"It's probably the case that it just rarely occurs to a man to get a hamster as a pet but if one is already in the family they find they like it more than they expected. "
I think that's true - if other family members have had one and they get to know how great hamsters are!
Maybe we should ask some of the male members
I think for many it is a case of only a caged pet being possible in a small living area.