Male to Female ratio?

[Broken Arrow]

I am constantly surprised by the number of females on this forum. Better yet, there are some who turned out to be female whom I originally thought was male!

So, it really got me thinking about just what IS the male to female ratio on this board.

Don't worry, it's just a poll, so unless you declare it publically, it's anonymous and no one has to know.

See, now I generally think women are more thrify than men - I have formed my own stereotypes, lol.

[sweeps]

It seems to me like it's about a 5 to 1 ratio.

[Ima saver]

I know that I am thriftier than my husband!!

[Broken Arrow]

Amazing. There are some internet forums would kill for this kind of ratio. And yet, here we have it. Easily.

I would also agree that women are generally thriftier than men. It also makes me wonder why. My guess for now is the following:

1. Women are typically are saddled with the role of tending to children. As such, this would leave less time for a professional life, which limits income. Thus, women may feel that they have to be thriftier in order to make due with less.

By contrast, men may feel that the easier route to more income is to simply work more or get a raise.

Perhaps it doesn't always hold true on a practical level, but it may have an effect at least on a psychological level....

On the other hand, for others, especially SAHMs, this may very well be only way of getting more with what's available to work with.

In any case, I'm guessing that children may be the biggest reason....

2. Women statistically make less than men. As a result, women may need to be a bit thriftier in order to live with slightly less.

At the same time, I believe the "maintenance cost" for women is also slightly higher. I'm not just talking about pedicures and new outfits. For example, men don't have to budget for particular expenses such as feminine protection products or bras. In fact, for some of us guys, a pair of underwear, a TV, and TV dinners is enough to get us by on some nights. Careful ladies! Don't want you to swoon so much that you risk hurting yourselves!

3. Finally, social identity. Men may feel that to be "successful" in the eyes of society is to have a successful career. Women may feel that to be "successful" in the eyes of society is to have a successful family.

Work vs. home.

A successful career would usually involve bigger job titles and paychecks. Hence the focus on more income. A successful home probably involves marrying a decent guy and to raising a familly. In which case, thriftiness would cater better for the latter.

Well, something like that. As generalizations, there will be exceptions.

[PrincessPerky]

I always thought it was that we admit when we need help...and here we get it

[Broken Arrow]

Oh yeah, that too.

(Reminds me of that humorous line, "Christopher Columbus didn't need directions. Neither do we.")

[rusty@saving]

i know that my finances are a "soup sandwich" and i don't know a darn thing about saving or being thrifty or any of that stuff....my friends laughed at me when i gave up the $ and let Renee take over, but my checking hasn't gone negative and everything has been in order for the last 6 months...
bottom line....women generally handle $ better, we are a prime example.

[Ima saver]

I think women need to feel secure more so than men.

[kealina]

i don't know what the ratio is but count me in with the other girls...

[kashi]

um....no kids or family to speak of here...and I make more $ than SO. I just like the challenge of saving money, and I want to save it for lots of other reasons (having an emergency fund, paying off student loans, buying a home, buying a new car, etc).

[Mathew Green]

As of right now the poll says 28 female, 11 male. That's a very small percentage of all the people on these forums and statistically NON-representative.

However, here is my theory anyway:

(disclaimer: ALL of these numbers are flat-out guesses off the top of my head, but based on reasonable assumptions IMO.)

Unmarried people looking for this kind of advice: M/F ratio is probably about 50/50.

Married people with both working outside the home: M/F ratio is probably about 40M/60F because the female probably has prime responsiblity for food and clothing decisions. Also in maybe 1/4 of those couples both of them read these forums.

Married people with only one working outside the home: M/F ratio is probably about 10% male and 90% female because stay-at-home partner probably handles the family budget and is usually female.

Given those ratios, I'm going to guess there are about twice as many women as men on these forums.

[Mathew Green]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I think women need to feel secure more so than men.

On the contrary, I believe women have a greater need to "feel secure" and men have a greater need to "feel in control". In a budgeting/frugality/debt-reduction forum, those two forces probably balance each other out and effectively neutralize any natural gender bias.

That's why I believe marital+employment status is the prime reason for there being more women than men here.

[PrincessPerky]

Now I have the urge to go start three polls, one for married one income, one for married two incomes, and one for single............Just to check how close Matts WAGs are...........

