I think they'd agree with you - albeit with some trouble on the word "intimidation". I'd offer they'd say that women often enjoy each others company in some situations.
And - the corollary is true to: men STILL, in 2004, feel intimidated to participate in certain activities if they are outnumbered by women.
Dunno' if Testosterone and Horsepower are really kharmically connected, in a Tim Allen, sense or not. It would be interesting to play Jane Goodall and watch an integrated woodworking class - as I'd suspect the XX participants approach problem solving differently than the XY's.
Well I won't hammer you - if you read my post to Renata you'll see that I've been doing a "woman's" job for 5 years now. I can tell you that it's certainly intimidating going into a roomful of women for some child-centered activity. Whether it was true or not, I felt as though everything I did and said to my daughter was scrutinized by the "moms". I can see how a woman might feel intimidated and conspicuous in a roomful of men, doing a "man's" activity. I give great credit to the couple of women in the woodturning chapters I belong.
Hey Bridger,
Shhh! Somebody might hear you! ;-)
Had to post this gem from their homepage:
"I'm a beginning furniture maker. Some of the woodworkers I've met recently recommend I use a jig. What exactly is a jig and what can I use it for?"
There ya go - want to make furniture, use a jig. Anyone know where I can get this magic jig?
Oh it actually gets better (OK, worse) that this. The above is part of an entire page on jigs. The writer of the article is a "marketing specialist" from Woodcraft. Additional questions include:
What types of woodworking projects most often require jigs?
I've seen jigs for sale, but there are so many variations that I'm confused. What type of jig should I get?
Can you recommend some jigs that would be good for furniture making.
Are there any special tips you have for using jigs.
According to the article many of the answers to these perplexing questions can be found at
Rumor has it that BitchSlapBobZajicek is doing an entire page on using your ear to keep your a pencil handy when in the shop. Trouble is he has to publish under the name Roberta.
UA100
I love it.
Did the "marketing specialist" have a name?
Charlie Self "In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office." Ambrose Bierce
Interspersed, including a couple rants...
Renata
Actually, I never approached this particular hobby with that attitude. I got interested and just kinda started doing it. Never gave a thought to, "Gee, this is a male dominated hobby; maybe I'm in over (or is it under) my head".
But, I do realize it is a novelty to see gals pursuing it (and there are times when this is advantageous; & times when it isn't). The difference is between the attitude of novelty and the attitude that somehow, because I'm a woman, I have fewer skills, abilities, innate knowledge about the subject.
Gravitate TO??? I've been attracted to stuff like FWW from way back, and when I pick up one of those crafty magazines (intended for women only or not), I usually find little that interests me (that's ME - YMMV).
I like Charlie's "cash cow joining the herd" analogy. That perspective is understandable. What I have an issue with is thinking that particular cow is "stoopid" so we gotta gear our product to a lower level.
I do what I like and don't worry about being out of my "traditional" female role. Sure, there are (obvious & not) differences between guys and gals, but none of them precludes one from doing ww'g stuff.
The neighbor down the street tells me that he thinks carpentry knowledge is genetic. Well, if it is, it sure ain't based on the x and y chromosones. I've seen many a guy who wasn't sure about which end of a hammer to use (ok, so I exaggerate a tad), or who ran a drill bit (3/4" into a PT post) in reverse for literally 15 minutes, not understanding that there might be a reason why it wasn't going thru (started smoking and we put a stop to it; relegated him to none tool-using tasks).
Main point. See, if I were to get together w/ww'ers, I want to get together with a group of knowledgeable folks who share the interest. Usually, limiting it to women only eliminates a large number of folks (especially seeing as hw this IS a male dominated hobby) who meet those criteria. So, spare me the women-only retreats, workshops, etc. ad naseum.
I've been having a hard time training my pinkie to stay tucked in when using a circular saw or router, but letting it free when holding a wine glass. ;-)
Renata
The knowledge and expertise is splattered about fairly unevenly here - but it's available.
I'm glad you're here. My own experience has been that men and women (perhaps because of biases introduced in our upbringing; but perhaps something else) frequently approach work, play, and problems with (slight to huge) differences in perspectives.
(That effect is also visible in multi-lingual problem-solving teams: a synergism of mental pathways - I wonder if the effects are related...)
Welcome to a forum where your knowledge, expertise, /and/ perspective will be valued.
