Why are we so few girls that like electronica/ambient/idm?

asymmetrical head · Post by **asymmetrical head** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:05 am

we were in our office at home a about an hour ago working on some stuff. I had stuff playing like flying lotus, teebs, p.u.d.g.e., Ras G, Shigeto and she was asking me all about it. i then looked over her shoulder and she was downloading them.

Vexille · Post by **Vexille** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:01 pm

It takes time and effort to find all this obscure non-mainstream music. Something not everybody has.

Some of you guys seem really bitter, wow.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:05 pm

There's also still a genuine lack of role models for women/girls in electronic music. When I was growing up, there was the combination of early arcade video games and bands like Kratwerk and The Human League which made the electronic future seem pretty amazing and exciting. All the electronic bands we saw on TV were basically male, and this male bias in electronica has continued ever since... which is strange because largely instrumental music really shouldn't be gender specific.

People still feel a need to identify with the artist in some way, and I think that the lack of women in electronica puts off a lot of women, who pigeonhole the genre as being for men only and refuse to give it a listen. My wife would never have given BoC or Plaid for example a listen before meeting me. Now she's really into both.

GrangalanJr · Post by **GrangalanJr** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:18 pm

Electronic music is mostly nerd territory, and a lot of nerd culture tends to be very male-dominated for some reason. Although it is probably improving a bit.

My gf doesn't like much electronic music. I've asked her why, and she says the main reason is that most of it has no vocals. But she likes plenty of non-mainstream music, mostly indie rock stuff, so in her case it's not about being ignorant of stuff outside of pop stations.

Syberia · Post by **Syberia** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:22 pm

When reading all your answer I feel that the question should more likely be "How on earth could any girl really be in to electronic/ambient/idm-music?" o_O

I agree whit many of your answers, there are probably many reasons for this..

With the risk of sounding like an angry feminist-bitch I also think that girls feel that they should not be to extreme in any term because it's unattractive in many guys eyes.

JosephG was also in to this before..

A girl should be like a lump of clay that the man is suppose to shape and if a girl already is a complete sculpture many guys get threaten by her or something..(at least that's my own experience). Now I'm talking about guys in general, I really don't think you guys here are like that. Maybe many girls feel that its better to be more mainstream because then its easier to get guys..But I don't know..I personally rather have my musical taste and extreme opinions than lots of guys

Oh and btw, writing in english has never been my strong side so please forgive me if I sometimes writes wrong..

Waterbagel · Post by **Waterbagel** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:40 pm

that sounds like the consensus on this subject, right there.

and, you're doing fine, no worries

Pantheon · Post by **Pantheon** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:16 am

Who wants a girl like a lump of clay?
I mean, ok, not many people would want a girl who is reactionary to every new thing you expressed to her. But personality is one of the most crucial features of a girl. A bland girl would quickly bore me.
Not to mention that lots of this 'generic girly girl' shit that the media keep pushing for actually intimidates me on some level. I just don't like it.

I have to agree that from my experience, lots of the girls I know see music as purely a social thing. They seem to easily take to whatever is popular amongst their peer group, rarely voyaging on their own to find sounds that are unique to themselves. Most of the music in their library's are wide ranging but distinctly generic. It like their not really listening to it, they just like the culture that produced it.

There is one girl I know however that seems to have a great taste in music and constantly freshens my ears with music I wouldn't have heard otherwise. So while there seems to be a trend here, there are definite puzzling exceptions. I should mention that she would also be considered a 'strange girl', which is a shame really. She is infinitely more appealing than a pop-culture sponge girl.

Some people say that their girl friends like electronic music, but it crosses my mind that perhaps a large part is their close relationship with the person that introduced them to it.

Its not my intention to make girls sound like they don't have a brain of their own, and if I have I have given the wrong impression. Its just a product of my own confusion in this interesting subject.

It is my impression that the majority of girls seem shy about following their own tastes and beating their own path in many areas, music being only one.

many colored grass · Post by **many colored grass** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:55 am

My ex-girlfriend liked it quite a bit. She really dug most of "I Care Because You Do." And she really liked the "In a Beautiful Place.." EP. She said something along the lines of BOC's music being strangely natural and detailed like leaves or grass.

Anyway, she had good taste in music and would often play good bits of my electronic collection while I was away. So it showed that it wasn't just me playing it and her having to be around to listen to it. And she showed me quite a few great things, as well.

It's rare with either sex to be interested enough to go that far down the rabbit hole with music. Probably somewhat more rare with females. But it's such a small segment of the population to begin with that it's like splitting hairs.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:12 am

Syberia wrote: With the risk of sounding like an angry feminist-bitch I also think that girls feel that they should not be to extreme in any term because it's unattractive in many guys eyes.

some of us are completely okay with feminism.

