Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It occurred to me recently that female contributors to the forum seemed few and far between. I checked back through the members list and came up with what I believe is an interesting statistic that perhaps warrants some further discussion.
Since 2 Dec 2011 there have been 1197 new registrations to the BYAP forum.
Of these, only one was a couple (charlandsarah).
Of the remaining 1196 registrations, only 22 listed themselves as female: that is a mere 1.84%.
True, I only checked the most recent 1197 registrations out of a total of 7046 registrations since 12 Mar 2006, when Earthbound kicked things off, but I doubt that this 17% sample differs much from the whole membership.
Less than 2% women! Why is this so? Don't women like growing vegetables, just as men do? Don't women also like keeping fish and putting fresh, homegrown produce on the table?
My best guess is that aquaponics appeals more to men because they see it as an extension of 'shed stuff'. Aquaponics gets blokes out in their yards with an opportunity to build and master a system of their own design, and potentially to shape the environment in a positive way.
Getting into aquaponics generally means getting hands on with tools and power tools, and exercising the brain with measurements, calculations and sometimes with just pure thought.
It means working with air, land and water. It means nurturing fish and plants.
This is all good stuff, but where are the women?

maybe they just prefer to get on with growing it, unlike us males we like to tell everyone why we do it where we do it and how we do it or is that just me

I too like to think it's because of;

big tanks, powertools, toy pumps, master of an own universe, very food related, technical theories and a good hardyhar! and look what I built! factor .

And don't forget the shovels, they are very manly as well.



At least that's how I feel about it

Right here
Love the comments above So true about men wanting the credit! My husband says there is nothing that happens at our home that I don't have my hands in! I guess that's where I differ, he got me a special saw so I could cut the IBC's by myself! We were in it together every step of the way. It's the way we do everything around here. And we do a lot because we are also remodeling a house together. The funny thing is when people come over and are admiring the flooring, cabinets, beams, posts, bathrooms, etc. , they direct all comments to him. I let him have it because I know it's what will make him want to do more. If you want a woman to do more insult her! Lol! We have to prove everyone wrong then!
Thanks for the laugh and concern

Umm thanks Lady. I was always wondering how to make woman do more

nah, dunno where the women are

I have no reasons for why the stats are the way they are. But as far as lead contributors to the site go....women are up there with better systems the the men.

Look at the stickies in the members section and count the women's systems.

Oops. Not to mention tclynx's thread, which I thought was a sticky until I checked.

I think Rup's female?

maybe they are in the kitchen cooking the fish and vegies so they dont have time to post


I am so dead

Yeah, it surprises me a bit that it's so low !

Some of the best systems on here are women owned/run/built;

- TCLynx
- Faye
- Jaymie
- Jessy

and numerous others that I will add as my brain slowly works

In my yard, when there is work to be done, no man in sight will come near the place.....but when there are chilli's and tomato's for the picking they are hovering around like blow flys go figure.....

Everyone loves a free lunch Jessy

What you talking about girlie man...

ROZ wears a skirt, and a shovel on his right arm