There been a debate between Patch and JM at [adjective] [species] over women in the Furry fandom and sexism. On the onset, let me say sexual harassment for those the opposite sex and straight orientation (i.e. the slur breeders) is a problem in the fandom in some corners. This is not where I want to look at. I am more focused n that the supposed sexism in the fandom is a sweeping generalization on faulty or insufficient data. [adjective] [species] would point to a high ratio between men and women in the fandom as indicter of sexism. I want to look at fandoms on the whole including Science Fiction, Anime (in the United States), Furry, and Brony (My Little Pony) believe that large ratio of males to females in the Furry fandom number s has more to do with human nature, the differences between men and women rather than sexism. Guys like to gather with men in mass what women in small company with other women or men like football and women like shopping.
The epiphany of difference between female and male fans came to me when I encountered a bad and logical fallacy ridden post by a former conservative talk show host and now a second rate blogger. He railed against Brony fandom say how he would not allow son to wear a pony backpack, he referred to a picture at a Brony convention. Then it hit me the guys are gathering in masses with other guys in costume. I immediately thought spots fans; Bronies are not redefining masculinity but celebrating a show made for little girls as men.
Expanding thought more , and noting the history of fandoms , Science Fiction, Anime, Furry fandoms were started by young men and as the fandom becomes established women are integrated into the fandom, for example in the Anime fandom in the United States , and in the Brony fandom . One example of the changes in the Brony fandom was all the pony cosplayers at Wizards’ World Portland 2014 were female.
The Brony fandom has an unusual distinction in that the fandom was built upon a fandom dominated by females, pre Friendship is Magic. My little pony has existed thought the 1980 – 2010 i.e. fans of G1-G3 ponies. The fandom was small and mostly female. If convention did exist, they were small scale events of mostly shopping and displaying acquisitions; Mass attended, large scale conventions did not exist until guys got involve and started them.
Another insight about the differences between the sexes is being Male Hello Kitty Fan in a fandom dominated by females. I am member of Hello Junkies a Ning group dedicated to fans of Hello Kitty with some 6900 members, of that only 150 are mails and fewer are what I call active collectors. Until 2014 most gathers were smaller affair with women in the local area. Second most of the content and interest were more about acquiring and shopping for Hello kitty items. I even notice post on my acquisitions garnered more interest than my post of sociology and pop culture aspects of Hello Kitty. The Hello Kitty fandom reflects much of the earlier My Little Pony pre Friendship is Magic.
What I want drive home is the its possibility the dispergance of ratio of men vs. women in the fandom is have less to do with sexism but the naturally difference between men and women: Guys like to get together in mass. Furthermore I had a talk with the woman who organizes the meets for Rose City Furs including the females of the fandom meet. She point out some women find being in a large accompaniment of a large group of men intimidating. Finally if there is a need to collect data by we should ensure a sample is large enough to prevent sweeping genrealizations.