Pantheon wrote: Not to mention that lots of this 'generic girly girl' shit that the media keep pushing for actually intimidates me on some level. I just don't like it.

me too. i think it's because they aren't people; they're concepts. they're like characters in a play - anyone can play the role, but nobody can truly -be- that because it's like being someone who makes no decisions - we're not capable of it, we do it regardless. nobody can be 'the perfect girl' and nobody can be mr. right either. our desires and proclivities are defined, at least in most cases, before any idea of a planned goal for personality is conceived. in other words we as people are less like heady premeditated concept albums and more like thrown-together records of assorted studio cuts.

Syberia · Post by **Syberia** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:25 pm

turquoise70 wrote:
Syberia wrote: With the risk of sounding like an angry feminist-bitch I also think that girls feel that they should not be to extreme in any term because it's unattractive in many guys eyes.
some of us are completely okay with feminism.

Pantheon wrote: Not to mention that lots of this 'generic girly girl' shit that the media keep pushing for actually intimidates me on some level. I just don't like it.
me too. i think it's because they aren't people; they're concepts. they're like characters in a play - anyone can play the role, but nobody can truly -be- that because it's like being someone who makes no decisions - we're not capable of it, we do it regardless. nobody can be 'the perfect girl' and nobody can be mr. right either. our desires and proclivities are defined, at least in most cases, before any idea of a planned goal for personality is conceived. in other words we as people are less like heady premeditated concept albums and more like thrown-together records of assorted studio cuts.

Oh, I'm sorry. Don't know why I keep doing that, excuse myself..I am a angry feminist but I guess I'm used to people that stops listen as soon as I say that I'm a feminist, a vegan or anything else that people feel is threatening. Didn't mean to offend anyone..

I think You and Pantheon has really sensible opinions in this. I guess it all comes down to control, as always. If people are insecure of who they are they are easier to control...

Syberia · Post by **Syberia** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:26 pm

Hum..Wait a second..I'm also controlled, I realize now! I'm afraid to offend people whit my opinions even if I think I'm not. This is getting really scary..

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:30 pm

that's totally okay, i think a self-awareness about stuff like that is good too, it prevents you from accidentally bulldozing people in conversation with your opinions. believe me i have the same way of introducing my opinions on a lot of things.

although in other cases i abandon that approach because it seems to permit people to disrespect my opinions, like when i mention (while taking all possible pains not to impose myself on anyone) that i'm a vegetarian and the people in conversation will first commend me on "not being like all those other self-righteous asshole vegetarians" (thanks, i love hearing that :/) and then going on to say how happy they are that they can express their own opinion around me without fear of being recriminated, and then they proceed to say they are totally okay with vegetarians (newsflash, your fucking approval of me was never an issue) as long as they "don't preach" and basically stay out of sight and out of mind, and finally they elaborate on their moral and ethical opinions on why vegetarianism is fundamentally misguided and a totally confused, unfounded position to take on morality. then they thank me again that i'm such a nice guy who lets them express themselves and doesn't preach at them or make them feel bad. experiences like that have led to me being a lot more forward about being a vegetarian and not really feeling guilty about 'imposing myself' on people, by way of being demure about it and seeking to placate them. if they have an issue with perceiving vegetarians as threatening in their moral beliefs, that's their issue and not mine.

Möbius · Post by **Möbius** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:05 pm

Julian Candy wrote:Over here in America's asshole, the average teenage girl has the IQ and attention span of a snow shovel (probably because they're either plain bitches or too high and stupid), so they all seem to gravitate to what's considered "in" (e.g. rap, pop etc.) and aren't smart enough to give thought into instrumental music, as most instrumental music, at least for me, allows more thought as opposed to lyric peppered songs which force thought through a song.

Basically I'm saying that over here, girls are just too damn stupid to search and listen to any music that doesn't play round the clock on MTV, excluding the 0.0001% that may be avid music listeners.

Just my two cents, though as I always say - "Two cents won't buy you a goddamn candy bar"

You make bold, generalized assumptions. It's not necessary to participate in intellectual masturbation. One should observe the medium in which music, or any form of art, is received by the mass majority. For the most part, the primary culprit is television (with the internet on the rise). Big media television executives and marketing firms are not interested in providing intellectually stimulating music (which isn't limited to instrumental music). In fact, these institutions are amoral — they don't give two fucks about the content of the music. They are more interested in what sells — or in your words, "what's considered 'in.'"

