Does Google Not Understand Women Or Just Geek Women?

Holy cow, me too.
I thought it was kind of weird that Google didn’t have an option for me to change my gender, either. I could just remove it from the info, but not alter it.

I, too, am somehow a male between ages 24-35.  (Actually I’m female, and I’m 36.)  I’m torn, though.  I sort of like that Google doesn’t know who I am.  Do I really want to give them MORE information about me so that they can start targeting me with ads for cosmetics and baby clothes?

Huh, my history is on, but it’s not providing me with any data. I’m really curious, now.

Their algorithm guessed I am male on both of my computers and my smartphone (which, puzzlingly, listed my interests as “baked goods” and “broadway musicals”). They got the age right, though!

According to my work internet use–jazz and blues on Pandora, nerd blogs, knitting blogs, feminist blogs–I am an 18-24-year-old man. I’m kind of offended, Google.

Apparently I am a 25-34 year old MALE. Well, they got the age right at least.
Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy Films
Beauty & Fitness
Shopping – Apparel
Sports – Team Sports – American Football
World Localities – North America – USA – Pacific Northwest – Oregon

Mine magically got me right, and though it includes comics, apparel- tee shirts, and games, it also includes beauty and fitness- body art and cooking and recipes.  is that what made me a girl? do i need to take off my shoes and get back in the kitchen?? :) http://www.twitpic.com/8cd0wi

Oh hmm, I hadn’t clicked yet to try and change it. That’s interesting. So you can only remove it and when you click on the little question mark next to male it says, “Based on the websites you’ve visited, we think you’re interested in topics that mostly interest men.”

I am wrongfully gendered as well.

https://twitter.com/#!/MightySquid/statuses/162685196188127233

I don’t think this is Google being sexist as much as the Marketing industry at large. I’ll stick to being a guy if I get better ads. 

Yes, Google thinks I’m an 18-24 year old male who likes women’s clothing, biological sciences, crafts, clubs and organizations and business. Okay then. O.o (I’m a 31 year old female.)

Yep. Geek. Girl and classified as a male. 

My history is on and it pretty much got me right, although my age is off by a couple of years (it thought I was younger than I am).  Apparently I’m into exotic pets…

Interestingly, my husband uses the same computer, also with the google history turned on (although I think he deletes things I wouldn’t like–and I don’t know if that affects it or not) and that doesn’t seem to have changed anything drastically.

Same here (Google thinks I’m male, 25-34). Seems to be default mode if you like science, TV, and so forth? Also, the fact that you can delete but not change the “male” gender designation is infuriating. 

25-34 Male who likes Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Software, Video Games, Fitness, and Coupons…

I work at a video game company and yesterday we all took a look at this page. Every single woman who works here is classified as Male by Google.

Frankly, I’m relieved to be spared the ads for baby gear, weight-loss products, and yogurt. But it’d be nice if I didn’t have to self-identify as a male to avoid them.

Male on both business account and personal — computer equipment and programming are the common denominators, too bad ladies never search for that stuff! — but at least they recognize my constant Google image searching for Benedict Cumberbatch’s face as an age-appropriate indicator? Or something.

For the record, I should state that i don’t think google is doing ANYTHING intentionally sexist here, i think they’re using statistics. because that’s what google does, they have so much data, i don’t think some people sat around in a board were and were like “Comics?” resounding call “oh that’s men stuff”  ”ok ok underwear?”  ”oohh totally chick stuff”.  I think the only thing google needs to do is make it so you can change your gender and age.  They might get it wrong.  However if they’re using it to market to you, and you like the things that themajority of men ages 18-24 like, maybe you’d like that advertising better anyway?  It’s not like you’ve been noticing “man all my ads make me feel like google thinks i’m a teenage boy” no one really noticed till this came out :) 

You can change it! Just delete it, and you can go in and re-designate your gender and age. Just hit “remove”, and then click “add categories” and go to “demographics”. That’s what I did.

I think it might just be the cooking that did it.  I have a feeling that’s what pushed me over to the female side.  Since I have gadgets, movies, body art and comics in mine.

It makes me wonder what other groups are going to be thrown off.  Does this mean that male foodies are going to show up as women?

What if it’s a research marketing tool? If you change your age and sex so they are correct then google has more data around which to better make its assumptions and target adverts.

I didn’t have ad preferences on, but I’m going to try it and see what I get.

Interesting to me, though, is how when I’m on the DC Comics site, I’m bombarded with ads for cougar dating websites, meet Asian girls websites (apparently they’ve inferred I’m bisexual?), and ads for “sexy, alternative footwear.”

I don’t frequent dating sites, don’t buy apparel online (especially shoes), and reeeally don’t date girls. They got my love of knitting, right, though.

