Womens Sheds

[Scott]

I'm going to be a little disingenuous here Chris but I need to ask this question. If (and only if) a 'Women's Shed' gets off the ground then would men be welcome?

[MAPLEMAN]

I'm going to be a little disingenuous here Chris but I need to ask this question. If (and only if) a 'Women's Shed' gets of the ground then would men be welcome?

I would like to think so Scott..MM

[A Duke]

Chris, women already have that place....it’s called the kitchen!

Go out to the shed and make her a new rolling pin to beat you with.

[MAPLEMAN]

Go out to the shed and make her a new rolling pin to beat you with.

Hugh,she is beating him with it now..MM

[wheelinround]

I have no problem with the organisation being run by a woman - I mean the country was run by a woman fora couple of years...

What you said about " all those years while hubby was at work" kind of goes to theheart of the matter. Traditionally men worked 8 or more hours every day and their socialisation revolved around that work. When they retired they had no friends and no way to make friends hence the idea of a place to work and meet new people.
I know it sounds cheesy but it has worked. lonliness and depression are very, very real illnesses. Mens Sheds have done much to help.

Please don't trivialise a very important need . I thinkyou know what i mean.

Trivialise sorry but have you seen the commercial on TV with Dr Brian Ironwood? (NOT A REAL Dr) for starters they/he is false advertising.

ASMSA has no policy regarding disabled access this is not just being able to enter the place and use the loo its about being respected for who you are what you know and what you can achieve. No policy regarding disabled who need carer's along with them in fact some Men's Shed's have gone as far as discrimination by stating "No Women" or "Men Only" this stops any male from becoming a member who's wife is his carer or has a female carer. I am one of these Avery!!!!!!!!

Yes well I have known many a woman's group over my working life and have seen how well they can run their organisations.

Then of course like Thatcher and Gillard

Avery I agree with your statement regarding retiree's but you have pointed out one important fact that many have No social skills to make new friends while many others do through such as Fishing, Golf, Shooting, motor sports all of which share with female members and partners.

I have always been very much a loner it is since becoming involved with woodwork and a couple of clubs, this forum I have gained new freinds and found some old ones also.

The world wide movement of Men Sheds I think you should take a look at where and why they were started not the BS fed here downunder.

[wheelinround]

These health issues aren't gender discriminate..so a Womens Shed would surely offer similar benefits..MM

Your dead right but it goes deeper Chris see my post reply to Avery re discrimination in many of the Mens Shed's I have visited.


Still female groups have been around for many many many years Chris so have men's they used to meet at pubs, clubs, sporting events, and much more.

[MAPLEMAN]

A No policy regarding disabled who need carer's along with them in fact some Men's Shed's have gone as far as discrimination by stating "No Women" or "Men Only" this stops any male from becoming a member who's wife is his carer or has a female carer. I am one of these Avery!!!!!!!!

.

When i read stuff like this,it makes me want to ...'No Women' or 'Men Only' slogans are 'old school' relics that should have died with the dinosaurs,long,long ago..talk about discrimatory..more reason to start up a 'Womens Shed',where women,carers,and men are welcome..no boundaries,no bull s=1t..MM

[Scott]

The reason I asked the question, "will men be allowed in a woman's shed" is because in the real world women are an exclusive lot, when they have something to themselves they tend to want to keep it to themselves. Let me give you a jaw dropping example:

Australian national women's organisations

There is even an 'Australian Women's Motorsport Network', 'Women in Engineering', 'National Association of Women in Construction' and so forth.

The questions that REALLY need asking are things like:

• Why do men have trouble defining a "men only culture".
• Why do women only clubs don't have trouble defining a "women only culture".

I HONESTLY think that we (men) REALLY need to push forth with a 'men only' culture in respect to Men's Sheds. We need to redefine ourselves. Fundamentally we (men) have had our identity eroded by feminist movement. Mind you, we have had to evolve in areas where 'family' are involved, things were too patriarchal. Now things are too 'matriarchal'. Ultimately what is wrong with a 'men only' organistion?

To answer your question though Chris. 'The Shed' and what occurs in 'The Shed', things like woodworking, metalworking, cars etc are activities that men tend to gravitate towards. I see absolutely nothing wrong with an organisation labelled 'Woman's Sheds' however trying to define what goes on inside those 'sheds' is a little bit more difficult.

