why only women mostly do these things? what do men do?

[CoursesForHorsesandMares]

Over the past years say like a decade maybe longer I have done lots of different activities including short courses. Initially (like many women who made a similar mistake!) I started out with wine tasting when I was in a dating mind set and I did it to try to meet some men and broaden my social circle. Of course as anyone who has done this will tell you, wine tasting is 99% women trying to meet men who arent there!

Since then I've done lots of different courses for things I was interested in learning - not to meet guys -but a comment on a different thread (about walking groups) made me think that actually all of these courses are just women -maybe you get one or two men but in every case it is hugely dispropotionate weighting. This covers a really wide range of subjects from lots of varied providers - art based courses, computer based courses, acting courses, language course, comedy courses, wine tasting I've mentioned, street skating, skiiing, climbing. Even the ones that are less stereotypically 'female' - same thing again - almost all women.

Doesn't matter what the subject is - it's always women and not just single women with very few men. If you have a group of say 10 or 15, usually one man maybe two. Why is this? Is it women who are just interested in learning? Or is there something else? It's really strange because the law of averages should dictate a greater male attendance. I'm not saying 50:50 but maybe even 60:40 is so far away.

Why is it so disproportionate? What are men never doing these kinds of things?

Any chance that is because they are… courses? 🤔

I’m the type to not read instructions - maybe skim read if essential and just figure it out and when you said courses, it sounded off putting. - I would do a language course though, that’s different 😅.

I find the theory put forth by two posters interesting re men just going for it as being evolutionary.

That’s cracked me up 😂

I used to be into poker. Almost entirely men but also very social, there is plenty of time to chat while playing. It's a highly competitive game and maybe that puts off a lot of women? Or maybe it's the myth that it's all smoky clubs and gangsters. When I was single poker clubs made dating apps unnecessary. 😂

I'm also a member of a writing critique group which is about 60-70% male. Yet most styles of writing group are 90% female. I think it might be something to do with women being more nervous about giving opinions about other's work, or taking feedback on their own? (It is a bit scary.) Most writing groups are more low stakes and you don't need to share work, or on the rare occasions you read something out people tell you it's wonderful!

And you and your brother are the only people in the world?

Well if you have a four voice choir, you will need it to be about 50-50 so that might be managed by those in charge, rather than reflecting the interest.

I will go to a pub on my own, although I have been to one or two where it just did not work. However, I always have my phone or a book and will never talk to strange men in case it's misunderstood so I'm totally missing out on the socialising opportunities.

My experience is more varied.

Language evening classes (have done several in 2 different cities) - all have been roughly equal men/women.

Salsa - I'd say also around 50/50.

Weekend walking group - not sure of ratio but plenty of men and women.

Circuits gym class - mostly men

Pilates evening class - one man, 11 women

I suspect it’s more a need to know sort of thing. Men will learn new things as and when they need to rather than for fun.

They are doing martial arts!

In the last few years I have started doing a martial art and it appears to be very male dominated. There are more men/boys in the classes and all of the teachers are male. Including ones who have been invited in from outside the club for a workshop etc.

As for activities/evening classes, my OH once did an evening class in woodwork and said it was mainly blokes. He has also played darts and skittles (mainly an excuse to visit the pub methinks). I’ve done yoga and sewing which was 100% female and the gym which was a mum’s class but did contain a few token blokes 😂

Courses I have been on have had plenty of men - computer programming about 75%, electronics I was the only woman.

She ain't wrong though is she? They do think they know everything and will gladly talk over you to tell everyone what they know. 😂

I'm in an art class and there's 8 women and one man. The man rarely even talks!

Dp is a board gamer. Quite a mixed scene now for those in their 20s, but at his age (50s) it is extremely male heavy. He spends quite a lot of time preparing for the big sessions - reading books about the game, watching how-to-play videos, getting to know the game mechanic. I don't at all mind playing games as a social event, but can't imagine spending any of the extra time he spends on it. But it's a proper hobby, he enjoys it all. If I play, I benefit from his knowledge.

If he learns, he enjoys something online and gamified like Duolingo rather than going for a social setting like a course. I think the social part of the course isn't of interest to him, he either wants to socialise wuth his friends or to learn.

My husband does some and I have done some there is a mix of men and women, but why does it matter who does what? If people are doing things that interest them whatever that may be isn't that what we all do?

Or is it a case of people needing to feel superior because they have issues with something?

My husband does some and I have done some there is a mix of men and women, but why does it matter who does what? If people are doing things that interest them whatever that may be isn't that what we all do?

Or is it a case of people needing to feel superior because they have issues with something?

Because far more women are SAHP than men, so they have time to do these courses when the kids are at school?

But you’re still meeting men and actually being approached- isn’t that the point? Beyond a shit pick up line might actually be a really nice guy.

Meh.
I train and compete in a dog sport hobby. At grassroots level it is heavily skewed towards middle aged to older women (also white, middle class ish). And I think it is that they are mostly married and either don't work or don't work full time, or are retired. Basically ex SAHM. It's easier to find time and energy and money for those things if you have a partner who is working full time and supporting you.
They are also available to do things mid week and daytimes, as a single woman working a lot of hours I can't commit the time or resources they do, I can only do the weekends and evening.
Obviously there are exceptions there are single women like me who support themselves, some men, some young people with kids. But I'd say 80-90% fit the bracket I have described.

Well, women twitter on about babies and make up all the time and never shut up so I expect they feel the need to try and get a word in edgewise between all the nagging.

Or is that a ridiculous, offensive stereotype too?

I think men are just in the habit or mindset more of 'just do it'. So my DP wanted to play golf and just went and joined the club and went round with his mates and they taught him. Similarly he just went off and joined the gym and somehow by some weird osmosis just knows what to do on each machine.

I'm not sure if it's confidence or less fear of being judged or of making a mistake.

Interestingly he's been on the same job for 1000 years due to fear of moving whilst I've happily moved from job to job with no fear.

Il

Is the focus on dating, hobbies or learning useful skills?

If the focus is dating, no reason to spend much time in why men are not interested in salsa. Instead, perhaps you could research best ways to meet men who are interested in dating.

If you are wondering why men and women hobbies are not similar, this is a deeper topic, heavily researched and it has to do with inherent interests sometimes driven by hormones and physiology (and sometimes social norms).

If it's about the courses themselves and who finds them useful, this is again a deeper topic. Lots of people find pottery and pilates useful if they help them with physical or mental health, or are related to their careers. Others see these as fun activities/hobbies so not more useful than playing computer games or darts at the pub.

Men either don’t want to learn new skills or have own bye tests - such as golf/following football team or just spending hours in a pub

Yes, very odd.

While I find that's true of most things I've found a few exceptions - volunteering at park run, a hiking group & a board games cafe all had more men than women, but on the whole you're right. I think women are generally more sociable, idk

Around my way volunteering seems to be how people meet, or during the lunch/drink out with the group. Litter picking, conservation stuff has a lot of male volunteers. Courses like local history, photography, appeal to both. If you just want sex, join a gym and go in the sauna.