Most the guys I know on there get ads for new games and DVDs.

Hmm…Will be really interested to see what pops up in my Google ad preferences.

I’ve never paid attention to the ads Google happens to send my way, but growing up, people always labeled me a tomboy. I realized later on that I was just geeky.

The only thing these idiots got wrong is my age.  I am deffinatly Not 25-34…I’m 55 and pround of it.  I’ve never lied about my age and don’t intend to do so now.

As geek computer literate femme, I am leaving Google & their blatantly Fail!spyware goals. Deleting YouTube accounts, refusing to correspond with friends using googlegroups, deleting Gmail (after YouTube vid transfers), & instead utilizing old school search engines that don’t use cookies or memorize my searches.  No need to worry about Google and ACTA compliance, Google’s ready to bend us over like James T. Kirk, AND they’ll be making money to boot.

BigBrother Google, I bite my thumb at you.

For shame Google!! You are not collecting nor evaluating your data!!

I’m a 18-24 Male. Shocking! O_O
But I’m going to ditto the relief that I’m spared “woman ads” which are no doubt very thick with stereotypes or gender-specific only (like tampons, babies, etc).

Same! Except… WOOHOO! Am in the 18-24 category :D *beams* #youngatheart

I’m in the same demographics as you all, which is funny since I’m a 45 year old woman. But hey, I’ve always hung out around men, worked in men-dominated fields, and whatnot. So I’m not surprised that is where they put me.

Apparently i am a dude too: http://t.co/nIHqNAKm  (i’m not)

My aunt works at Google. I should probably mention this to her. Maybe she could fix it.

Female, 18-24 who likes arts and entertainment/tv, crafts, shopping… maybe because of all my craft-geekery i came out female… which is funny because I spend a lot of time looking up batman stuff.

It got me pegged perfectly. Listed me as 18-24 Female. I had similar searches in my google list but apparently the clothing/apparel searches are what put me in the chick category.

18-24 year old male here.  Does that mean that as a 44-year old woman I’m just an immature tomboy?

My history was on prior to checking and it categorized me as 25-34 yr old male.

Thanks, I’ve edited that in!

Sure, glad to help! :)

Not only am I a man but I’m much younger too! Thanks, Google! I should be making a whole lot more money according to you.

Google thinks I’m a 35-44 year old man.  I’m a 24 year old woman.  It was only my search history turned on, though.

Google hasn’t made its mind up about me yet. 

Hm…I showed up as a 35-44 male even though my G+ profile says I am female. And the age is low by at least 10 years.

I’m glad to not be targeted with engagement ring ads and baby crap… but yeah, wtf Google.

Business & Industrial
Computers & Electronics – Consumer Electronics – Gadgets & Portable Electronics – PDAs & Handhelds
Food & Drink 
Google thinks I’m male, 35-44. I’m female, 49. History was on.

apparently this 40 year old woman is a 25-24 year old male with interests in:
Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – ComicsArts & Entertainment – Music & AudioComputers & Electronics – Software – Software UtilitiesGamesPeople & Society – Social Sciences – DemographicsShopping – Toys

I checked at my work computer and came up w/ 24-36 year old male. I work at a doll and toy museum. i do searches on dolls and dollhouses about 5 times a day. oh google, i can’ tell if this is good or bad

Google had mine right on. Targeted me for Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies and entertainment, video games and still got my gender right. I’m curious if this has to do with shopping habits — I recently searched extensively for a 50s-style dress.

I half suspect they have male set as the default gender and only switch to female if you…like baking and cat gifs? I honestly don’t know what criteria would count.

*note: I’m not google, I’m not trying to stereotype. Everyone loves baked goods and cute cats. That’s a human thing not a female thing.

Yay, I’m a dude too! Saying that, all they really want to know is if we’re searching for ‘male-sounding’ things so they can advertise other ‘male-sounding’ things to us. Eg, if we’re searching for Dr. Who DVDs, they reckon they can advertise Torchwood to us as well. Though in that case it seems a bit silly to declare the demographic at all.

I’m male, 25-34.  Except I’m female and 43.  I guess middle-aged working moms who game are a very desirable demographic!

Google Spain also categorizes me as Male 24-34 (RL: Female geek, 37 :-D)

My household is 2/3 female and our computer still says male.

And I think we all get the idea that Google wasn’t being sexist, they just chose a guesstimating system for their ad targeting.

I guess I should be flattered: Google thinks I’m an 18-24 yo female. I’m a 44 yo female. They also think I enjoy shopping for swimwear online, which I’ve never done in my life.