I'm at a loss though as to why this question is pitched at a largely male audience. If women want a 'Woman's Shed' then let them go for it, no-one is stopping this from occurring, I fundamentally have no objection. In the meantime there are hundreds of 'Female' orientated organisations within Australia females can join. Just click on the link above or the same link here:

Australian national women's organisations

[A Duke]

Perhaps we need a people shed, no persons allowed.
Any one who saw Gerry Lewis in Cinderfella will know what I mean.
Regards

[MAPLEMAN]

The reason I asked the question, "will men be allowed in a woman's shed" is because in the real world women are an exclusive lot, when they have something to themselves they tend to want to keep it to themselves. Let me give you a jaw dropping example:

Australian national women's organisations

There is even an 'Australian Women's Motorsport Network', 'Women in Engineering', 'National Association of Women in Construction' and so forth.

The questions that REALLY need asking are things like:

• Why do men have trouble defining a "men only culture".
• Why do women only clubs don't have trouble defining a "women only culture".

I HONESTLY think that we (men) REALLY need to push forth with a 'men only' culture in respect to Men's Sheds. We need to redefine ourselves. Fundamentally we (men) have had our identity eroded by feminist movement. Mind you, we have had to evolve in areas where 'family' are involved, things were too patriarchal. Now things are too 'matriarchal'. Ultimately what is wrong with a 'men only' organistion?

To answer your question though Chris. 'The Shed' and what occurs in 'The Shed', things like woodworking, metalworking, cars etc are activities that men tend to gravitate towards. I see absolutely nothing wrong with an organisation labelled 'Woman's Sheds' however trying to define what goes on inside those 'sheds' is a little bit more difficult.

I'm at a loss though as to why this question is pitched at a largely male audience. If women want a 'Woman's Shed' then let them go for it, no-one is stopping this from occurring, I fundamentally have no objection. In the meantime there are hundreds of 'Female' orientated organisations within Australia females can join. Just click on the link above or the same link here:

Australian national women's organisations

Thanks for your thoughts Scott..my idea came about after speaking to a number of local women,who are themselves lonely,some disabled(mentally and physically) and voiced the need for a place where like minded women could collectively hang out and socialise.I felt that the 'Mens Shed' model would provide,at the least,a reasonable alternative for the ladies too.Why put the idea to a largely male audience?Didn't give that much thought,but when you think about it,surely all the blokes on this forum would be in support of helping to maintain and nurture the mental and physical health of their female partners/sisters etc.I personally find 'Men Only' organisations outdated and creepy ,i don't feel i need to elaborate though.As for the remark about not being able to define what would happen in a womens shed,i can only surmise that you must have been very sleepy and your cognitive functioning may have been compromised ...women too engage in 'blokey' activities,along with a host of other things(toooo lengthy to mention)...i am sure they will find ways to entertain themselves Scott . Alot of men,by nature,are control freaks,i am sure that the idea of sexual and social equality must challenge them to the core...they feel threatened!! Look, i am simply advocating a set up for women(all ages and creeds),that is not dissimilar to what the blokes have(a 'Mens Shed)...as i said,mental and physical issues are universal,NOTgender specific,and if the 'Mens Sheds' are are providing health benefits for its patrons,then i see no reason why it would be any different for the ladies..Scott,we live in a rural area where we don't even have public transport..i can tell you categorically that there are many,many lonely souls around here that need somewhere to go and feel welcome...i am going to push myself to make it happen for them..Cheers MM

[Sturdee]

..................my idea came about after speaking to a number of local women,who are themselves lonely,some disabled(mentally and physically) and voiced the need for a place where like minded women could collectively hang out and socialise. ........................................ I felt that the 'Mens Shed' model would provide,at the least,a reasonable alternative for the ladies too. I am simply advocating a set up for women(all ages and creeds),that is not dissimilar to what the blokes have(a 'Mens Shed)...

That makes your position clearer and I for one would support that, especially in the country where there are less facilities than in the cities. I'm sure that the model for the Mens Shed would work very well for women as well.

Another possibility for you to consider is a joint community shed with separate days (and committees) for women and men as this would help to get funding from your local council and community groups.

The problem with those that feel that women should be able to go to a Mens Shed is to overlook the main purpose of the sheds and that is for helping men with their health journey through their later life. By being together and doing things with other men of their same age that they learn to trust allows them to talk and help each other. As I said before it's the journey not the end result of what we make or do that's important.

