Book review: Joinery, Joists and Gender: A History of Woodworking for the 21st Century
Part history and part survey of contemporary craft, Deirdre Visser’s book weaves the stories of historic and contemporary makers into the first collective history of women and non-binary makers in the field of wood.
Packed with surprises, inspiration, and thorough scholarship, Deirdre Visser’s Joinery, Joists and Gender: A History of Woodworking for the 21st Century (2022, Routledge) weaves the stories of historic and contemporary makers into the first collective history of women and non-binary makers in the field of wood. Part history and part survey of contemporary craft, this book contains previously undocumented stories of woodworking history and interviews that are equal parts funny, poignant, and inspiring. The historic section is peppered with thrilling documentation of female woodworkers from centuries ago to just a few decades ago. The contemporary profiles provide a stunning range of approaches to craft, education, design, politics, commerce, and community. This is a smart, joyful, untold history of woodworking with excellent photos. All of that and an illustrated glossary? It’s time to place your order and settle in for an expansive take on the material we all love.
Joinery, Joists and Gender: A History of Woodworking for the 21st Century by Deirdre Visser
—Aspen Golann is a FWW ambassador.
From Fine Woodworking #301
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A workshop of our own |
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Women’s History Month and Fine Woodworking |
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Tiny Bit of Wood for a whole lot of people |
Comments
Bought. Thanks.
I sincerely hope Fine Woodworking continues their great coverage of all things related to woodworking. Let’s leave gender studies to other groups that delve into that subject matter on a daily basis.
Please do not go woke!
This book looks to be about a subset of woodworkers who have been overlooked, probably because of their gender. Nothing wrong with that as a book subject. If that’s not of interest to you please don’t try to suppress it because you’ve decided it’s woke, whatever that means.
It's a woodworking book. I have woodworking books from every era, region, and perspective I can find. This book fills a gap that no other work has. If you like woodworking, it's a no-brainer.
I read the sample on Amazon and the acknowledgement. Sounds like a passionate book, historically based and focused on skilled craftsman getting their chance. I might buy it. Only the hardback is available. There is a lot of sensitivity all around. I for one feel very uncomfortable having any agenda pushed on me. I woodn’t think that FWW is the type of group to “push” a woke or any other agenda. FWW has helped me tremendously over my many years of woodworking.
And that's what FWW is for, right? Help everyone get into and succeed in woodworking?
Everyone.
Absolutely. Just don’t push a political agenda. That’s all.
How is this book political? Please, enlighten me.
I think I must have miscommunicated. I didn’t say the book itself was political and I didn’t say FWW was. I write that I don’t feel good about anyone pushing an agenda. I hope publications I like continue to avoid woke and politically sensitive subjects. I also wrote that any time gender and non binary it’s a sensitive subject. So there is no more enlightenment to do.
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For crying out loud, it's a woodworking book. If you don't like it, don't buy it. There us lots of excellent woodworking content. There is no need to demonize it.
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Bye.
I tend to agree with you.
I was raised to believe that anyone could achieve whatever dreams they had if they applied themself, regardless of gender.
Who or what a person decides to identify as and mate with is of no concern to me, neither in life nor in my woodworking hobby.
When someone shows me either great work, or teaches me something worthwhile about woodworking, I appreciate that very much, regardless of who they are.
We have all had our own struggles in our life's journey, most of us keep that info private. I'm quite happy to keep it that way. Nobody cares what I had to go through in life to get where I am, nor do they care about who I'm attracted to.
FWIW, I have close friends of all stripes, genders and orientations. My best friend (gay male) hates that the LGBTQR... movement is so in your face.
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Wow. First, Fine Woodworking didn't publish the book. Boycott Routledge if you're angry.
Everyone needs advocates. No one is advocating anything g that harms you in any way. Yet you still seem threatened. That's 100% on you. And I feel bad for you.
How do you feel about Shaker Furniture books? I ask that seriously.
Wow. Angry. Shaker did not push an agenda like FWW featuring this review. Interesting that there is no link to report post.
If they chose not to publish a review wouldn’t that be pushing an agenda?
No
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