Site inequality or culture?

[EdwardPB]

Hi:  
I am fairly new, and only posted a couple of times.
I have noticed this sight is predominantly female. In the area of about 5 to 1. So I wonder:
1. Is it the nature of the the sites target audience? (demographics)
2. Is it cultural, due to males ego? Being less willing to discuss a weakness, let alone admit to one.
3. Females having a higher % of this ailment?

No preconceived notions, just a straight curiosity.

[soccero]

I have heard that it effects women way more
Molly

[pdxmomof3boys]

I've actually found out through research that it affects more females than males at a ratio of 3:1, and my NS told me the same thing. But who knows? We still don'tknow all there is to know about chiari :) Good question, though!

[*Stormy*]

I have to agree with you for the most part...however, women tend to ignore their bodies signals too...I did! Like you said, I ignored all the signs of something being wrong, told myself I was just being a wimp and that it was stress and anxiety...and that led to me losing most of my leg function so we can be stubborn too!! Of course, it didn't help that all the drs were telling me it was stress too.... But once I knew there really was something wrong, I was online trying to figure out what it was. Honestly, it was my perserverance resulting in me getting dx with Chiari and Hashimotos..because I kept pushing and wouldn't give up...
I think that DR's tend to stigmatize women more as being stressed or anxious than men too which forces us to look for answers ourselves...
However it rolls, hopefully men can overcome the stigma of weakness and join these forums because it is such a helpful too when going through something like this!
It is interesting hearing all the sides on this:)
Carolyn

[EdwardPB]

I don't think women know their bodies any more than men. But, culturally, we are expected to "tough it out."
I know I have had multiple injuries, that have caused more problems years later, because I "manned up" and "worked it out."
I am probably going to have dire consequences, because I knew my body well enough to know I had some neuro injuries, but was a "man" about it. Unfortunately, one injury got so bad, I started to lose function. That led to shoulder surgery, which caused a drastic increase in neck pain. (which I already new had c-disk problems) This led to x-rays and a somber DR. saying I needed to start down the path......
Personally, I think it's a combination of 1 and 2.
I think these type of sites focus on the female demographic, due to the male stigma of admitting weakness, and don't bother to try and change that culture.

[n40066]

how many men do YOU know that will stop and ask for directions?  LOL!  they are several wives that are researching cm because their husbands/boyfriends/sons have it!  my personal opinion is that women are more aggressive when it comes to finding answers about health issues.  and when some dr. tells a woman the pain is caused by "depression", a pulled muscle or nerve pain, she knows her body well enough to doubt that drs opinion and seek help elsewhere!
just my humble opinion!

[*Stormy*]

Yes, it is interesting!! From what I have researched...men and women seem to be affected equally...however, we have discovered on here that childbirth does cause an increase in symptoms...

I do think that females are much more likely to want to know "everything"!! My DH doesn't worry about anything..unless it gets too bad then he will go to a DR but I don't think he'd ever look it up on the internet. So I do think it is more in our nature...

Plus, for me some of it is just socializing...to not feel alone with my condition...so maybe men are able to handle those feelings better?

Either way, I think that it is great that we have the men we do on the site..and hopefully we will get more b/c I find that men bring up different points and add variety to our discussions.

Take care,

Carolyn

[selmaS]

I am not sure if females are prone to have this condition or if by our nature to seek help ...where not as many men will...so there can be  a larger %  of men just not seeking the support  from a forum such as this.....

If u know of a way that may help guide more men to the forum...as to what u feel may attract them...??

This is an observation  that has been made b4, but was not accompanied with ur  questions were not discussed.....

Good post and good points : )