As some of you may be aware I've got prostate cancer. At the shed we talked about my cancer journey, the treatment of a radical prostectomy and then the recurrence and the subsequent hormone deprivation treatment and my radiation treatment. We talked about the problems and side effects that I have had and still have. As a result of that all the guys now have regular checkups for they don't want to go through a similar journey. Others have other problems and stories that get shared, learned from, and supported. I know that during the 7 weeks of daily radiation treatment there would have been many guys that would have driven me to and from the hospital if I had needed it. That kind of support is generated within the shed I volunteer at.

I doubt that I would have been able to be so open about the unexpected side effect of the operation or the effect of the long term hormone deprivation treatment, where for three years my body did not produce testosterone, in a mixed company. Similarly I wouldn't think that women would feel comfortable talking about breast cancer and its treatment or other women specific health problems in mixed company.

I hope that might explain why sheds should be separate, one for men and another for women if there is a need in a specific area.

Ray, I note your comments about your wife being your carer and the problems that create. As our shed is specifically set up for caring for men by our Community Health Service it is run by a paid organizer, who is qualified to act as a carer, so guys come and leave their carer at home and they also get a break. Pity that other sheds don't have that ability.


Peter.

[MAPLEMAN]

That makes your position clearer and I for one would support that, especially in the country where there are less facilities than in the cities. I'm sure that the model for the Mens Shed would work very well for women as well.

Another possibility for you to consider is a joint community shed with separate days (and committees) for women and men as this would help to get funding from your local council and community groups.

The problem with those that feel that women should be able to go to a Mens Shed is to overlook the main purpose of the sheds and that is for helping men with their health journey through their later life. By being together and doing things with other men of their same age that they learn to trust allows them to talk and help each other. As I said before it's the journey not the end result of what we make or do that's important.

As some of you may be aware I've got prostate cancer. At the shed we talked about my cancer journey, the treatment of a radical prostectomy and then the recurrence and the subsequent hormone deprivation treatment and my radiation treatment. We talked about the problems and side effects that I have had and still have. As a result of that all the guys now have regular checkups for they don't want to go through a similar journey. Others have other problems and stories that get shared, learned from, and supported. I know that during the 7 weeks of daily radiation treatment there would have been many guys that would have driven me to and from the hospital if I had needed it. That kind of support is generated within the shed I volunteer at.

I doubt that I would have been able to be so open about the unexpected side effect of the operation or the effect of the long term hormone deprivation treatment, where for three years my body did not produce testosterone, in a mixed company. Similarly I wouldn't think that women would feel comfortable talking about breast cancer and its treatment or other women specific health problems in mixed company.

I hope that might explain why sheds should be separate, one for men and another for women if there is a need in a specific area.

Ray, I note your comments about your wife being your carer and the problems that create. As our shed is specifically set up for caring for men by our Community Health Service it is run by a paid organizer, who is qualified to act as a carer, so guys come and leave their carer at home and they also get a break. Pity that other sheds don't have that ability.


Peter.

Thanks Pete for your supportive and informative reply.. i am sorry to hear of your battle with cancer,hope your recovery is swift and successfuland great to see that the blokes at your shed are a caring mob ...will contact council and chew the fat with them about what resources are available potentially,thanks again Peter for sharing your story..MM

[wheelinround]

Ray, I note your comments about your wife being your carer and the problems that create. As our shed is specifically set up for caring for men by our Community Health Service it is run by a paid organizer, who is qualified to act as a carer, so guys come and leave their carer at home and they also get a break. Pity that other sheds don't have that ability.


Peter.

Peter that sounds great well done for your shed and thats something that many should be considering.

For me there is just two things I would prefer Sue to do for me than some bloke one in particular I'll pm you.

[tea lady]

Well I am glad I was near a wood working place that was not specifically a "men's shed". I did not want to go and bake cakes and crochet. I think it has a wonderful balance of members. People who are there for the company. People who a dedicated to the community. People who are there to share skills. Quite a few blokes with carers come too. And I think quite a few old geezers have discovered that women are people too. (Perhaps some men never mix with women that are not related to them. )

I think there are lots of women who spend their whole life isolated. Blokes have gone out to work and spoken to other adults. Everyone needs a balance. I think working towards LESS delineation between the sexes is much better. It does not whittle away at the definition of a man to have a woman know how to hammer a nail. If the only thing defining a "man" is "what a woman isn't" you are in trouble.

[MAPLEMAN]

If the only thing defining a "man" is "what a woman isn't" you are in trouble.

Eloquently put Tea Lady...i totally agree MM