14.2 Sex and Gender

To test whether convention-going samples of furries differed significantly from online samples of furries, we compared the results of our largest online furry survey¹ to the results of a convention-based survey conducted at around the same time.²

This suggests that an explanation for this phenomenon should apply to both samples. One possibility is based on the fact that artists in the fandom are far more likely to be women, who, as a group (artists), may be more represented at a furry convention than online.³ Coupled with the fact that women are more likely than men to report economic reasons for being a part of the fandom,⁴ this is evidence that there may be more commercial female furry artists than male furry artists, which would make it more likely that such artists would be in attendance at a furry convention to sell their art, which could possibly explain the gender disparity between the samples.

1. International Online Furry Survey: Winter 2011
2. Furry Fiesta 2011 Study
3. See section 6.2 Artists and Writers: Demographics
4. See 12.1 Gender Disparity