I'm interested to know what the role of women has been in the Folk Club scene.

I'm not a raving feminist or anything, but it has become apparent through my research in to folk music in Keighley in the 60's/70's that the majority of performers, both floor singers and booked artists have been men, but on the social side there are lots of women attending clubs as audience members. Also who runs the clubs, is this where the women come in?

Why was/is this? is it because women don't sing as much as men, or are they not invited to, or are they not as good?

Start a heated debate please!!