Not Enough Female Vacuum Collectors

[madman]

Cringe.

 

[kloveland]

"Guns". My relatives were sighting in their rifles while I was inside the house vacuuming and working on my grandparent's Oreck. I felt a little bit less of a man at that point. While, I do support gun ownership and the second amendment. I'm just not into guns.

Vacuum collectors are not excluding woman. I don't think most woman are into vacuums other than getting their house clean. As mentioned above. Although there are a few exceptions. I don't know many woman who are plumbers or electricians for example. Men are generally more mechanically minded than woman are. As discussed above.

 

[compuvac]

Cringe

Well said @kirbyklekter.

 

[suckolux]

My boyfriend thinks that my number of vacuums here is unbelievable, and why would I need them why don't you sell them? My reply to him has always been and you have how many guns? And that stops it.

 

[jo]

I love your reply…

Suckolux…you think just like me! That reply to your bf is perfect! I do the same with my partner. Though he doesn’t ever comment on the amount of vacuums I have… my vacuum closet is not a closet he ever goes in as it is in the back of my personal office/den. We respect each other’s space and when he does ask what I have in that closet I just say I have my file cabinets, important papers, things For the house and “other stuff” I want which is all true. The closet isn’t exclusively vacuums but it does store the majority of the collection neatly and somewhat concealed as some things are in boxes or plastic tubs such as attachments, hoses and bags which makes them less obvious should someone look in the closet.

Jon

 

[suckolux]

Thanks! He was really just curious why there was so many and so on. Many of mine are in the converted garage space which is the door he enters through he has a key to that door and he parks there so they're a little hard to miss. He said well you know some of my guns I inherited and I said same here but vacuums. That was it he never made any other comments thankfully.

 

[madman]

Well my interest in vacuums is from a mechanical point of view. I love machines. While I'm not big on guns, I am also interested in them for the same reason. Machines are interesting. Especially antiques.

 

[kirbylux77]

David

That answer to your boyfriend is PERFECT! Love it! . Jon, same to you. As far as I am concerned, if the person I am dating didn't accept my hobby, thought it was weird, and didn't love me as I am....well they know where the door is and how to use it. Thankfully, my current partner knew me for many years before we ever dated, and he has no issue with it.

As for more women not being into vacuums? I think it would be great to have more female collectors. However, I do think they look at a vacuum as a tool to keep a happy, clean home with. And yes, the role of women in North American society has changed significantly in past decades, but one thing hasn't - the fact that women have children, and therefore feel the need to nest, mother and make a comfortable home. Cleaning that home is a part of it. Now, gay men may have feminine interests such as cleaning, but we also have the interest in the mechanical and design elements of vacuum cleaners. Not saying that women don't have interest in those things, they do....but it will probably never be quite as high a percentage of women interested in that stuff as men are. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Rob

 

[kirbylux77]

John

Next time you talk to Miss Tania, Airwaylady, tell her to come back to Vacuumland. She is such a classy, well mannered lady, very polite and dignified, and I enjoy seeing her posts and comments.

Rob

 

[suckolux]

Thanks Rob! We both have different collections, there's no tension or anything just different likes.

 

[Miss Mercy]

One of my best friends is a girl and her name is Cassie. She has been involved with vacuums since she was 9 years old. For quite a few years she has been servicing vacuums.

 

[dysonman1]

Adambomb

Cassie is wonderful. I love her so much. She has the most biting sense of humor (like I do). Of course it doesn't hurt that we dislike the same people.

 

[vinvac]

I think times are changing. Women have now stepped into different roles. I know many women who can fix just about anything they put their minds too.

I have a good friend who has completely remodeled her entire house. She did not do the electrical or plumbing simply because in order to meet city code she has to have someone who is licensed.

My mom, when she was alive always took care of her Kirby. I don't ever remember my dad doing repairs or belt changes.

Driving down the road now you see a lot of female truck drivers.

The stereotype is still out there, but I don't believe it is true any longer.

Miss Tania could repair almost any make and model of vacuum to some degree.

It is my thought that on some levels clubs by the nature of their makeup have deterred most women from joining because the perception is that they are made of mostly gay men.

We were also blessed to have Barb M. as a member of the club. She was one of the best convention planners to date. She knew how to bargain with hotels, food service and researched the area to provide folks with a good experience while visiting a new town.

While I was president of the VCCC we were more welcoming to children and families. We tried to provide outlets for anyone who wanted to be part of our strange hobby of collecting vacuums.

With the onset of Facebook and other social media it has become much easier to be part of conversation and see other folks collections which has greatly impacted people wanting to join an in-person group.

I particularly like groups like Automatic Washer as they can peacefully talk about off topic items in a more civil and respectful way. We always have to remember we are not only about our collection but have other like minded conversations. Many of our original group were also church organists, had similar professions which added to the group.

I am sure there are women watching us and perhaps just feel uneasy about joining.

Just My Two Cents!

 

[kloveland]

Barb is still a member and she is helping John Long with convention next year. She just sent out a survey. I agree we are blessed to have her.

 

[vinvac]

Kenny,

I did not get the survey, can it be sent my way.