Wow, what a heated thread this one is. I guess I'll add my thoughts to it just because I am female and play the guitar. There is no sense in having a major discussion about women without any involved in it. I don't claim to be the spokesperson for why women do or do not take the guitar seriously. All I can say is that I do and have for many years. I have noticed that there are not as many women that play and I honestly don't know why that is but Perhaps it is because there is some type of mindset out there that discourages women from picking up a guitar. I personally have encountered this in my own life and upbringing. I started playing guitar when I was about 9 and prior to that had two older brothers who were both bought guitars and lessons. Each one of them played "smoke on the water" for a couple weeks and quit. I had to absolutely beg my parents to allow me that opprotunity and was told no for a long time because I was a "girl" and they don't do things like that. I wore my parents down and was allowed lessons but it had to be "classical" as if that somehow made playing guitar more "lady-like"....I am now 36 and still playing... It's a shame how now after all these years and carpel tunnel later that I am just getting the courage to break out of the mold I was placed in to play what I love.... Now I'm not saying that I will ever jump off an amp and slide across a stage on my knees but this girl is going to Jam...