Womens Sheds

[mythicagothiga]

Frankly, there's a lot of women I'd rather share my shed with than many of the blokes I know.

Dunno if the women would feel the same way, though.

Well, I'm happy with either but found the Woodcraft Guild, with majority of men, had a fantastic attitude of acceptance and respect. Again, Mens sheds were created for a specific health purpose and are cheap or free for members. Other woodworking groups, though not for profit, are not government funded and therefore require membership fees to cover equipment and resources.

If women want to do woodwork, why not join the local woodcraft guild?

[Tia2]

'Mens Sheds' are popping up all over the place,which is great..but what about the idea of 'Womens Sheds',as they too(women) enjoy woodwork/craft etc!And they too need and deserve a place to unwind and be creative and social .Just thought i'd put the idea out there,hope it comes to fruition..Cheers MM

I just found this one:

http://www.mycommunitylife.com.au/Ev...es-in-the-Shed

The regular meetings are on a day that I work, but I have heard that they are starting Saturday workshops too. I have never done any woodworking before and thought a women's shed would be great - I would find it way too intimidating to make an initial approach otherwise. I'm sure the blokes are all lovely and very willing to share their skills but I also get that men need their own spaces to enjoy the company of other men...and I'm a bit over being told that I am a 'good girl' when I do something right!

[Bushmiller]

Welcome to the Forums Tia2.

I think the combination of a woman's shed and the Forum is all any woman could aspire to: Good or otherwise.

In case you haven't noticed there is also a section specifically for women on these Forums: "Wood Whispering Women," but please note that is not a restriction! The last time I looked there were more men posting there than women.

Regards
Paul

[MAPLEMAN]

I just found this one:

http://www.mycommunitylife.com.au/Ev...es-in-the-Shed

The regular meetings are on a day that I work, but I have heard that they are starting Saturday workshops too. I have never done any woodworking before and thought a women's shed would be great - I would find it way too intimidating to make an initial approach otherwise. I'm sure the blokes are all lovely and very willing to share their skills but I also get that men need their own spaces to enjoy the company of other men...and I'm a bit over being told that I am a 'good girl' when I do something right!

Thanks for posting Tia2...that is terrific news for the ladies
And welcome to the forum too...MM

[astrid]

'Mens Sheds' are popping up all over the place,which is great..but what about the idea of 'Womens Sheds',as they too(women) enjoy woodwork/craft etc!And they too need and deserve a place to unwind and be creative and social .Just thought i'd put the idea out there,hope it comes to fruition..Cheers MM

Resurrecting this thread.
Some great (and amusing) responses, but little in answer to the OP.
Several years on there doesn't seem to be a lot of progress in this direction.
Women's sheds or mixed "men's Sheds"

I've been semi retired for a year now (and what a year to pick)

Someone upthread noted that there were some places for women to go, create (pottery, drawing and various crafts mentioned)
Not to demean these activities ( I like to throw pots) there still does not seem to be much action on Women's woodworking sheds.
Lack of interest or lack of experienced mentors to facilitate such a thing?

[BobL]

There have been some developments;
According to this article. Women’s Sheds | Barry Golding there are 5 Mens sheds in WA that have female members.

Two I know of are;
Fremantle shed have 3 sessions (days) week where women can attend plus an evening each week that is form women only.
Cowaramup MS has a day (or maybe 1.5 days) a week when women can attend - this one is not included in the 5 above.

[Lappa]

Hornsby Men’s Shed in Sydney has a goodly number of female members.

[Bushmiller]

Astrid

I think that women are a little more versatile than men and don't require a shed to congregate. This is a little self defeating in that it is not immediately obvious to all and sundry that something is happening. Men seem to require a dedicated "spot" otherwise they can't function.

Of course, the men would argue it is more a requirement of their toys.

Having been mischievously flippant there does seem to be an imbalance.

Regards
Paul

[Simplicity]

Astrid

I think that women are a little more versatile than men and don't require a shed to congregate. This is a little self defeating in that it is not immediately obvious to all and sundry that something is happening. Men seem to require a dedicated "spot" otherwise they can't function.

Of course, the men would argue it is more a requirement of their toys.

Having been mischievously flippant there does seem to be an imbalance.

Regards
Paul

I think Paul is saying woman are the more intelligent species,
Men still need to function under a hierarchy system
We need to know who is the king pin,who is the bottom feeder,an we’re do I stand.
Women can just flock together get S... done, with a zero pecking order.