Looks like it’s women as a category that’s the problem. Google says Web History Paused (not a clue what that means) but it still has stuff listed.
“Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Rock Music
Pets & Animals – Pets – Dogs
Pets & Animals – Pets – Horses
World Localities – North America – USA – Midwest (USA) – Michigan – Detroit”
Google also assumes I’m an 18-24 year old man.  My parents have been lying to me for 28 years!
I’m not in Michigan, wtf.  Apparently looking for Rock music makes me a young man?
I don’t even have any geeky stuff listed this time.

In real life I’m a 25 yo female science writer/astronomy nerd; Google thinks I’m a 65+ male in the aerospace industry. Several of my facebook friends had similar results–one commented, “Apparently female scientists are non-existent in google-land.”

Google doesn’t understand human nature. Their revamped privacy policy is but the latest example.

HA! They’ve got my gender right, but they think I’m 10 years younger.

Wondering if I should be insulted…

(Also, when I last look up “combat sports”?)

As a guy, it actually pegged me as a 45 – 54 yo woman. Though, you can change gender, you can not remove it.

Your categories and demographics
No interest or demographic categories are associated with your ads preferences so far. You can add or edit interests and demographics at any time.

They can’t figure me out and I like it that way!

I actually opted out of ad targeting completely a long time ago. If I did turn it on, I’d prefer that they got it wrong.

18-24 year old male. The age range is right, but I’m a little insulted that searching for government and corporate news, movies, and games means I’m a guy. 

I dunno. I had three beauty and fitness categories in my results (guess I’ve spent waaaay too much time looking at makeup tutorial videos lately… the eyeshadow…its so pretty!) but apparently the three gaming results cancelled all that femininity out and I turned up as a 18-24 y/o male. At least they got the age range right…

Unsurprisingly, I also came up as male! I will go ahead and fix it, but I do wonder if I will no longer receive geeky ads that I might enjoy after I properly identify myself. Thanks for sharing!

I like ugly cats, too!

Arts & Entertainment – MoviesGames – Puzzles & BrainteasersReference – Language Resources – Foreign Language ResourcesAge: 18-24
Gender: FemaleThey got everything right. How sad is it that I’m disappointed about not being considered a male?

I tried it on a couple devices and got Female both times even though one computer had “Sci-Fi &Fantasy movie” and the other had “American Football” so I don’t think they are going purely off of interests. 

That happened to me, too! So I just had the gender thing removed.

You can. You have to scroll down to ”
Your demographics” and you can change it there…..I’ve been lumped in with men on line for so long it doesn’t phase me, HOWEVER, being put in the younger age demo was a pleasant surprise. 

Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – Comics
Arts & Entertainment – TV & Video – TV Shows & Programs – TV Comedies
Games
Shopping – Consumer Resources – Product Reviews & Price Comparisons
Age: 25-34
Gender: Male

I am actually firmly in the next age bracket and female. I’m reluctant to change my info because I don’t want to start getting ads for restless bladder pills or eye lift surgery.

I’m with Olive.

What I like is the difference between the preference on my work computer and my home one. Because I do data analysis and reference a lot of finance and population figures at work, it assumes I am a 55 year old man. My home one is a 25-34 year old woman because the comics and media websites are balanced out with ones focused on women’s health and sexuality. I’m a female and 26, for reference.

18-24 year old male.  Well, the age is right.

What’s wrong with a young man who is into equal rights, 
Pandora, and knitting? :D

What are you using instead of Gmail?  Also, I hate that Google is the best search engine. :(

It got my age and gender right, but I don’t see how it decides if you are male or female.
http://twitpic.com/8cf8tf

http://www.leavegooglebehind.com/ 

Fascinating. I, too, was an 18-34 year-old male. I’ve changed it but I’m kinda bummed to be older now. :) 

The thing that worries me is that Google is doing demographics studies with this–meaning, say, suppose someone wanted to see how many women are reading superhero comics. And Google says, well, according to our ad demographics, it’s these many. Except Google has all the geek *girls* classified 18-34 year-old males. 

My apartmentmates and I observed only a 33% success rate.  We are all nerdy ladies, and it thought two of us were guys.  

Mine is:

Arts and Entertainment-Movies

Games-Computer and Video Games-Simulation Games

And I am:

18-24 And Female.

For the most part, this is really accurate compared to what y’all got. The only thing that’s actually inaccurate is that I’m 15, but that isn’t much of a difference. 

The fact that the rest of you are suddenly “male” is just ridiculous, though.

I have no history in Firefox, because I have all cookies there blocked and constantly deleted.  But in both Safari and Chrome I am an 18-24 year old male (I’m 30).  My categories:

Arts & Entertainment, Beauty & Fitness – Fitness, Shopping, and in the other browser:Arts & Entertainment – Humor, Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio, Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Classical Music, Law & Government – Government – Royalty, People & Society, Real Estate – Apartments & Residential Rentals.

