Kae'Yoss said:
Not quite true, especially outside the US. Whenever I do tell someone about my roleplaying hobby, I have to add quickly that it doesn't involve dressing up in leather costumes and playing "nurse and patient" or anything like that. D&D is drawing blank stares.
That mirrors my experience as well, maybe it's particular to Germany...
IF someone has heard of roleplaying games before it will be either the computer games or 'live roleplaying', i.e. dressing up and running around in/near castles.
I remember a particularly embarassing episode in middle-school, when our German teacher asked us to demonstrate the game when she heard we were playing rpgs. That taught me to take extra pains to explain what roleplaying games are whenever I get the impression someone doesn't really know what I am talking about.
D&D isn't widely known here. 'Das Schwarze Auge' is probably the most widely known RPG system here. Even people who played and liked computer games like 'Baldur's Gate' or 'Neverwinter Nights' often don't remember they're in any way connected to D&D.
Then there are those who know the novels (Dragonlance and Drizz't novels, mostly), but don't realize there's any connection to a game.
I always make it a point, though, to actively advertise roleplaying games. I've always mentioned it in the hobbies section of my cv and in job interviews for good effect.
To get back to the OPs subject:
Women playing rpgs are definitely still a minority. I've found that those that are somewhat interested in it generally don't particularly care about the mechanics or tactical combat but more about the storytelling and roleplaing aspects. For many women rpgs are also too 'abstract'; sitting around a table playing the game is too static.
There are a lot more women interested in live roleplaying or participating in amateur theatre groups, etc. than in pen & paper rpgs.
