Why are there so many more guys than girls at catholic youth events?

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I’ve just converted to Catholicism and started attending events for catholic youth in my area (Melbourne, Australia). I’ve noticed that there are usually many more men than women at these events. (Also, the guys tend to be socially awkward …) Does this trend hold in other areas? If so what do you think the reason for it is?

*Disclaimer: I’ve only attended a few events so far.
 
My theory is that the young women who are there are trying to live a Catholic lifestyle. The majority of men that are there are discerning priesthood
 
JimmyM said:
I’ve just converted to Catholicism and started attending events for catholic youth in my area (Melbourne, Australia). I’ve noticed that there are usually many more men than women at these events. (Also, the guys tend to be socially awkward …) Does this trend hold in other areas? If so what do you think the reason for it is?

*Disclaimer: I’ve only attended a few events so far.
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I think it probably varies a lot.

I have my suspicions that younger Traditionalists do probably skew male (but less so older Traditionalists), but that’s just a guess based on CAF posts.
 
Xantippe said:
I think it probably varies a lot.

I have my suspicions that younger Traditionalists do probably skew male (but less so older Traditionalists), but that’s just a guess based on CAF posts.
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Excuse my poor English, but what does the word “skew” mean in Your phrase?
 
Xantippe said:
I think it probably varies a lot.

I have my suspicions that younger Traditionalists do probably skew male (but less so older Traditionalists), but that’s just a guess based on CAF posts.
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Very interesting observation. Hadn’t thought about this before but I agree. i’m going to start borrow this to start a new thread.
 
pianistclare said:
I’d say so as well. More like 75%. But that’s just speculation on my part.
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If this is true, it adds fuel to the thought that current Church practices are too “feminine” for many men, as Cardinal Burke alludes to.
 
boomerang said:
If this is true, it adds fuel to the thought that current Church practices are too “feminine” for many men, as Cardinal Burke alludes to.
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Or just that young men are more prone to geeking out over special interests than young women, be it model trains, or comics, or liturgy.

And in all those examples, it’s a niche interest.

Not all men are crazy about model trains, just as not all men are crazy about liturgy. But the ones that are really into it are really into it.

(My husband, bless his heart, is definitely not a liturgy geek.)
 
Im really confused as to how the OP’s question related to traditionalist Catholics.

But anyhow, interesting question.

To the OP about youth events, it fascinates me that you observed this trend. It is fascinating because in my Diocese it seems to be the opposite. In retreats, youth events, anything, the girls are much more numerous. Of course my youth groups are not traditional(I mean they are orthodox, but generally not traditional liturgically).

As for how in traditional circles there are more guys, it is because of the media. The media gives a false, FALSE mind you, impression that traditional Catholicism is all about patriarchy and male-ness and the oppression of females. Also in traditionalist circles, there is a lot of talk about stopping feminism, woman’s ordination, abortion, altar girls, ect. Might make some girls not raised into it uncomfortable.

But, I am both a male and a youth and a traditional Catholic, so I am talking with the perspective of being in, looking out. Somebody else might want to give the perspective of being out, looking in.
 
Xantippe said:
I have my suspicions that younger Traditionalists do probably skew male (but less so older Traditionalists), but that’s just a guess based on CAF posts.
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Case in point:

“I am both a male and a youth and a traditional Catholic” “Religion: Roman Catholic with unrelenting militiancy”

And Ialsop, please understand that I am not putting down you or other young traditionalists in any way and I don’t believe Xantippe is either. We are just making an observation about what we’ve noticed here on CAF. 😉
 
Xantippe said:
Or just that young men are more prone to geeking out over special interests than young women, be it model trains, or comics, or liturgy.

And in all those examples, it’s a niche interest.

Not all men are crazy about model trains, just as not all men are crazy about liturgy. But the ones that are really into it are really into it.

(My husband, bless his heart, is definitely not a liturgy geek.)
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I, on the other hand, have two in my family!
 
JimmyM said:
I’ve just converted to Catholicism and started attending events for catholic youth in my area (Melbourne, Australia). I’ve noticed that there are usually many more men than women at these events. (Also, the guys tend to be socially awkward …) Does this trend hold in other areas? If so what do you think the reason for it is?

*Disclaimer: I’ve only attended a few events so far.
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Well, as a female in the U.S., you’re making me wish that when I was younger I’d had a TARDIS like Doctor Who and could have traveled to Melbourne! 😛 My experience at Catholic events I attended in my 20s-30s was that the females outnumbered the males and a lot of us were husband hunting though we tried to pretend we weren’t. If the numbers hadn’t been so stacked against us maybe we’d have been able to chill out a little! :o
 
“Unrelenting militancy” sounds hard to curl up on the sofa with.
 
I would also be curious to know whether your parish is particularly “traditional” (whether or not it actually celebrates mass in the TLM or NO form). Because in my experience it’s been only parishes where the liturgy is very formal that have 50% young men or higher. Everywhere else it’s been more like 80% girls 20% guys.
 
JimmyM said:
I’ve just converted to Catholicism and started attending events for catholic youth in my area (Melbourne, Australia). I’ve noticed that there are usually many more men than women at these events. (Also, the guys tend to be socially awkward …) Does this trend hold in other areas? If so what do you think the reason for it is?

*Disclaimer: I’ve only attended a few events so far.
Click to expand...
In our youth programs the opposite is the case. There are FAR more girls than boys. And the girls participate in the retreats, social functions, and prayer meetings at a higher rate than the boys. By far. For our confirmation retreat (which is mandatory) we will have two hotels for the girls and one for the boys.
Well, that is what you get for having a retreat on a Friday night during football season…🤷

But honestly as a parent I can see where I might be hesitant about letting my girls be very involved with “youth events” But that is the irrational gun toting father in me speaking…
 
In our area the girls/women outnumber the boys/men by a landslide. A group of 23 went to a retreat with 5 of them being males. For another trip, there were 60 attendees and there were 10 males.

We are not in a heavily traditional area.
 
Here in England, one of my sons returned from a Youth 2000 gathering yesterday; a thousand young people, tents, guitars, all night Adoration. Girls and boys about even. That was Walsingham. You lose the girls at the traditionalist end. Let’s face it, girls are generally more sociable.

Student Catholic Societies seem pretty mixed. Perhaps this is a “safe” social environment that parents encourage their daughters into more than their sons.

In Europe, especially in the East, the girls go right through to the most traditionalist end of the spectrum. I have the impression that the youth there are better catechised and better educated generally. They are certainly more pious. Might that make a difference?
 
I think this will surprise you all, but one of the events was a social dance class for catholic youth (18-25)! About 65-70% of those in attendance are men!

Again, I’ve only attended two different events so far. I’ll have to attend a lot more before making any conclusions. This thread was probably a little premature.
 
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