Gender division in the pool room

anthropoology said:
Thanks, I actually read the book for this project and I am using it as one of my references. I am also looking at real-life experiences. I also intend on going to pool halls myself and conducting interviews. I am just curious as to why so few women are present playing pool. A few of you said that they would like to see more women playing. I am a female myself, and every time I enter the a pool hall I am either the only one there, or there are maybe two or three others playing with males. The pool hall is a public space, where both men and women are welcomed, yet it seems to be more of a man's sport than a female's sport.
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I wrongly assumed you were a man. Does that tell us anything? :embarrassed2:
 
anthropoology said:
Thank you, this is actually very helpful. The research I have done so far indicates that many women who play alone often get interrupted by men when playing.
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But with that said, I frequently get interrupted by annoying (guys) while playing pool. The reasons differ, some want to give advice, some want to get it, some want to gamble, others want to practice with someone. But as for pool shooting interrupters, the best way to get rid of them, is having another person with you. If your an attractive female that can shoot ANYWHERE near B speed, while shooting alone your going to get approached.....a lot.
 
anthropoology said:
Thank you, this is actually very helpful. The research I have done so far indicates that many women who play alone often get interrupted by men when playing.
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: ) I'm not playing that little "my friend" game while really talking about myself: while I'm female, too, I don't have the same problems that she does. I know I've experienced some of it- long ago or in foreign rooms... Not sure exactly what the major differences are, but they probably include: length of time playing locally, skill level, she's friendly and sweet while I'm very salty and suspicious, I'm eager to gamble and she's straight green, and even possibly attractiveness.
 
There are a few women that come into the poolroom here. They dress like men, wear boots, a flannel shirt, a short haircut and a trucker wallet on a chain. Just like the guys, they are looking for a woman they can make scream repeatedly, in rapture of ecstasy.
 
anthropoology said:
Thank you, this is actually very helpful. The research I have done so far indicates that many women who play alone often get interrupted by men when playing.
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Well, as a male, I have often gotten interrupted by men when playing alone as well. Its usually a "hey want to play against someone?" as really pool is a competitive game. Sure you can shoot against the ghost ball, but its not much like playing against a person. The only pool game I can play solo meaningfully is equal offense, and then if I'm playing that, often someone will come up to ask what i'm playing when they see me re-rack after 2 shots with a pissed off look on my face :D
 
Buckzapper said:
There are a few women that come into the poolroom here. They dress like men, wear boots, a flannel shirt, a short haircut and a trucker wallet on a chain. Just like the guys, they are looking for a woman they can make scream repeatedly, in rapture of ecstasy.
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Well, there's nothing butch about my look, but when I was single or when I was dating a frequently- deployed nonpoolplayer air force guy, there was a stupid poolroom rumor that I was gay because I was always interested in pool and not the men in the poolroom. Funny how many guys will pull the "what, are you a lesbian or something?" card when you don't want their phone number.
 
Luther Blissett said:
I am quite confident that there are only two reasons why there are fewer women in the sport than men: One is because of a basically irrational cultural bias which results in fathers encouraging their sons rather than their daughters to play pool, and the other is because women with large breasts suffer from hampered cueing as a result.

In a few years time I think the divide is going to narrow considerably such that the only difference will be down to the % of women who have mammoth bazooka jubblies and are thereby catastrophically impeded in the realm of cue sports.
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This post of yours takes me back to the early years of the internet pool forums, way back to the first time I suggested that breasts could be a hindrance.

https://groups.google.com/group/rec...6?dmode=source&output=gplain&noredirect&pli=1

This was in 1996!!!

Freddie <~~~ and I signed off as Freddie way back then, too!!!
 
I think there are several reasons for less women in pool rooms. I think all of them have been mentioned here already.

1. Less women play sports in general, not just less in pool.

2. Pools halls have historically not welcomed women. While they may be more welcome now, the effects of the past still linger.

3. Pool has been considered seedy and women (and less so even men) in conservative families were discouraged from going to pool halls.

4. Women can't seem to go to a pool hall alone without being harrassed. When I (as a man) go alone, I am occasionally approached by someone who asks if I want to play a few games, sometimes just for fun and sometimes they want to gamble. If I so no, that's the end of it and no one else approaches me. As others have said with women it can be a constant barrage, and usually not to play a few games but to give unsolicited advice.

For some great examples of this, go to OMGWTF's blog: massiveunderstatement.com
 
OK here it goes..... I will accept whatever flames get shot at me from what I post here......
I have ALOT of female friends in their mid 20's - 30's.... I would not even think of putting one aginst the other in the pool hall... Here is why....

Most women I know cannot play a competitive sport such as pool with (against) their female friends or they will not be friends after the match..... too vindicitive. Two male friends can get into an arguement go outside beat the crap out of each other and once it's over. 99.9% of the time they will still be friends. Two female friends have words... and they will never (EVER) speak to each other again.

I happen to be friends with several that if you bring up another girls name (whom used to be best friends with girl #1) they automatically get pissed.. Guys don't do that.

You will very rarely see 2 girls walk into a pool hall w/ intensions of playing against each other. Guys will see the competition as fun, females don't.
 
