adult, in 1965 or now, in Asia or Canada, things remain more of less the same - girls (except in Vietnam and China?) do not ride bikes.

I can think of a few possible reasons some from Victorian era, some based on the different ways are brains are hardwired. Never the less I find it strange.

My wife, daughter, sister, and granddaughter all ride bikes on a regular basis. My sister is an avid cyclist both on and off road. In the two cycling clubs I ride with the mix of male and female is pretty balanced and several of the ride leaders are female. One of the bike shops I frequent has a couple of female mechanics and the regional bike co-op has female volunteers, collective members and board members. On the charity centuries in the area there are numerous women. Even the gravel grinders are picking up more female participants. Cycling isn't any more a "guy" thing than running is a "gal" thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadandmountain (Post 16740714)

The cycling industry caters primarily to male, middle aged, faux racer types. There's a huge emphasis on the latest gadgetry, and the vast vast majority of shop employees are male (perhaps 90%+ plus).

The expense and pretentiousness of the typical bike shop is really unfortunate. It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a visit to a bike shop. You're likely to see 3 types:

-gadget obsessed, annoyingly pompous owner with $11K bike.

- a couple of 30-something cat 3/4/5 shop managers with shaved legs, and $5K bikes who look down on anyone who doesn't have aero wheels and a carbon frame.

-half a dozen bonged out druggie mechanics who make minimum wage, but surprisingly, also have $5K bikes just like the 2 shop managers.

Even though I've been riding for about 25 years now, I can probably say that I've never actually enjoyed visiting a bike shop for the purposes of buying a bike or accessories.

The only times I've actually enjoyed my visits were for the free classes on bike maintenance.

Unfortunately, visiting bike shops has been the least enjoyable aspect of being a cyclist . . . . .

If I don't like bike shops, then a woman who is a novice must loathe them.

Dang, you need to find a better bike shop. There are six shops within an hour or so of my home and not one of them fits any of the descriptions above. I've been to others across the tri-state area and know many shops that cater to the recreational / fitness crowd. A few are more competition oriented than the others and I'm sure some of the owners do own high-end bikes, but I wouldn't consider any of them pompous or condescending. I see a lot more MTBs, cruisers, commuters, hybrids and fitness bikes than "racing" bikes or even road bikes in general. Gadget obsessed? . . . name a sport that isn't.

My older daughter insisted on pink, purple and princesses long before she had any outside pressure to do so. While my wife and I were actively trying to avoid emphasizing such things. She also enjoys getting dirty, temporary tattoos, rafting, rock climbing etc. Some nature, some nurture. It is, what it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel1916 (Post 16891888)

Yep. All my kids are into legos (which I like for spacial training etc.) But... the girls like the "Lego Friends" and the boys like the "Ninja Adventure"

Here in Singapore, it's 50/50 as far as I'm concerned. I've noticed absolutely ZERO form of 'gender bias'.

I would comfortably bet a hundred bucks on a woman being the next cyclist around a random bend, though the biasness would likely fall on the men's side. There are a not-insignificant number of foreign male workers (Indian, Bangladeshi, etc) who cycle.

I live very near to ECP - a coastal area and arguably the most popular leisure cycling spot in Singapore - as well as cycled all over the island, but I've never gotten even an inkling that there are notably less female cyclists than men.