Hmmm, that is odd. Are you sure y’all are ladies? I mean, what’s the last time you checked?

My history is on and they got my interests right but for demographics it says: “No demographic categories are associated with your ads preferences so far. You can add or edit demographics at any time.”

It got me entirely wrong, too (apparently I’m an 18-24 yo Male, which is news to me, because I thought I was a 32 year old woman). I’m guessing in my case, however, it’s due to my new-found love of hockey, as it’s listing pretty much sports and books as my interests. (Books, yes. Sports… well, hockey, yes. I pretty much despise everything else sports related and can’t believe I am now defined by an interest in “sports.”)

So geekery and sports both equal male, evidently.

Same.
I think maybe Google cant decide who we are. Mind you my only interests listed were movie references and costume shopping (which I swear I don’t do that much…)

Well, they got my gender right. They think I’m 18-24, which most people online seem to think anyway. (I’m fifteen.)
Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – ComicsArts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy FilmsArts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – RadioArts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Urban & Hip-Hop – Rap & Hip-HopGames – Computer & Video GamesReference – Language Resources – Foreign Language ResourcesShopping – Apparel – Undergarments
What I want to know is how the hip-hop thing got on there. Not my music genre at all. Same with the underpants. I do not Google-search anything related to underpants. Unless Google can magically look at my tastes in fanfiction there isn’t anything underwear-related on my computer at all.

Google not only thinks I’m a guy, but one about half my age.  Genius.

20 y-o girl but google thinks I’m 24-35 y-o male. Apparently a male because I like games, comics, and comedy? 

I have my history on and I’m even using chrome.

Well, I am female, although 18-24 (I’ll take it LOL  It’s wrong, but I’ll take it).  My history was on and here are my categories:
Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – Anime & MangaArts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy FilmsBeauty & FitnessGames – Computer & Video GamesShopping – ApparelBased on those, I was actually a little surprised they got my gender right!

SNORT!!! it turns out on my home computer i’m an 18-24 year old male despite my accurate at work description of 25-34 year old female 
http://twitpic.com/8cjtpd

18-24 male. I’m female. 

Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Music Equipment & Technology – Musical Instruments – Drums & Percussion = 18-24 year old Male

Sorry Google, 17 year old Female here.

20s female here who works in original programming at a cable network whose demo is still perceived to have a male skew. Often speak to a friend who mine, another 20s female, who works as an engineer in the video game industry. We’re obviously females working in male-dominated industries, and that’s just the reality of the situation.

Google labeled both of us as male. No surprise. Based on our interests, we’re part of a subculture that is still largely male. For those who don’t like the statistics, work to change them…instead of crying/bitching/whining.

Aside from Google and their metrics, there are larger sociocultural ideas of who does and does not do “nerdy” things. Like most things, that is perspective is changing very, very, very slowly. Fixing other more relevant problems will change the entire way society views women in subcultures to begin with.

At the end of the day, to be “shocking,” you’re more than just “the proud owner of a vagina.”  At least, I hope we all are. Are you a sassy gal? Sure! Are you a sassy geek? Why not! Are you both? Maybe! But does that encompass everything and all that you are? Definitely not. We try to fight for recognition within male-dominated subcultures as females, as if being female is a contradictory note when pairing it up to the concept of being male, as if being female gives some inherently different perspective.

Why feel diminished if an algorithm doesn’t label you “correctly?” Does that stop you from participating in said subculture? Does that stop you from pursuing whatever interests and engages you? Do you really need validation from Skynet and/or the mainstream? What will that accomplish? 

To end on a slightly cornball note, ”Be the change you want to see in the world.”

On an unrelated note, we both love how this blog is called The Mary Sue. :-)

If you’ve still got your panties in a bunch…that’s what eating your feelings via a gallon of ice cream is for. ;-)

Or, you could just accept that you like male things

I’m male, but apparently 65+. (I’m 45.) And here I thought I was an aging hipster …

Oooh, it nailed me: female 18-24. My big categories are Arts & Entertainment – anime+manga/comics/online video. Books+Literature and Reference – dictionaries, encyclopedias, language resources, foreign language resources. Online communities, social networks (….I’ll tell you now it’s all about livejournal). Obvious nerdy university student. And as we all know, there are no menz on LJ or tumblr, so I’d HAVE to be female.

“Why feel diminished if an algorithm doesn’t label you “correctly?”"
Because there is no need at all for the algorithm to label you by gender. None. The ad targetting is by your interests. Having the “you’re male/female” part of it is completely unnecessary. That is why it is insulting, and damaging. “You’re not really a male/female, because males/femalse don’t like this stuff”.