Maniac said:
I wasn't there so I cannot comment on what went down between the old geezer and the young "league" woman, but let me ask a question about giving "unwanted" help to someone: If you see someone, possibly a beginner or fairly new player, practicing at a table near you and doing something (making a bridge, stroking, etc.) that is ABSOLUTELY wrong, would you rather see this person continue to pound this bad technique into their muscle memory/thought processes, or would you rather take a chance and ask this person if you could show them a couple of things that would improve their practice sessions/overall game???

I can tell you that I am the type of guy that would ask this person if they wanted a few "tips". I do it on occasion and WAY more times than not I am allowed to help them. Get thanked afterwards too! Spent anywhere from a few minutes to HOURS working with "newbies", by simply asking them if they wanted some pointers.

IMO, it is a foolish person, man or woman, that is a beginner to a game in which they wish to do better in, that refuses to at least hear what someone has to say to help them. That said, I do realize that there are some "self-appointed" instructors that give out bad instruction from time-to-time, but the newbie could later defer to someone "in the know" to determine if this was good info or not that was given to them.

My point is, I don't think asking someone if they would like some pointers is out of line. The person being asked can always politely decline. I personally know some players (one lady on my 9-ball team) that wants to shoot good pool, but doesn't want to hear a damn thing from any of her upper skill-leveled teammates. I say let her wallow around in the bottom of the barrell if that's gonna be her attitude.

Just sayin'.

Maniac
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After hearing many stories and talking to different people about this I made a decision to try not to ever give unsolicited advice. It's not always easy to hold back, but if someone wants your help, they can ask. If you ask first, there is no way for them to politely decline without the situation being a bit awkward or uncomfortable. This is particularly true if the person is a stranger.

That's just what I've picked up in my experiences and conversations with people I respect.
 
anthropoology said:
Being a woman yourself, have you experienced any difficulties or encountered any problems when playing pool? Were you taken seriously?
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Sure, I encountered loads of problems. But first I had to decide that I enjoyed playing pool. Many women stop before they get to that point because it just doesn't interest them.

Once I decided I wanted to play pool then it was a whole other set of issues that I was up against.

There I was, the President of the Women's Professional Billiard Association, having a historic meeting with the Men's pro association (the PPPA) for the first time in the history of pool to see if it was possible for the men and women to play at the same venue at the same time. I was sitting at the table with Mizerak, Martin, Margo, Balner and others; and what did they ask me at the boardroom table? They asked me if I would mind serving the coffee.

Yep. There were some problems.
 
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FranCrimi said:
Sure, I encountered loads of problems. But first I had to decide that I enjoyed playing pool. Many women stop before they get to that point because it just doesn't interest them.

Once I decided I wanted to play pool then it was a whole other set of issues that I was up against.

There I was, the President of the Women's Professional Billiard Association, having a historic meeting with the Men's pro association (the PPPA) for the first time in the history of pool to see if it was possible for the men and women to play at the same venue at the same time. I was sitting at the table with Mizerak, Martin, Margo, Balner and others; and what did they ask me at the boardroom table? They asked me if I would mind serving the coffee.

Yep. There were some problems.
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Interesting.

As an aside, when I first began to become aware of pro pool's existence, I thought that women were dominant at the game, since they were the only ones I ever saw competing on ESPN! Seriously, I thought that the men must just be a bunch of hacks at the game, thinking that if they were any good, I'd be watching them too. Now I just wish that there were more pool events to watch period.
 
Eric. said:
Dude, NOBODY called you "Freddie" back then. At least, not the past 13-14 years or so, lol.


Eric >still "Fred" to me
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Sorry man, but I was Freddie on the internet initially. I mean, it's all there from 1996 to who knows at what point I switched over.

And I've always been Freddie at home and to my closest friends. The mistake was going to Fred for some odd reason. Probably thought it sounded more professional. Then I couldn't take it away after awhile.

Freddie
 
Cornerman said:
Sorry man, but I was Freddie on the internet initially. I mean, it's all there from 1996 to who knows at what point I switched over.

And I've always been Freddie at home and to my closest friends. The mistake was going to Fred for some odd reason. Probably thought it sounded more professional. Then I couldn't take it away after awhile.

Freddie
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Got it. It's just that you've gone by Fred for the last 14 yrs and now you are Freddie(again?)


Eric >more re-creations than Madonna :p
 
Eric. said:
Got it. It's just that you've gone by Fred for the last 14 yrs and now you are Freddie(again?)


Eric >more re-creations than Madonna :p
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Yup! Something like that! Never changed at home and most of my close friends have always called me Freddie. And several internet people have only known me as Freddie. And a certain bald individual with CRS used to call me Freddie, but somewhere along the line reverted.

My dad also goes by Fred Agnir (Federico) much to his chagrin as he also failed to correct it and he couldn't escape it. He has never gone by "Fred" with his family, but professionaly, that's what he's called.His Filipino nickname is actually Eddie. Always has been. And that's how it goes.

I don't need to get my goofy internet life continually mixed up with his, now that he's more on the internet, on facebook, etc. So, since I've moved to Florida where my parents live, I've been more diligent to keep a separate identity. I can't change the past. I can only go forward.

Nice to meet you. My name is Freddie Agnir.

Freddie <~~~ moving forward back to the start
 
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