Women in High-End Audio

[MylesBAstor]

It certainly isn't because the ladies don't like music. They are every bit as much into music as any guy. Take for instance today's orchestras for instance where it is common to see more ladies than men, in part because management can pay women less.

There are a few women who run companies or are actively involved in the day to day operations of high-end manufacturers. Names like Karen Sumner, Kathy Gornick, Sheryl Lee Wilson, Eve-Anna Manley, Mary and Colleen Cardas, Angie Lisi, Cara Chaffee, Jennifer Crock, etc come to mind immediately. Yet, there's even slimmer pickins' when it comes to female audio -- or even music -- reviewers.

Back in the late '90s, John Atkinson suggested to my ex-wife that she chair a panel on the topic of women in audio at the Stereophile Show (think she did it two or three times). But not much seems to have come out of that either.

Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/news/1017...WOFUS2t01PE.99

From my observations, one of the biggest problems is how women are treated at both high-end audio stores and shows. I know many say that women are less technosavvy than guys but truth be told, how many male audiophiles are technosavvy? I don't think that much more. Guys and gals like the sound of music played back through good systems. Along those lines, it would seem that perhaps ladies would be more interesting in systems that aren't over complicated but allowed them to listen to the music. Perhaps a nice integrated amplifier and speakers would be more appealing to more ladies than a complete separate system? Oh, and two of the women audiophiles I knew (sadly both are now deceased) had systems based around Quad 63s.

But there's clearly a difference in the way women are treated when they enter many high-end audio stores than men. And Heidi's experience at shows is that many exhibitors treat women like second class citizens, like window shades when they're there with their husband, boyfriend or significant other, not even looking her in the eye when th.ey talk. Me thinks the industry really needs to rethink how they view women and embrace them rather than avoiding them because they are missing out on a great opportunity

Another view on the matter from Roger Skoff.

http://audiophilereview.com/audiophi...i-crazies.html

[Rob]

and what became of Enid Lumley?

[mkuller]

I met Enid at a gathering near Oakland at Art Ferris' house in about 1982. She was about 6 feet tall and very interesting to talk with.

Prior to writing for TAS and IAR she was a technician at GAS. Someone posted elsewhere they thought she had a sex change operation and was writing under the name of m. fremer.

Actually she passed away in 2008 from lung cancer.

[1morerecord2clean]

It seems to me that most things men touch or manage immediately grow hair, exhibit crude behavior, and every form of machismo. High end audio is just one of many. Why would any consumer industry thumb its nose at those who make up better than 50% of the population and many of whom earn more than their testicle dragging spouses?

[Socrates]

Don't leave out Josefina of EAT

Soc

[Rust]

One thing I'll put out. There is no way the very great majority of women will visually overload their domestic space with giant monoliths, stacks of visually and esthetically mismatched equipment, industrial equipment racks and platforms, and snakes nests of wires. Think the B&O equipment that ended up in MOMO instead and you might get some style points.

For speakers, those bamboo blue tooth speakers recently posted would probably be quite successful, just the sort of unobtrusive artsy thing that would fit in to domestic decorator sensibilities. Doesn't look like a box that doesn't match anything else in the room.

[cpp]

Maybe women just have more common sense about what they enjoy vs what they need.

[JackD201]

I know exactly 3 female audiophiles. They are no different from any of us audio wise from my experience with them except for they don't like to argue as much about audio as we do. LOL.

Well, perhaps there is one other thing. When conversing with them, the conversations revolve more around the emotional connection with the music. It's not that they don't care about the technical requirements needed to achieve that but more that the goal is much more important than the journey. We gadget loving guys seem to love the journey at least as much as the destination.

[MylesBAstor]

and what became of Enid Lumley?

John Curl was the last person I knew who was stayed in touch with Enid. Last I heard she was destitute and living in a trailer in the desert (HP had owed here mucho dinero). But I seem to remember she passed away a couple of years ago. But I might be and would hate to be spreading false info there.

[MylesBAstor]

Don't leave out Josefina of EAT

Soc

Thank you and also, though I can't remember her name (sure Bob V. does), the lady who works for Goldmund.

[1morerecord2clean]

I remember the lovely woman who was half of the founding members, her husband the other half, of Gershman Loudspeakers. I can't recall her name but I used to like talking to her at shows. For that matter is Gershman still in business?

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Ofra Gershman - a wonderful person.

And let's not forget Lucy Lentini, the business brains behind Totem.

[Bruce B]

Let us not forget the women on the Professional side as well.... like Cookie Marenco, Emily Lazar, Joanne Galindo, Leslie Ann Jones, Susan Rogers, Sylvia Robinson and a whole host of others I'm forgetting at the moment!

[MylesBAstor]

Or one of the pioneers: Wilma Cozart Fine.

[Rust]

Enid May Lumley - passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2008.

[Garth]

The gear is expensive to maintain

The gear only preforms when it wants not when you want

The gear needs expensive accessories IE wire and power conditioners

The gear stays up all night and drinks power

The gear makes guys sit still and listen

I do not think they like the competition

[MylesBAstor]

Permit me to make an analogy to the fitness field. Years ago, we dismissed people who didn't want to work out or adopt a healthier lifestyle as "not getting it." But with the obesity problem reaching epidemic proportions (some studies have shown that 60 pct. of the American population is overweight; if we said 60 pct of Americans were getting cancer, we'd have a new war on cancer. But which costs more?), we can no longer dismiss these people and need to find ways of reaching and helping them.

The same is true for the high-end industry. It needs to come with new and unique ways of reaching new populations. And none is bigger than women.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Unfortunately, the High End Audio industry is probably the worst at reaching out to new people or finding ways to get people interested. I've been pushing this for over 25 years, and most in the business still get it wrong.