And this is different from the wreck exactly how?
B*st*rd ... I was hoping to get that one published. I guess that means I need to go back and work on my "using disposable paintbrushes for spreading glue" essay.
Charlene Vance
Charlene Vance responds:
How about for RNs only (female type, of course) using tongue depressors to spread glue?
I went to pick up the jigs article to see who wrote it, and to get a bit of a mean laugh, but, damn, the second edition is there with articles on "Tomboy Tools" which is a company that does home parties, a la Tupperware, I guess, with tools designed especially for women. There's also an interview with Matt & Shari from HGTV, focusing on such great woodworking projects as a huge birdhouse to house a TV set, a 7' lighthouse for beach towel and game storage...and, oh, I won't go on.
Oh, yeah. I just found it. This second issue does have the jig article. Lori Mossor is the writer. Lori's a nice kid, but this is the first I've heard her described as a woodworker. I knew she painted furniture.
Maybe it will shake down and be a good addition, but at the moment, the SIPs from Meredith (BH&G) and Woman's Day do a much better job of presenting craft projects that apparently are all designed and built by advertisers.
Im not sure I want to show this to my wife. She may pop me upside the head for wasting nearly 5 bucks.
Charlie Self "In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office." Ambrose Bierce
Was that JIGS ?? or JUGS??
Dibs on Pantyhose as backups when you're low on Cheesecloth.
Lori Mosser.
Looked to me like she had an entire career wrapped up in the article.
UA100
Only if I get "coffee can for making circles".
UA100
UA100 responds:
Yeah, well...as I wrote earlier, Lori is a nice young woman, but I'd cool my jets considerably before I'd class her as a woodworker of any real experience.
AFAIK, they're down to 2 real woodworkers in the corporate office.
Charlie Self "In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office." Ambrose Bierce
I've not seen the magazine in question, much less read it. But, don't forget there's a vast difference between ignorance and stupidity. The referenced question arises out of ignorance, but we all started in that state. Seriously, the very first time you came in contact with a woodworking tool, did you know what a jig was and how, or under what circumstances, one could/should be used
- or the difference between a jig and a fixture?
(I assume the questioner was a "she", based on the magazine's reported focus.) The fact that she is asking the question implies a laudable attempt to increase her knowledge. Whether or not the magazine is laughable depends on how the question is/was handled.
I suspect the (probably male) "woodworkers (she) met recently" were either showing off or didn't recognize her low level of knowledge. She should have asked the question of those "woodworkers" at the time the subject was raised and perhaps would have in an all-female environment. The forum she chose may be more comfortable for her as it offers a degree of anonymity and protection from embarrassment that would not be available in a face to face conversation.
Lots of assumptions, postulations, suppositions, and WAGs in the above, but the point is, the magazine has an opportunity to offer some very basic, entry level education in a non-threatening, non-intimidating forum. I further suspect that, if the magazine does that successfully, the readership will fairly quickly outgrow the magazine. But, there is nothing wrong with that since those lady's daughters will be coming along behind them. True, the same thing could be done in any basic, entry level magazine not specifically aimed at women. But, as Renata mentioned, there are obvious, and not so obvious, differences between the male and female of our species. If such a magazine can appeal to those differences and attract or retain ladies in this avocation, aren't we all the richer for it?
Tom Veatch Wichita, KS USA
a vast difference between ignorance and
that state. Seriously, the very first time you
under what circumstances, one could/should be used
fact that she is asking the question implies a
depends on how the question is/was handled.
off or didn't recognize her low level of
the subject was raised and perhaps would have in
offers a degree of anonymity and protection
that's the cool thing about the net. a dripping wet greenhorn woodworker can lurk a forum or three until they're ready to ask a question or three, and then can use any name that seems ike it would get the answers needed from that particular group. hey, who's to say that someone asking how to cut a board under the name Floyd Barker isn't actually a 17 year old girl?
point is, the magazine has an opportunity to offer
I further suspect that, if the magazine does
there is nothing wrong with that since those lady's
any basic, entry level magazine not specifically
differences between the male and female of our
ladies in this avocation, aren't we all the richer
In this particular case I think the question was contrived by the magazine. It was a chance for the magazine to act as the house organ for their advertiser Woodcraft.
Not saying what you had said isn't true.
UA100
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