“Girls don’t have hobbies”: Why women's interest in male-dominated spaces is dismissed.

Scroll through social media for long enough, and you’ll likely come across one or two posts questioning whether women even have hobbies (yes, seriously). 

The latest trend in online discourse suggests that women’s interests are superficial, performative, or non-existent altogether. But look closer, and you'll notice a paradox - women’s traditionally "feminine" hobbies are dismissed as frivolous, while their presence in male-dominated hobbies is met with scepticism and gatekeeping.This contradiction is especially obvious in motorsport, sim racing, and gaming, all industries where women’s presence is growing but still regularly challenged.

Women must prove, men are assumed

If you're a woman who likes gaming, sim racing, or motorsport, you've likely been quizzed on your knowledge or patronised for your interest. We’ve heard it all:

"Name three team principals!", 

"Who won the championship in 1992?", 

“You probably don’t know even what DRS stands for.”, 

“So you have a crush on one of the drivers, right?”

These questions and comments reflect a cultural belief that women are inherently outsiders in these spaces.

Meanwhile, men are given the benefit of the doubt. No one assumes a man wearing a Ferrari cap is just doing it to impress someone, or in love with Charles Leclerc; but a woman in the same cap might be expected to explain herself. The assumption is that men belong in these spaces by default, while women must constantly prove they do.

The "wrong" kind of hobbies

This issue extends beyond male-dominated industries. Women’s accepted interests - wellness, crafting, fashion, beauty; are all often trivialised. A woman who enjoys skincare is ‘vain.’ A woman who loves reading romance novels is consuming ‘low-brow’ fiction. A woman who spends hours perfecting a makeup technique is seen as ‘shallow’, while a man who dedicates the same energy to perfecting a football strategy is considered passionate.

Society has created a strange set of rules where women’s hobbies are either inherently unimportant or only important when men enjoy them. In the business world, the same thing happens. The qualities of a nurse or a teacher are a given in women, the standard; while in men they are applauded. If you work in marketing and you’re a woman, you’re just a social media person; a man is a strategist. If you’re a killer CEO and you’re a woman, you’re aggressive; a man is just direct. 

The harmful effects of this narrative

This narrative is deeply damaging for both young women and young men. For women, constant dismissal of their interests leads to imposter syndrome, frustration, and even avoidance of spaces they love. Many young girls walk away from gaming or karting because they’re tired of having to convince others they deserve a spot. Others feel pressure to overcompensate, pushing themselves to extreme levels of expertise just to be taken seriously.

For men, this creates a narrow and rigid definition of masculinity. The belief that certain hobbies are real while others are not discourages men from engaging in diverse interests. It also reinforces the idea that male-dominated spaces should remain exclusive, making it harder for men and women to share common passions with each other.

Motorsport, sim racing, and gaming: A battle for legitimacy

Women in motorsport, sim racing, and gaming are still fighting to be seen as equals. While progress has been made, the backlash to their presence proves that the underlying biases still exist. Whether it's professional drivers like Jamie Chadwick and Doriane Pin, or streamers and esports competitors trying to make their mark like , the question is always the same: "Do you really belong here?"

What can be done to support women?

The responsibility to change the narrative doesn’t just lie with individuals, it’s on businesses, teams, and organisations to actively create inclusive spaces. Here’s how they can make a difference:

1. Meaningful fan engagement

It’s not enough to acknowledge that women exist in motorsport and gaming, companies need to engage with them. That means marketing content that speaks to diverse audiences, featuring female fans and creators, and creating safe spaces for them at events and online. Brands and teams should avoid tokenism and instead highlight real stories and experiences of women in these spaces.

2. Diverse representation in organisations

Change starts from within. Teams, gaming organisations, and motorsport businesses should ensure that women are represented not just in front-facing roles but across leadership, technical, and strategic positions. If the only women in a company are in PR or hospitality while men dominate engineering, decision-making, and competitive roles, then diversity efforts are performative at best.

3. Allyship and advocacy from men in these spaces

Men have a huge role to play in dismantling gatekeeping culture. This means calling out sexist behaviour, supporting women in professional spaces, and ensuring that their fandom isn’t built on exclusion. When male drivers, gamers, and influencers advocate for inclusivity, it sends a powerful message that these spaces belong to everyone.

So, do girls even have hobbies? 

Yes, obviously they do. Women shouldn’t have to fight for their interests or skills to be seen as legitimate, whether its between a workspace or just an interest space. It’s time for motorsport, sim racing, and gaming to move beyond outdated stereotypes and embrace the very simple fact that passion knows no gender.