The impact of the film industry has had a powerful effect on the world. It has not necessarily been used as a reflection of society, but rather a trend setting devise for large-scale gain and profit. It has identified women in roles other than “home makers”, having them seen in trousers and taking on mannish characteristics, exploiting sex and playing roles previously dominated by men. Women were still brazenly encouraged as the “home maker” as late as the 1950’s but, the invention of the world changing contraceptive pill allowed women to fulfill the “fashionable” trend of being financially independent. They began taking advantage of their newfound “freedom” to make choices never before possible in history. Women were finally able to choose career and family, whenever and however they liked.

Entertainment is generally viewed as an integral part of most cultures, but has never been more glorified in western society as it is today. It is an industry that now sees millions (even billions) of dollars line the pockets of top money earners. Actors and singers are the usual beneficiaries, but even magicians can enjoy benefits and opportunities brought about by corporate events and public appearances.

Women make up a very small percentage of the magic industry. Although women love magic and many years have passed since women have been free to make solid career choices,  magic does not seem to have the same attraction as a carrer choice than it does for men, nor does it have the same financial benefits as other fields of entertainment. 

Cyberspace has made it relatively easy to discover the secrets of magic, buy tools of the trade and find mentors and supporters. The magic community once had a reputation for being a 'closed brotherhood', but many men in magic community now are happy to share their knowledge and experience in magic with genuinely interested colleagues who share their passion, regardless of gender. So, changing attitudes are seeing women accepted by their male peers as magicians. So why so few female magicians?  My views and experience do not represent women in general, but may give an insight from one female perspective.

I love magic and performing it for lay people. I have an interest in creating new tricks and presentations and do my  best to promote magic to the public. I believe in protecting its secrets and furthering the art of magic through experimentation and hard work. Women have the same reasons to be involved in magic as men, but it's difficult to focus unreasonably long hours on magic when housework needs to be done. I don't have children, which makes it easier to put the effort into magic and running a magic business. If I had children, it would be difficult to stop work for a period of time with no income or royalties (more prevalent in other areas of entertainment). When magicians take time off work, clients will often forget them. To make a full time living as a magician, you need to be available almost any time to perform magic. Picking and choosing work is not a luxury in the current economic climate and the instability of career and income is not an attractive option for most women.  Women make up more than half the numbers in the mystical arts of pagan practices and fantasy tales abound with women possessing supernatural powers. So, it is not such a big step for the public to accept a woman as a magician, but there are so few women in magic that there is still a strong stereotypical view that when a female magician is working with a male (magician or assistant), then she is naturally thought to be the 'Magcician's Assistant'.

The general public will react differently to a woman performing magic than to a man. An audience will judge a performer in their first few seconds on stage, so appearance is important for a woman to consider - as is the type of presentation. Understanding power roles between males and females is also essential for success. Few people concentrate on magic tricks when they see more of the performer's skin than her clothes.Many women love to study drama, movement, voice and other related skills such as mime, puppetry, scripting, themes, story lines and comedy. Drama studies can be encouraged to enhance stage presence and increase the effectiveness of a trick.Women have many more career choices than ever before in history and through time will find it easier to carve a career in magic. More mentors will rise up for young women to emulate, but I doubt there will ever be large numbers of women in magic. Magic is not an attractive career choice for the average woman.