Assumptions about Mac users & Gender

[leomac08]

i do this with my girlfriends...


"HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"DUDE!!!!!! WTF?!!!!!!"

"Dude you want some? I know your a girl but..."


it's a gender norm.

 

[mattwolfmatt]

Forgive me if this is in the wrong part of the forum, but I have a question...

Why is there always a primary assumption that every Mac user is a guy?! I sign my name as "Amanda" in my signature and I've still been mistaken for a male on here many times because the first assertion is that I'm into computers, so I must be a dude LOL

it's not like I have the most pointedly feminine user name for this forum, but I'm not going to make mine "pinkmacgirlblahblah" or "butterflyOSX" to prove a point or anything. I don't know, I just find it a tab bit silly.

this happen to any other girls out there (...if you're out there)?

UPDATE - according to this poll, I guess the assumption has a good amount of backing, considering the M to F ratio:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/854554/

Maybe it's because your name begins with "Man"

 

[MattSepeta]

You sir

As a left-handed retired Sailor that is a Mac geek who drinks wine and likes to cook and wants to fly and almost ran for elective office this year, but sews and irons and does my own laundry and belongs to the NRA but has committed no felonies in my life, um, I'm now confused.

You sound like an excellent person!

I hope in the next few years you actually run for an office! Where are you from?

 

[Huntn]

I thought I'd revive this one...

I've seen it on another forum, it would be nice for perspective in forum posts if there was a gender icon by everyone's name.

 

[Dalton63841]

I thought I'd revive this one...

I've seen it on another forum, it would be nice for perspective in forum posts if there was a gender icon by everyone's name.

Why for? Does gender really matter in the context of a technology related forum? Personally I make no assumptions of gender and its easier that way.

 

[Doctor Q]

Why for? Does gender really matter in the context of a technology related forum? Personally I make no assumptions of gender and its easier that way.

It makes a huge difference. For example, suppose somebody reports getting an error message and you know a step-by-step procedure to avoid it. If you know that the poster is a man then you shouldn't post the solution since men wouldn't want anyone to think they were asking for directions. But if you know that the poster is a woman then you should post the solution as quickly as possible since they are helpless and sure to cry if a knight in shining armor doesn't rush in to help them.

On the other hand, perhaps Dalton63841 is right and it doesn't make any difference and shouldn't make any difference.

I do find that it's helpful if I know that a user isn't a native English speaker (if so, I try to use less slang). And it's helpful to know something about their experience level: long-time user or newbie?, high school student? technology professional? retired senior? If I'm helping them with a problem, that type of information guides me about whether to provide summaries or simplified step-by-step instructions, so I admit to peeking at profiles when I think it will help me help someone.

 

[firestarter]

Maybe it's because your name begins with "Man"

This.

Seriously, your user name isn't helping.

 

[Huntn]

Why for? Does gender really matter in the context of a technology related forum? Personally I make no assumptions of gender and its easier that way.

If you open your eyes you'll see there is more here than just technology discussions. And haven't you heard that more info is a good thing? As I said, it does help not from a prejudicial standpoint but from a perspective standpoint. If someone posts a thread titled "All Men are Pigs" I might assume it is a woman but that could be incorrect. On any controversial posts regarding many subjects it is one less question you have to ask.

 

[Hastings101]

I always assume every Mac user is a beautiful Asian woman with incredibly long fingernails that she uses to assassinate evil doers. As of almost a year on the forums my assumption has always been incorrect

 

[Queen of Spades]

I still get people referring to me as "him" or referring to my trade thread as "his." It's kind of funny, it even happened in a PM a couple of days ago when I signed it with my real name. My real name is completely obviously feminine.

But I get it - most posters on this forum and others I frequent are male. It's overwhelmingly the norm, and avatar or username can mean nothing.

 

[Angelo95210]

Forgive me if this is in the wrong part of the forum, but I have a question...

Why is there always a primary assumption that every Mac user is a guy?! I sign my name as "Amanda" in my signature and I've still been mistaken for a male on here many times because the first assertion is that I'm into computers, so I must be a dude LOL

it's not like I have the most pointedly feminine user name for this forum, but I'm not going to make mine "pinkmacgirlblahblah" or "butterflyOSX" to prove a point or anything. I don't know, I just find it a tab bit silly.

this happen to any other girls out there (...if you're out there)?

UPDATE - according to this poll, I guess the assumption has a good amount of backing, considering the M to F ratio:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/854554/

Now everybody has seen your profile picture and your twitter and for sure we will never make any mistake on your gender anymore!