Cheers a Male(Matt)

[astrid]

All flippancy aside, why should one think that there is no need for women to get together for pretty much the same function as Men's Sheds?
Especially women in retirement.
It's a bit of a stereotype to think that women's needs in that way are already taken care of by some "sisterhood" in book clubs and pottery classes.
Could I dare go out on a limb and say that women who have done, or want to do real woodwork are not necessarily the type to bond well with the book clubbers.
Women are often in much the same headspace as men when they retire from a long career, their kids have gone "and their husbands just don't understand" why they are not happy now they've put the mouse or stethoscope or pliers down for good
Just like men, they find they've lost contact with the world.
They need friends and purpose too.
The problem with starting Women's sheds that do formerly blokey things, is there's not enough skilled women to mentor them and by and large, the Men's sheds won't.
I really don't understand why their cant be a couple of co-ed sessions and a women's only day at these places. Maybe it's the old "No toilet facilities" argument and a fear of cushions and curtains

[Bushmiller]

All flippancy aside, why should one think that there is no need for women to get together for pretty much the same function as Men's Sheds?
Especially women in retirement.
It's a bit of a stereotype to think that women's needs in that way are already taken care of by some "sisterhood" in book clubs and pottery classes.
Could I dare go out on a limb and say that women who have done, or want to do real woodwork are not necessarily the type to bond well with the book clubbers.
Women are often in much the same headspace as men when they retire from a long career, their kids have gone "and their husbands just don't understand" why they are not happy now they've put the mouse or stethoscope or pliers down for good
Just like men, they find they've lost contact with the world.
They need friends and purpose too.
The problem with starting Women's sheds that do formerly blokey things, is there's not enough skilled women to mentor them and by and large, the Men's sheds won't.
I really don't understand why their cant be a couple of co-ed sessions and a women's only day at these places. Maybe it's the old "No toilet facilities" argument and a fear of cushions and curtains

astrid

There is absolutely nothing you have said that I could contradict.

I would suggest that the dearth of women's sheds and men's shed where women are overtly welcome is fundamentally a twofold problem, but not entirely limited to two reasons.

Firstly, it is one of the age old issue in economics of supply and demand: There are not enough women actively wishing for a dedicated women's shed. Sad.

Secondly, the first reason does not address why women either do not or cannot participate in the men's sheds either on a mixed day or on a women only day or, dare I say it, at any time! Living in country Queensland where the likes of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun would be seen by our conservative populace is rampant Lefties I think that in this state there is a large degree of prejudice. I can't say whether this is so true for other states, but I would suggest there is a big element of this attitude: At least enough to stifle interest and momentum.

From my own point of view, I don't understand it, but perhaps I am atypical.

Regards
Paul

[Bushmiller]

astrid

Not quite a men's shed, but Pat Gregory runs courses that may be of interest if it is not too far to travel:

Home | Woodwork for Women Australia


Regards
Paul


Edit: Hmmm. I read in my mind's eye "Armidale" and not "Armadale" so probably a bit of a travelling stretch. Pity that.

[astrid]

astrid

There is absolutely nothing you have said that I could contradict.

I would suggest that the dearth of women's sheds and men's shed where women are overtly welcome is fundamentally a twofold problem, but not entirely limited to two reasons.

Firstly, it is one of the age old issue in economics of supply and demand: There are not enough women actively wishing for a dedicated women's shed. Sad.

Secondly, the first reason does not address why women either do not or cannot participate in the men's sheds either on a mixed day or on a women only day or, dare I say it, at any time! Living in country Queensland where the likes of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun would be seen by our conservative populace is rampant Lefties I think that in this state there is a large degree of prejudice. I can't say whether this is so true for other states, but I would suggest there is a big element of this attitude: At least enough to stifle interest and momentum.

From my own point of view, I don't understand it, but perhaps I am atypical.

Regards
Paul

I totally understand why men's sheds are by and large for men (One wonders in these days where the trans might go)
As someone upthread said, would men be welcome in a womens shed?
There's a confusion as to purpose.
Certainly if a women's shed was to assist in mental health and to give women somewhere to let it all out..Well, we tend to do that anywhere with other women. As a woman of a certain age, I certainly wouldn't want Men in a Shed for women.
Pretty soon they'd be "mansplaining" and attempting to dominate..the latter is of course what many women are trying to escape.
Many sadly need a Man free space.

Sure we could start our own Sheds without impinging on the funding for The Mens Sheds.

