A Workshop of Our Own
"We need more women who are practicing furniture makers. We need to cultivate a diversity of voices in our field." -WOO Founder, Sarah Marriage
Jun 28, 2017
When I studied woodworking at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (CFC) I was the only woman in my class. I knew this ahead of time and at first I didn’t really think much of it. However, when I told people—men and women alike—I would often hear comments like “Oh that sounds difficult” or even “I’m sorry.” I was surprised at this, and even more surprised that several women told me “I couldn’t do that” and “I am so impressed.”
By the time I arrived in Maine I was feeling a bit nervous about the gender imbalance in the classroom. There was no need for worry. I loved my experience there and my class was full of (and taught by) great, generous, and openhearted men who treated me with respect and as if I was “one of them.” But the intimidation I felt walking into that room on the first day was real. And although I was welcomed by my classmates and instructors, I struggled with vague feelings of inadequacy for some time, and always felt I had to work extra hard to prove that I belonged. To a great degree, in the world of woodworking, I still do.
Before studying at the CFC, I took a weekend class in upstate New York at Hammerstone School, a small school that teaches carpentry skills to women. Incidentally, I chose this school because it was in a convenient location for me, not because I was seeking out a women-only learning environment. However, most of the women in the class sought it out specifically for this reason, some traveling great distances to experience learning woodworking from women, alongside women. That weekend I met a diverse group of people, and left feeling inspired, motivated, and part of something that felt new, exciting, and empowering.
Recently, my friend Sarah Marriage has founded A Workshop of Our Own (WOO), a project that has similar goals to that of Hammerstone. WOO is a Baltimore-based professional woodshop and educational space that is a champion for women and gender-nonconforming furniture makers. From Sarah: “We need more women who are practicing furniture makers. We need to cultivate a diversity of voices in our field. And we need to willfully create dedicated workshops to support and champion these voices.” From my experience, I know these needs are real.
While we may be far away from the days in which young girls were barred from enrolling in shop class, it seems that we are not yet to the point where young girls feel encouraged, comfortable, and confident to join workshops and classrooms. This alone is enough to turn away would-be woodworkers, and this is how projects like A Workshop of Our Own can make a difference. Consider your daughters, sisters, and mothers—would any of them feel intimidated to enter a workshop filled with all men? By eliminating the distracting, burdensome anxiety of “I have to prove myself,” WOO lets us focus on what is important: building skills, forming community, and contributing to the field of woodworking. If you would like to support their efforts, visit A Workshop of Our Own.
Comments
I was hoping woodworking, specifically this site would be a refuge from the world of social engineering. The inference is that women need to be protected from men woodworkers. I can't think of a safer group than woodworkers.
reformed:
I think that the inference here is not that male woodworkers are inherently unsafe or untrustworthy. The point made in the article is more one of intimidation. In this and many other instances, it is not intentional on the part of woodworkers in general. Think of it like going to the gym for the first time. You know that you don't know what you are doing and all of a sudden you have this 400 lb. gorilla of a guy huffing and puffing and waiting on you to get out of his way. It is the same way for many new woodworkers going to a shared workshop, male or female. We want to encourage all people to join us in our passion, hobby, or profession, whatever this is to you. I applaud this group for attempting to get new talent and prospective into this field. There are some insanely talented women out there (see people like April Wilkerson on YouTube), and I would love to see what they can do!
All I'm saying is can we have a place to get away from all of the rest of the world and just celebrate the creativity tha is high quality woodworking. I come here to get away from the rest of the worlds controversies. That 400 lb. gorilla of a guy is probably a pretty nice guy.
KyleWilley - get what you are saying, and applaud the effort. ANYTHING that makes starting the craft a more comfortable experience is a good thing, I would think.
Seriously? A woman only workshop? If I were to start a man only workshop, the ACLU would be all over my butt. If you feel intimidated on the first day of class, join the club. Many "men" feel the same way. Don't use it as an excuse for excluding men. I agree with reformed. If social engineering continues here, I'm out!
I'm a father of 3 young ladies as well as a woodworker. As such, I'm always acutely aware that what our society offers young women is, by and large, a waste of their time and talents or an exploitation of their bodies. I am completely in favor of "socially engineering" any path for my girls that makes woodworking (or any worthwhile endeavor) more accessible, convenient, and comfortable for them. This doesn't mean the exclusion of men at every turn; however, for some women, this may be the most comfortable option. I think we can all be "man" enough to deal with that, yes?
A tip of my shop cap to you, Heide. I wholeheartedly concur.
So, what's more important: building fine furniture or "diversity"? If you occupy yourself with the latter you will be less occupied with the former. Diversity is a political con game. You are not responsible for your entire gender, just yourselves! I hope you will build wonderful things and I wish you the very best!!!
Do we need to politicize everything? Please stop. I've blocked half my facebook feed. I'd rather not have to block Fine and Pop woodworking too. Maybe in the next issue you can start endorsing particular political candidates/parties.
This is great! Women are welcome to be woodworkers, and if this helps, I'm all for it.
As a professional furniture maker it has been great to watch how WOO has evolved and grown. I have felt very welcome as a man and a supporter. It has also been encouraging to see how the community of professional furniture makers has supported this project and realizes it's value. It's sad to see the comments here that miss the mark. Sarah is a very talented furniture maker and someone I look up to as a person for what she has accomplished. To assume this isn't needed is insulting and insensitive.
From the sublime to the ridiculous in the span of 50 years. Sad to see what once was an oasis from the nasty world of politics become...political.
Oh well, the internet has presented alternatives from which I can choose and I will certainly be looking.
So long Fine Woodwokeing.
Yes yes, I've heard it all before - Troglodyte, misogyny yada, yada. The irony I'm sure is lost on most...preaching diversity then remedying the supposed problem by creating a "workshop of our own" of course.
Absurdity writ large.
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