I don’t think any algorithm is choosing to label you. That’s you projecting/extrapolating whatever you think and feel onto what the data is telling you. It’s a piece of data and you’re giving it whatever context suits you…and the sames goes for me.

The way I infer it is: “These are my interests (which are correct) and based on these interests, Google assumes I am male because this particular subset is still PERCEIVED to be predominantly male.” Whether or not that perception is true, I don’t know as I don’t really have access to mounds of consumer data. In psychology, there’s a term called schema that refers to a “cluster of pre-conceived ideas” to organize information. All of us view people and the world around us on how we’ve neatly boxed everything up in our heads because it’s “easier” to have a framework to contextualize our world and our actions. Yoinking from Wiki, “We are inclined to place people who do not fit our schema in a ‘special’ or ‘different’ category, rather than to consider the possibility that our schema may be faulty.”It’s easier for marketers to label us, because THAT idea puts us into a nice, little box that’s uncomplicated and reduces you to a few bullet points. The reality is we live in a consumerist society that panders to labels, and that’s really the bigger problem (which I have no solution for!). My parents have joked, since I work in television, that “I contribute nothing to society aside from escapist entertainment,” which is certainly part of that consumerist machine! WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME?! ;-) Alas, as long as there are consumers, there will always be marketers…In some ways, I feel that even choosing the label of “geek girl” is damaging because it’s yet another label to add to the marketing jargon pile, regardless if it’s a label you’ve created for yourself. By labeling, there will be be unavoidably a subset of the “geek girls” set who feel that the main set does not represent who THEY are. Perhaps it’s “geek girls who always wear hats and play bagpipes.” On a more serious note, how about those who don’t feel like they want to identify themselves in the gender binary and refuse to even use the terms “male or female?” …and then we’re back in the same situation all over again.

Age correct: gender inaccurate
Games – Computer & Video Games – Casual Games
Games – Online Games – Massive Multiplayer
People & Society
World Localities
Age: 25-34Gender: Male

That reminds me of my favorite Onion story 
http://www.theonion.com/articles/google-responds-to-privacy-concerns-with-unsettlin,16891/

omg it got my age right 18-24 I’m 23 but it says I am a guy wtf google

Interesting. They got my gender correct (female), but apparently because I am interesting in fan fiction and anime and manga, they assume I’m 18-24. Actually I’m a 38 year old book reviewer and teen librarian, so I guess it makes sense that I am “…interested in topics that mostly interest people aged 18-24.”

No demographics information on me. On the other hand, though, I apparently somehow got Beauty and Fitness on there (did I google for biking tips or something…?), Roleplaying games, computer games, TV crime & legal shows, visual art and design, as well as shopping – apparel, which I assume is a reference to my epic search for tie clips. I’m female. It’s definitely best they didn’t try to guess.

Hmm… Got my age and gender wrong. Google seems to think that I’m 18-24 and male.
35 and female here.

Well, now. That’s strange. I just checked it a second time and, while still thinking I’m a young male, the categories have changed slightly.

First it showed Arts & Entertainment (Comics, Humour, Visual Art Design), Computers & Electronics (Software Utilities), Games, Online Games (Massive Multiplayer).

Now it shows Arts & Entertainment (Music & Audio), Computer & Electronics (Software Utilities), Food & Drink (Candy & Sweets) [yes, I have a ginormous sweet tooth].

In Chrome (facebook and links followed from same):
News – Politics
Online Communities – File Sharing & Hosting
18-34 Male

In Firefox (everything else):
Autos & Vehicles – Vehicle Brands – ToyotaComputers & Electronics – Consumer ElectronicsHome & Garden – Bed & Bath – BedroomHome & Garden – HVAC & Climate ControlInternet & Telecom – Service Providers – ISPsShopping – Consumer Resources – Product Reviews & Price Comparisons
35-44 Male (age range is right)

I’ve been browsing to furnish and set up entire house as I’ve just moved to a new country, and it shows!  But apparently my husband should be the one doing all this.

On my mobile:
Business & Industrial – Business Operations – Human Resources

Computers & Electronics

Games – Computer & Video Games – Gaming Media & Reference

Hobbies & Leisure – Special Occasions – Weddings

Internet & Telecom – Mobile & Wireless – Mobile Phones

Jobs & Education – Jobs

Online Communities – Online Journals & Personal Sites

Pets & Animals – Pets – Birds
25-34 Male

I’m going to correct them all.  It’ll be interesting to see if there is a change in the ads shown to me, or if they do chose ads based more on the searches themselves.

