International Women’s Day and Women In HiFi

March 8, 2026

Today is International Women’s Day, which comes around every year with the usual mention on the telly news and in the Sunday supplements. And every year when this day comes around, the question that comes up in this house is: Why are there still so few women involved in the HiFi hobby and the broader industry? It’s not phrased quite like that, but you get my drift.

Anyone who’s been to a HiFi show (any HiFi show) will know just what I’m on about. At most events, the crowd is overwhelmingly male. The exhibitors are mostly male. The engineers behind the products are mostly male. The marketing and sales teams are mostly blokes. Of course, there are exceptions, and some excellent ones at that, but they are still exceptions rather than the norm.

That’s a bit odd when you think about it, given that 50% of the world’s population is female.

Music itself is universally loved by both men and women. The emotional connection people have with music doesn’t depend on gender, age, profession, or background. I’ve talked before in my Sunday Thoughts articles about the audiences at some music festival shows being predominantly teenage girls. However, somewhere between loving music and becoming involved in the equipment used to reproduce it, the HiFi world has become a bit one-sided. I don’t pretend to know or understand the reasons for this imbalance.

Over the years, there have been many discussions about this, and the consensus is always that it would be good to see more women involved. But agreement alone does’t really change very much. Real change happens when someone actually grabs the bull by the horns and decides to do something about it.

Since the early days of HiFi PiG, Linette (Mrs HiFi PiG) has consistently highlighted the role of women in the industry. Not a money-making scheme, not some bandwagon jumping exercise, and not as some marketing gimmick, but simply by recognising that women are actually working across the HiFi world, and they deserve to be seen and heard. Some are engineers designing gear. Some run distribution companies or work in retail. Others are involved in marketing, communications, or event organisation. Some own the brands we know and love. And some are enthusiasts who love music and the equipment that brings it to life in our homes.

The important bit here is that HiFi is not just about electronics, measurements, and specifications. HiFi is a conduit for music. It is about joy and emotion. It is about the experience of sitting down and listening to music in a way that connects with you with the experience. That experience is not limited to one gender, and it never should be.

Over the years, Linette has written about women working in the industry, interviewed them, given talks, and encouraged the industry to think a little more broadly about who they are speaking to. She has also spent countless hours at shows talking to visitors and exhibitors about the same issue.

But conversation alone is not enough, and Linette has taken a much bigger step forward with a formal launch of a website for Women in HiFi. She’s also set up a wholly separate company called Women In HiFi, along with the associated social media platforms. The initiative has the full support of The High End Society, which will surely help spread the message throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Women in HiFi is now a dedicated platform and initiative that will highlight and support women across the HiFi world. Her goal is simple but ambitious: to create a highly visible, supportive network that brings together women who are already involved in HiFi, while also encouraging others to discover the hobby and the industry.

Everyone loves music. Some women are already massively interested in how it is reproduced at home. Others may never have been exposed to the idea that a HiFi system can be a machine for joy. If the only time someone sees HiFi is when they walk into a room full of middle-aged (and up) blokes arguing the toss about cables, it is not hard to understand why the hobby might seem a little unwelcoming. And I reckon that is something the industry needs to think about.

Creating a more inclusive environment does not mean changing the passion that drives HiFi enthusiasts. It means recognising that the door should be open to anyone who loves music and wants to explore how it can sound glorious in their home.

Behind the scenes, Linette is assembling a growing team of women in HiFi to help lead the initiative and grow it into something much bigger. The aim is not just to run occasional events, but to build a genuine movement within the HiFi world that encourages participation, visibility, and support – be that through mentorship, grassroots level involvement, or softer initiatives.

As part of this initiative, Linette and the Women in HiFi team are beginning to organise further events at HiFi shows and beyond. The idea is to create spaces where women who are curious about HiFi, or already involved in it, can meet, talk, listen to music, and share experiences. So if you are attending a show in the coming months, keep an eye out. You may see a Women in HiFi event taking place nearby. More ambitious events are already being planned.

This is women creating spaces and opportunities within the Hifi sphere for other women.

The HiFi industry has always been full of people who care deeply about music. What it has lacked is a broader view of who those people might be. Expanding that view can only be a good thing for the future of the hobby and the industry alike. On a personal note, I am very pleased to see this happening.

If you are a woman in HiFi and want to learn more, head over to the Women In HiFi website, and if you feel want to get involved, fill in the form online and get in touch.