[scfr]

In our house, HE is head of the offensive team (more focus on making money) and SHE is head of the defensive team (more focus on making the money stretch farther), although we cooperate on both.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by scfr

In our house, HE is head of the offensive team (more focus on making money) and SHE is head of the defensive team (more focus on making the money stretch farther), although we cooperate on both.

Yes, that would be the stereotypical make up wouldn't it? (Not a bad thing at all, by the way.)

Of course, I'm of the opinion that the best players are the ones that are good at both.

[PrincessPerky]

here HE is not the forum-er..
She is the fast typing forum-er
both are 'get budget in line, save money-ers'

[Bluezy]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

I am constantly surprised by the number of females on this forum. Better yet, there are some who turned out to be female whom I originally thought was male!

Quite a feat but not beyond us....

Women have come a long way from the days that we were considered "chattels", items that are owned and attached to the homestead, so to speak. We have become educated and free-thinking. We can take care of investments as well as our babies' nappies.

A significant number of us have also chosen to tread lightly in the area of the marriage contract. When this is done we assume both roles of the home when we have babies. You learn to accomplish all tasks diligently and wisely, and handle all crisis situations with insulting ease.

I cannot imagine how our mothers, grandmothers and their mothers before made it through, 100% dependant upon a man in many casess. No offense is meant towards men. They can be such stunning creatures, loving and caring, and if you look like George Clooney.......well....need I say more?

[Mathew Green]

Originally Posted by Bluezy

Women have come a long way from the days that we were considered "chattels", items that are owned and attached to the homestead, so to speak. We have become educated and free-thinking. We can take care of investments as well as our babies' nappies.

A significant number of us have also chosen to tread lightly in the area of the marriage contract. When this is done we assume both roles of the home when we have babies. You learn to accomplish all tasks diligently and wisely, and handle all crisis situations with insulting ease.

I cannot imagine how our mothers, grandmothers and their mothers before made it through, 100% dependant upon a man in many cases.

You sound like someone who could relate to one of my favorite songs: "I'm Gonna Be An Engineer" by Peggy Seeger.

Last Two Verses:

I listened to my mother and I joined a typing pool;
I listened to my lover and I put him through his school;
But if I listen to the boss, I'm just a bloody fool,
And an underpaid engineer!

I've been a sucker ever since I was a baby,
As a daughter, as a lover, as a mother and a "dear,"
But I'll fight them as a woman, not a lady,
I'll fight them as an engineer.

A lot has changed since that song was written in 1970. In a songbook, Peggy said,

...I reworked much of the song when I was asked to sing it at the 1995 Knoxville celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of women's suffrage. The event was the result of the inspiration and work of a group of women lawyers. The new version, "I'm Gonna Be a Lawyer," outlines the problems that women have in the legal field. Opens up all kinds of vistas for female doctors, politicos, professors...

Maybe one day our daughters and granddaughters won't understand that song at all but until then, I always end it the way Pete Seeger ended his rendition:

But I'll fight them as a woman, not a lady,
I'll fight them as an engineer.
(Sol-i-dar-ity For-ev-er!)
I'll fight them as an engineer!

[Jacklad]

Originally Posted by Bluezy

I cannot imagine how our mothers, grandmothers and their mothers before made it through, 100% dependant upon a man in many casess. No offense is meant towards men. They can be such stunning creatures, loving and caring, and if you look like George Clooney.......well....need I say more?

You're obviously not a member of my family - I come from a long line of henpecked husbands, where the wife "ruled the roost". I am seriously not kidding about this - my greatgrandmother on my mother's side was a true matriarch, and solely responsible for forcing her husband to move from France to Canada. My grandmother probably nagged my poor grandfather into an early grave, the poor thing couldn't take a breath without her permission. My mother runs my father, although he tries to pretend that's not the case. On the other side, my paternal grandmother was a control freak, who used her "poor health" to make both husband and son run to her beck and call. And these are only the ones I knew personally - I grew up feeling sorry for the menfolk and wishing they'd grow some backbone.

I told my husband before we married that he had to avoid the "yes, dear" trap and not let me get too big for my britches. He's done pretty well so far, and I try really hard not to try to be too domineering. I even let him have his way once in a while. :

Jackie