Age: 18-24
Gender: Male
Age & gender both incorrect.  I’m 39 yo female (& apparently very immature).  Also, I surf tons of feminist sites, though that didn’t show up in my profile.

Arts & Entertainment – Celebrities & Entertainment NewsArts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – CartoonsArts & Entertainment – Movies – Movie ReferenceArts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy FilmsArts & Entertainment – Performing Arts – Opera

So I’m a 25-34 y/o male (I’m a 52 y/o woman) and my 17 y/o daughter is an 18-24 y/o male.  Hmph.  Insulting.  History was on for both of us.  Our interests in sci-fi, geek culture and gaming are all “perceived” to be male.  Whatever.  

Well 3 cheers for my love of nail polish, google does recognize me as female despite my other interests.

Arts & Entertainment – HumorArts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Rock Music – Metal (Music)Beauty & Fitness – Face & Body Care – Make-Up & CosmeticsBusiness & Industrial – Business Services – Office SuppliesGames

Waiiiiit a minute… are you… ME? ;)

Hey, not only am I a man, I’m over age 65! (reality: 34, woman)

I’m a 24yo F who came out as 18-24 M. 
My top three categories/interests were:

Finance – (more details, but it’s personal)
Sports
Sports-Hockey 

Which describes me over the last couple weeks maybe. The Finance bit is right out, and I don’t have any idea why sports is on their twice. I will admit I’ve been REALLY into hockey lately. 

Wrong on both counts.  But I guess since I’ve always behaved like one fo the boys… :P

Your categories
Below you can review the interests and inferred demographics that Google has associated with your cookie. You can remove or edit these at any time.
Arts & Entertainment – Music & AudioBeauty & Fitness – Body ArtShopping – Apparel – Footwear

Your demographics
We infer your age and gender based on the websites you’ve visited. You can remove or edit these at any time.
Age: 25-34Gender: Male

This line in the FAQ might explain all the false positives: 

“Because many of the websites that Mary visits are related to gardening, Google puts her number (114411) in the “gardening enthusiast” interest category. Similarly, if those sites have a majority of female visitors (based on aggregated survey data on site visitation), her number (114411) may be added to the ‘female’ inferred demographic category.”

So conversely, if I visit NHL.com and the majority of NHL.com’s visitors are Male, it puts one tick for me into the male category. The more male dominated sites I visit, the more male I seem apparently. Seems like a self-perpetuating problem. 

Same here; I’ve had mine on for a few years (or, it feels that way, at least), but Google has no interest in making assumptions about me, I guess.

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right
one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be
grateful.—> sugarcupid.C○MIt is a person’als place where you can
meet success’ful rich men, classy mature women, rich women looking for
marriage, or just meet beautiful friends and singles

So apparently I’m not only male but younger than I am… despite hair care, crafts and women’s fitness all being on the list wouldn’t the fact that I have more female type searches overall cancel out the one video game search? Oh well I shall manually adjust their perception of me.

Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – Anime & Manga
Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy Films
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Rock Music
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – World Music – East Asian Music
Games – Computer & Video Games
Games – Roleplaying Games
Hobbies & Leisure – Special Occasions – Weddings 

Age: 18-24
Gender: Female 

Age and gender are both correct. It had to be all the wedding dresses. ><

Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – Anime & Manga
Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy Films
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Rock Music
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – World Music – East Asian Music
Games – Computer & Video Games
Games – Roleplaying Games
Hobbies & Leisure – Special Occasions – Weddings 

Age: 18-24
Gender: Female 

Age and gender are both correct. It had to be all the wedding dresses. ><

18-24 year old female… yup. I think it was the Music theatre that tipped me over the edge to female as everything else seems to be the same as everyone here who got assigned “male” (movies, comedy, comics, rock, science, news, etc). Which sucks for all the dudes I know who are into and interested in drama and theatre, muscial or otherwise. Not particularly bothered by it but it is interesting

Same result for me : “25-34 year old male”, despite my interest in “Babies & Toddlers”. :)

Same for me. They got the age right, but they think I’m a man, because most of my interests are in computer technology and the law. 

What, not enough cooking videos?

The problem with Google is that it’s isn’t as smart as it thinks it is. 

Well at least they’re considering transvestites?

Yeah, Clever Bot try to convince me I was a dude cos I talked about video games.  Narrow Minded Bot.

Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy FilmsArts & Entertainment – Music & AudioBeauty & FitnessComputers & Electronics – SoftwareJobs & Education – EducationReal Estate – Apartments & Residential RentalsReal Estate – Real Estate ListingsShoppingAge: 25-34
Gender: FemaleRight on both accounts!  I wonder what it was that put me over?

