I started ringing nearly 9 years ago, whilst in my mid-20s,  a few weeks after giving birth to my second child. I would take him up into the
ringing room with me, he in his car seat, plonk him down In a safe place, and then set to ‘learning the ropes’.  The band was brand new - all complete beginners, with the exception of the teacher, an older gentleman.  The band was a pretty even split of men and women back then, but over the years it’s become very female orientated.  I am now tower captain, and our band consists of five women and two men. The gender split doesn’t seem to bother anyone, and we quite often have a joke with the men if they happen to be the only male there on a particular week.