Is that to say that all music that is funneled through the mainstream shares a resemblance to that of a shit-stain? No. However, I would argue that a large chunk of it looks and smells the part. But, to say that girls, let alone anyone, are "too high and stupid" because they listen to rap and pop (or vice versa) is an elitist statement to make.

And the bit about lyrics that "force thought" throughout the song is a bit contrived. As listeners, we could certainly find common themes (e.g. love songs, protest songs, and so on), but regardless of the overarching theme, people will interpret the lyrics as they see fit.

Julian Candy · Post by **Julian Candy** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:03 am

Möbius wrote: You make bold, generalized assumptions. It's not necessary to participate in intellectual masturbation. One should observe the medium in which music, or any form of art, is received by the mass majority. For the most part, the primary culprit is television (with the internet on the rise). Big media television executives and marketing firms are not interested in providing intellectually stimulating music (which isn't limited to instrumental music). In fact, these institutions are amoral — they don't give two fucks about the content of the music. They are more interested in what sells — or in your words, "what's considered 'in.'"

Is that to say that all music that is funneled through the mainstream shares a resemblance to that of a shit-stain? No. However, I would argue that a large chunk of it looks and smells the part. But, to say that girls, let alone anyone, are "too high and stupid" because they listen to rap and pop (or vice versa) is an elitist statement to make.

And the bit about lyrics that "force thought" throughout the song is a bit contrived. As listeners, we could certainly find common themes (e.g. love songs, protest songs, and so on), but regardless of the overarching theme, people will interpret the lyrics as they see fit.

I don't consider myself to be better than anybody, intellectually or musically, but I was really saying that girls here in Oakland don't bother searching for music but do gravitate towards the popular genre. Rap is sadly the popular kind here as the kind most people listen to is the crappy generic beat over and over again while going on about "bitches and hoes", ask anyone at my school if they have heard of Psyche Origami and, unless it's me or my friend, they'll likely say no.

Saying "too high and stupid" may sound a bit extreme but really almost everyone in my classes is either one of those two, again that's just the majority.

I will agree that not all of music that comes out the radio and TV is shit as I wouldn't have ever heard of BoC, Grizzly Bear, Psyche Origami, Blockhead, Prefuse 73, Broadcast, Jackson and his Computer Band, J Dilla or Tycho without [adult swim] and I wouldn't have heard of gotten into System of a Down or Disturbed until I heard it on the radio.

Remember that everything I say pertains to the Bay area so I know that this may not be the case over in Europe or whatever.

ninetyoneplus · Post by **ninetyoneplus** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:32 am

Julian Candy: Oakland, CA? That place has some great music, that's where Odd Nosdam is from. Not that it will necessarily trickle down, but still.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:08 am

Look as much as I agree with people who are saying Julian Candy is painting with too broad a stroke, I must say I agree with his experience.... in a way, I mean... let's not forget that for someone just going through the motions of real life, there is little reward. Girls appear to be skanks and guys appear to be assholes with no honor. I am hesitant to rebuke Julian because most of what he says echoes what I have experienced myself. You know? He's not lying to us, it's all true. Sometimes, life is bullshit and especially the male-female-relations part of life is especially bullshit.

I just think, don't be too quick to rebuke the guy. Sometimes... (and as I type this, I am thinking "for most of my life...") girls seem to be shallow, pointless, soulless pieces of meat with no spirit, no personality, no substance. Guys seem to be even worse - shallow, pointless, soulless hunters who pounce on said girls and consume them as one consumes a TV dinner. Sometimes shit is really fucking disheartening.

Waterbagel · Post by **Waterbagel** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:56 am

we must bury this thread lest any new girl finds it and is scared away
hurry, 'fore the grass fades

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:02 pm

By which I don't mean to say that's how it really is. Just that sometimes things seem that way. When you're down on your luck especially. Basically all I'm saying is...

People are strange
when you're a stranger
faces seem ugly
when you're alone
women seem wicked
when you're unwanted
streets are uneven
when you're down!

Numerator · Post by **Numerator** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:59 pm

turquoise70 wrote:By which I don't mean to say that's how it really is. Just that sometimes things seem that way. When you're down on your luck especially. Basically all I'm saying is...

People are strange
when you're a stranger
faces seem ugly
when you're alone
women seem wicked
when you're unwanted
streets are uneven
when you're down!

turquoise70 makes a Doors reference - he gains +25 culture points

meat like product · Post by **meat like product** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:12 pm

Aesthetics wrote:My experience is that is has to do with the lack of lyrics.
I also think that girls are much more susceptible to fashion and something to look up to. Music, like the majority use it, is fashion. If electronic music get's more popular there sure will be more female fans.

snap!