18-24 year old male. I’m actually a 27 year old female who apparently likes graphic design, online video, humor, movies, computers & electronics, body art and games.

The predominance of women on this page reveals to any half-awake observer that these interests are not restricted to males and are, in fact, quite female-friendly.

Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Movie Reference
Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy Films
Arts & Entertainment – TV & Video – Online Video
Pets & Animals – Wildlife
World Localities – North America – USA – Florida
25-34 year old male (correct). Not sure about the wildlife thing, and I don’t live in Florida–but I was reading about the Republican presidential primaries (I’m rooting for Gingrich so he’ll lose against Obama) and the only reference to wildlife I can think of was the recent segment I saw where NBC was debating whether to air the segment where they have people drink donkey…products.
It would be interesting if geek girls are now a large enough demographic that targeted ads would be effective. If you knew you had a magazine, say, devoted to geek girls, what would you try to sell them *that you wouldn’t sell geek boys or nongeeky women*? Knitting needles? Mercedes Lackey and Jacqueline Carey books? I’ve seen lines of power tools with a small grip to make them easier for women to use. Are there any technology devices preferred by nerd women?

I am female. Here is mine:

Comics
Sci-fi
Graphic Design
Fashion and Style 
PR
Fonts
People and Society
Shopping
Female 25-34

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/biancanrobinson/Skynet.jpg

39 year old woman here, but google thinks I’m an 18-24 year old man.

Your categoriesAutos & Vehicles – Vehicle Brands
Computers & Electronics
Games
Games – Computer & Video Games
Games – Computer & Video Games – Shooter Games
Travel – Air Travel

Same on the “Urban Hip Hop & Rap Hip Hop” — wtf? I wonder if some of my favorite artists are some how misclassified in Google’s databases? As far as I can remember, nearly all my online music listen is indie alt / punk / pop punk…. 

My age and gender were correct but in addition to lots of gaming, electronics and entertainment in my history I also had beauty, fitness, and cooking. Maybe that helped as being stereotypically female?  Google history turned on btw.

Well, I’m certainly female, but I’ve been a female geek for longer than Google thinks I’ve been. Google thinks I’m somewhere between 25 – 34, but I’m actually 48. It’s not just getting the sex wrong for some of us but the age as well. Evidently, only young people like the things I like. What am I supposed to like at my age, one wonders.Your categoriesBelow you can review the interests and inferred demographics that Google has associated with your cookie. You can remove or edit these at any time.Arts & Entertainment – Humor
Arts & Entertainment – Visual Art & Design – Photographic & Digital Arts
Business & Industrial
Computers & Electronics
Games – Computer & Video Games
Games – Puzzles & Brainteasers
People & Society – Social Sciences – Psychology
Reference – General Reference – Biographies & Quotations
Reference – General Reference – Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Reference – Language Resources
Shopping – ApparelYour demographicsWe infer your age and gender based on the websites you’ve visited. You can remove or edit these at any time.Age: 25-34Gender: Female

I had to hit resume on my Google history but before that, my profile on Google Ads was pretty accurate. And it did know I was female. 

lolzy, ^.^  Shiny side out!

Yup–Google thinks I’m a dude too. They got my age range, interests, and location correct, but apparently being interested in current events, games, and rock music means that I must also have testicles.

Yeah, I remember when this first came out. I forget where I read it, but that was the first thing I jumped on. Sure enough. I was ‘Male’. Whether I checked it on my work computer or my home computer. This is what I havee on this computer.

Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Movie ReferenceArts & Entertainment – Movies – Science Fiction & Fantasy FilmsComputers & Electronics – Software – Software UtilitiesGamesShopping – ApparelWorld Localities – Asia – South Asia – India

Your demographics
Age: 25-34Gender: Male

What we’re trying to say is.. these AREN’T all male things. If this many (and who knows how many other) Females like these exact same things… how are they guy only things?

I’m not really complaining myself. I find it slightly amusing and it will be interesting to see how it changes over time.

Ha ha! Exactly me, too. Google thinks I’m 18-24 and a guy and I’m also a 32 year old female.

My “interest” list seems to be a lot longer than the others posted here. There are 15 categories for me but I’m happy to see that it’s dominated by Arts & Entertainment. Comics & Animation, Movies, Movie Reference, Art & Design, Arts Education- those (along with arts and entertainment the category itself) were my first 6 entries. My last entry being Shopping:Toys. Fighting games was on there, too but that was for reference for some pictures.
Anyhoo, google thought I was an 18-24 year old male but I fixed it, posting my 32 year old female status. Now I can get more “Do you have unsightly belly fat?” ads instead of my current “Livescribe” ad. Look up that damn pen once and get livescribe ads for a week solid.  -_-;

Arts & Entertainment – Humor
Arts & Entertainment – TV & Video – TV Shows & Programs – TV Comedies
Business & Industrial
Computers & Electronics
Games
Hobbies & Leisure – Crafts – Fiber & Textile Arts
Jobs & Education
Online Communities – Photo & Video Sharing – Photo & Image Sharing
Shopping – Apparel

Age: 25-34
Gender: Male

Yep. I’m a lady. 28.

