@stark
Hi Shannon,
I have wondered about the “Gay” connection too. I personally (in my humble opinion, so nobody go crazy on me! LOL) feel that gay men in general are more open to things that are typically “categorized” a Female dominated topic. Washing, Cleaning, Vacuuming used to be typically a Female dominated area of housekeeping. In fact, as a 50 year old gay male, as I was growing up, I never saw my Dad use the vacuum cleaner (other than his “Manly” Shop Vac) nor did he clean house or wash dishes. Now, in 2018, of course Dad pitches in where he can and has since done all those things to help Mom take care of their home. But this could be just a very small part of why a lot of vacuum cleaner collectors are gay.
Another thing is I think Gay men in general, when they are too young to worry about it or as adults, once they are “out” to everyone, tend to not be worried about Male/Female “typical or stereotypical” roles and ideals. I know I’m grateful that while growing up my Dad never critized me for not wanting to participate in sports, he found other ways for us to connect and have father and son time... he’d play badminton, toss a frisbee or other things so I would feel more comfortable participating in beyond the typical “male” sports. Now remember, I am not trying to offend anyone’s 2018’s time of hyper political correctness or offend women or gay men.. I’m saying in 1978 it was not “typical” for a 10 year old to be playing with vacuum cleaners or obsessed to the point I wanted the Hoover kept in my bedroom, but god bless my parents for allowing me to be different.
Another theory, the Felix Unger (Odd Couple) complex, I was and still am quite a neat freak and enjoy a very tidy home. I remember as a college student 99% of the other Males NEVER cleaned their bathrooms, or ran a vacuum cleaner or generally took care of keeping their dorms or apartments clean. So as a gay man and enjoying things very tidy.. a vacuum cleaner is the obvious item that would appeal more to me than a heterosexual guy of the same age. I remember a straight friend who was going to throw his vacuum cleaner away and buy a new one as he had NO IDEA you had to change the bag or belt or maintain it. LOL
But in general, of course all this is diffent now and Dad’s do almost all the same things Moms do and vice versa, slowly parents are allowing their sons to play with dolls or their daughters to play with a football.. again, I am 50 so I’m very happy to see these gender roles being neutralized.. but in my childhood my grandmother Refused to buy the Star Wars Princess Lea doll, but bought me ALL the Male Dolls as they were like a G.I. Joe and “harmless” for boys. OMG I’m sooo glad things have changed. Other than Grandma and if she were alive, she’d be 100, so 1918 was even MORE Girl/Boy gender specific in roles, play and behavior. Oh and to throw something else in to the mix too, Men who sold Vacuums Door to Door when my Grandma was a young housewife, that was considered ok as Men, typically had the majority of “working paid jobs” and the Wives, stayed home. So Grandma wouldn’t think anything of a Man selling them Door to Door, but I remember she was uncomfortable that I was “Allowed” to play with the vacuum cleaner. Thankfully, my Mom was very ahead of her times and she and Dad nurtured my non-typical gender interests. I took Home Economics, was in FHA (Future Homemakers of America) and was saving my allowance to by Vacuum Cleaners!
So, all this said, there is no one reason why a majority of Vacuum Cleaner Collectors are Gay.. and from my personal experience, I’ve yet to personally meet a female or heterosexual male collector. THEY EXIST but my online collector friends are all gay men, just my personal experience.
To me personally, I don’t feel anything is strictly male, female, gay, hetero or bi anymore in life and I’m glad it’s that way and to each his own in interests, hobbies and so on. But no matter what the reason, I’m so very happy to have this website and blog to chat and share and be excited about Vacuums with ALL of you, regardless of any title. We all just took the beautiful Vacuum Cleaner, for whatever reason and at one point in our lives said.. I love these cool machines and I want to collect them.
Ok, I hope I’ve not bored anyone or sound like a silly, antiquated old person. More than anything I hope I’ve NOT offended or insulted anyone either.. it’s just me and my humble opinions and thoughts and whether right or wrong, just thought it would be an interesting addition to this conversation.
@niclonnic Nick, Thanks for starting this discussion and to all of the Vacuum Collectors here.. be proud of your hobby, fascination or collectible.. It’s OK to do something different.
Love and Respect to everybody,
Patrick