Problems.
There may be many many women out there, sadly denied any formal high school WW who simply don't know where to start looking or even if they'd like WW seeing as they may never have been given a go with the Festool.
Second, getting teachers that won't "mansplain" or patronise.
Like the woman in the above post. I've been to Woodwork Victoria sessions. Certainly women are welcome. As long as they don't expect to be taken seriously.
Hopefully a younger generation won't have these issues with younger male teachers, but I wouldn't count on it.
So, the only solution I can see is to Hire the facilities from Men's sheds and pay for a teacher from their ranks.

Yes Armadale Vic

[BobL]

Our mens shed started at the local senior citizens following a survey of the membership and activities. The centre ran something like 28 regular activities and I understand men regularly participated in less than 1/4 of the activities. Apart from activities like, art classes, cards, and dancing, the numbers of men attending other activities were down to one or 2 at each session. I believe this is also pretty common at other seniors citizens centres.

The Senior Citizens Board identified they had to try and get more men involved and it was one of the female members of the board that suggested starting a mens shed. Response to a proposal to establish a mens shed from senior citizens male membership was very promising so a committee was formed and a temporary site was found in the largely unused prevocational centre at a local high school. Despite the promising initial interest a few months later when it opened it only had something like 6 members. Over a period of about 3 years a new shed next to the Senior citizens was planned and built - by then there were close to 50 members - about half active and there is simply no more room for any more members.

I ended up on the Shed Committee and was also Shed Supervision at least one but often two days a week. There was discussion at the committee meeting on several occasions about allowing female members but I was the only committee member who was even partially supportive of the idea. What it really came down to was supervision - no one was prepared to supervise if female members were admitted. I kept schtum! because if I said I would supervise sessions with female members attending I would be given all the sessions to supervise/ Problem was I was in the process of stopping all my supervision. In the end nothing happened and as I no longer attend this mens shed on a regular basis I'm not sure what the situation is. I do however visit many other mens shed and apart from Fremantle and Cowaramup have not see any females working in these sheds.

The issue of male and female only spaces is interesting.
A number of members have told me many times they love the Mens Shed because it's a male only space.
Likewise a number of female partners of mens shed members have also told me they also love the shed because it gets "Joe" out of the house and out from under my feet.

[Bushmiller]

I totally understand why men's sheds are by and large for men (One wonders in these days where the trans might go)
As someone upthread said, would men be welcome in a womens shed?
There's a confusion as to purpose.
Certainly if a women's shed was to assist in mental health and to give women somewhere to let it all out..Well, we tend to do that anywhere with other women. As a woman of a certain age, I certainly wouldn't want Men in a Shed for women.
Pretty soon they'd be "mansplaining" and attempting to dominate..the latter is of course what many women are trying to escape.
Many sadly need a Man free space.

Sure we could start our own Sheds without impinging on the funding for The Mens Sheds.

Problems.
There may be many many women out there, sadly denied any formal high school WW who simply don't know where to start looking or even if they'd like WW seeing as they may never have been given a go with the Festool.
Second, getting teachers that won't "mansplain" or patronise.
Like the woman in the above post. I've been to Woodwork Victoria sessions. Certainly women are welcome. As long as they don't expect to be taken seriously.
Hopefully a younger generation won't have these issues with younger male teachers, but I wouldn't count on it.
So, the only solution I can see is to Hire the facilities from Men's sheds and pay for a teacher from their ranks.

Yes Armadale Vic

I was thinking Armadale WA! Failed geography at school .

Both your post and Bob's post indicate that what at first glance appears to be quite simple between two groups of people is actually a complex issue and the requirements of individuals are both manyfold and diverse. Within cities there are sufficient numbers to find a solution. In small towns this may not be so easy.

I absolutely take your point of male teachers treating female students with deference. My wife enrolled in a Tafe course more than thirty years ago. The teacher, who was a local builder, was completely indifferent to the two or three women in the course. He would impart a minimal explanation or a throw away line and then walk away and stand alongside a male student: A disgrace to the male half of the human race.

My only solution is that enterprising women have to get a group together and then make representation at a men's shed to use the shed one day a week (for example) and then try to find a mentor. I am not suggesting for one moment this will be easy or have a good result.

I should add that I don't belong to the local men's shed. It has only recently been formed and as I still work I don't have enough time. If I had enough time, the first thing I would do is take up scratching myself again.

Regards
Paul