The above comment was for my personal laptop. This is for my PC which is shared with my 32 year old boy friend:
Arts & Entertainment; Arts & Entertainment – Comics & Animation – Comics; Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Rock Music; Business & Industrial – Advertising & Marketing; Games – Computer & Video Games – Adventure Games; People & Society; Reference – General Reference – Calculators & Reference Tools; Shopping – Toys;
Demographics – Age – 25-34; Demographics – Gender – Male 
I find it odd that this list is so much shorter.
Also, that it doesn’t include any porn.
And as an added bonus, livescribe ads on this machine, too. Google is getting too smart for me. I’m gonna buy the damn pen! Just leave me alone!

I’m glad that I’m in good company; Google had me pegged as 25-34 male, even though I’m female and over 40. Gotta love it.

I had the opposite experience: When I first found this ad cookie page, it correctly identified me as male.  I wanted to see what kind of an impact it would have, so for the last couple of months I’ve been browsing the internet as a female, according to google.  Haven’t really noticed much of a change at all though, I have a (semi-effective, non updated) ad blocker installed.  No tampons yet.  Maybe the cookie doesn’t believe me.

“Games – Computer & Video Games – Adventure Games
Pets & Animals
Shopping
Shopping – Apparel
Shopping – Apparel – Costumes

No demographic categories are associated with your ads preferences so far.”

Google can’t tell what I am. :D It’s the games throwing it off, right? The other four sound pretty girly to me. (shopping shopping shopping xD )

I like games and comedy movies…I must be an 18-24 year-old guy! Sorry Google, just a 28-year-old female editor who needs a break from agriculture writing. Ha!

I don’t have demographic Information. I must be unclassifiable 

I got male, 55-64. Why so old? I understand the male, I buy mostly electronics online but I don’t recall buying Depends or other old people stuff! Maybe it’s the pet supplies? 

Happened to me too. Because my interests were Heavy Metal, horror, games, and sci-fi. They thought I was an 18-24 Male.
40 yr old woman was amused.
I did change my gender and age and dropped Hip Hop, except for the Horrible History raps, I don’t listen to it.

I tweeted about this a couple of days ago – Google also has me down as a 18-24 year old male. My history is on and I am a 40 year old female gamer/tech geek with a serious high heel addiction. Starting to worry about the 18-24 year old male population and the amount of shoes sites and blogs they must visit…

Well, Google assumes I am not only a male, but apparently an immature one at 18-24. Due to my categories being media-music-rock music, computers and gaming, pets and animals, and shopping-apparel….undergarments? Hmm. I guess it assumes I’m a male that wears lingerie too!

What I found amusing was that I have stuff about MMOs, geekery etc. BUT I have stereotypical female stuff like shoe shopping,  and weightloss, and makeup. It still decided I was male. Sooo they can accept a guy with outside gender norm interests, but a girl… ohhhh google.

Then again.. maybe they just assume everyone on the internet is a boy.

I have a new strategy! I will counter every Star Wars related search I enter with a search for birth control and tampons. Bogdammit Google, you will know geek girls exist even if I have to artificially balance my profile!!!! 

Hey, I like yogurt! ;-)

A-yup. This is what my classmate figured. I’m female science writer, 24. The science = not woman. Google thinks I’m a 24-35 year-old male. But I am interested in my interests:

Arts & Entertainment – Visual Art & Design – Design – Industrial & Product DesignBeauty & Fitness – Body ArtComputers & Electronics – Software – Multimedia Software – Desktop PublishingGamesPeople & SocietyScience – Biological Sciences – Anatomy

Interests associated with my account:
Arts & Entertainment
Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Movie Reference
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Country Music
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Vocals & Show Tunes
Arts & Entertainment – Performing Arts
Books & Literature
Food & Drink – Cooking & Recipes – Baked Goods
Food & Drink – Cooking & Recipes – Fruits & Vegetables
Jobs & Education – Education – Colleges & Universities
 
My apparent demographic:
Age: 18-24 Gender: Male

I’m 22, but I’m pretty sure that I’m female. And I don’t know where the country music thing came from, but the rest of my interests seem pretty accurate. Now I want to know what it is about Movies, Music, Cooking, Literature, and Education that screams “Guy.” Also, why don’t they want to sell me video games anymore?