Another in the "is this really stupid or actually useful?" series

[drwex]

I know at least five women on my flist who can heft a power tool better than I can, so I turn to (the collective) you to ask:

Is this idiotic or would it make some actual sense? Tomboy tools: http://www.tomboytools.com/
See also: http://www.barbarak.com/

They certainly talk the talk, and it beats just assuming women are only interested in Tupperware and whathaveyou. Plus the default is blue, not pink. On the other hand, it reminds me a little too much of tamidon's comments about women in a professional kitchen with expensively manicured nails. On the third hand these pointers came out of a general discussion about how little product design is for-women-to-use instead of aimed-at-women-to-get-them-to-buy.

Comments

[darxus.livejournal.com]

"We need chainsaws that fit our pretty pink lifestyles, power tools that allow us to say 'I am a frail, fragile flower of femininity, and if you disagree with me, I'm going to break every bone in your body' without seeming uncooth."

Unfortunately I lost the source.

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

WTF? I find that vaguely insulting. Why can't women use ordinary tools? If it's a weight and grip size issue, why don't they make a line of tools that are ergonomic for smaller PEOPLE? Or have normal tools come in a range of colors so everyone can choose?

This seems like an outgrowth of the really annoying way the marketers packaged plastic blocks for kids... pastel colors with a picture of a girl on the box, and bold primaries with a picture of a boy on the box... same blocks, gender color coded. When will they stop and just consider us PEOPLE?

*flings my bright red framing hammer in their general direction*

[drwex]

Nod. I was wondering if some people (particularly women) would find these things vaguely insulting.

Rant On

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I know at least five women on my flist who can heft a power tool better than I can

The fact that you felt the need to make this comment at all in our "enlightened" sub-community does a good job of demonstrating why products like those are useful. If even "we" cannot take it as normal for chicks to use tools, I think it's a stretch to expect it from the outside world.

You're not the only one, of course. I can't even count the number of women I've seen make a big deal over the fact that they've used a power tool, or put together a bookshelf, or whatever the amazing manly task was that their li'l female self was somehow able to do.

Nobody ever taught me how to use power tools when I was a kid (or sew, camp, cook etc, but let's stay on topic), and I suspect that is also true for plenty of the men I know, yet I've rarely seen any of them make a big deal over using them as an adult.

Re: Rant On

[drwex]

I made the comment because it's an open post and read by people who are not in "our" community. In fact I thought about just asking some of the women on my flist directly but then it occurred to me that I don't know how well some of the other folk handle power tools. For example, I know that desiringsubject is amazingly buff from biking and farm work but I've no idea if she uses power tools. Conversely, beah doesn't show off the same musculature but I know she's been power-tooling her way through a major kitchen renovation. So, really, if required I really couldn't say which of the females I know personally that read my LJ can heft a power tool.

That said, I take it from your mini-rant that you would come down on the side of "useful" to have sites/organizations specifically promoting power tools for women. Cool.

Re: Rant On

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I'm saying I agree with what Nat & Kaz say below while agreeing with Liz that it's annoying. However, I don't find it weird, odd, or insulting that power tools, kitchen appliances, or anything else come in fashion colors and styles, because, well, everything does. Assuming functionality is not reduced, why is that a problem?

The part that annoys me is the idea that women are short-bus-special when it comes to power tools and thus need to be carefully handled through the process and reassured constantly that yes, we can do it, despite being female. If the tools were aimed at people in general without much prior experience (Miter Saws For Dummies), that'd be different.

Re: Rant On

[drwex]

Nod. OK, thanks for the response.

Re: Rant On

[sykotropic.livejournal.com]

Since desiringsubject and I share a mother who is extremely handy with power tools and carpentry tools of the non-power variety, I can with a certain amount of confidence say that yes desiringsubject can handle the basic power tools.

[entrochan.livejournal.com]

I think there's a demographic for which this is kinda nifty. Not the demographic of your flist. A similar demographic to the one who has to work up their courage to go to a sex toy party, and is kinda shy and embarrassed about it, but ends up having their brain opened up a little bit and goes home with a little vibrator.

[drwex]

Mmm, brain vibrators!

*grin* Seriously, I hear you. Thanks for weighing in.

[srl.livejournal.com]

My mom may or may not be in the sex-toy-party demographic, but I think she's definitely the target market for these woman-friendly tool and home-fix-it businesses. As is, when I go to her house, I'm doing well if I can find a screwdriver and garden tools. My father decamped with all the tools I really need to fix stuff for her (plaster-patching; painting supplies; power drill; any kind of saw), and I can't afford to replace them for her, nor can she.

[drwex]

Interesting notion. Their pictures show a young group but perhaps their sales demographic is older women? Older on-their-own women?

[heinleinfan.livejournal.com]

There's also "bejane.com" along the same lines.

A bit of "ambassador from normal" speaking:

I've known plenty of women who were tough enough to build their own house or whathave you, but still like "pretty" things. So pretty tools would definitely fit them.

And I've known plenty of women who were most likely completely capable of building their own houses...but didn't *think* they were, stuck in that "but big strong boys do that, I'm only a fragile flower" kind of mindset. I think that this kind of "girl tools, girl websites about how to use them" is good for the women like that, who just need that little push to be convinced that they can, in fact, wield tools.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

I'd have to agree with a lot of what heinleinfan says here. A lot of being capable enough to do something, has less to do with your ability, mental, emotional, or physical, and a lot more to do with what you *believe* you can do. We still live in an amazingly gender segregated world. Both in terms of what men and women think they can do or is *appropriate* for them to do. Even those of us who are outside the norm often wind up being surprised. I use myself as an example. Even though I was encouraged to play sports and be athletic, my coaches, peers, and role models, repeatedly told me from an early age, that there was a level of strength and ability, that I would *never* be able to reach, solely based on the fact that I happen to be biologically female. And on some level, subconsciously, I believed them! If I hadn't I think I would have tried weight lifting, much heavier, much sooner then my late 20's/early 30's.

I personally don't see anything wrong with wanting 'stylish' tools.
I prefer not to look at this as a reason to get offended. Hell, I know some very femme men, who like to build things, and would be delighted, thrilled even to have some tools that not only worked well, but were kind of 'fabulous'.

[drwex]

Hee. I love the notion of "faabulous" tools.

Thank you both for the commentary.

[ariesd.livejournal.com]

be afraid, be very afraid

[drwex]

Of... ?

[mrw42.livejournal.com]

Call me cynical, but I'd guess that this is a scam to sell overpriced, low quality tools to women who don't know any better.

[drwex]

That's a good point. I have no evidence on the relative quality of these tools.

Ptooi

[hlmt.livejournal.com]

My (blunt) opinion? I think the site projects the image of a woman who is pseudo-modern, but only romantically so, and still "thrilled" with the idea of being manly. I just picked one tool, for comparison: a basic tape measure. Not only is it 2.5 times (!) the price of a regular tape measure, but if you check out the "feature", it's that it's marked off in fractions, saving you the bother of converting measurements yourself. So if you can't count, that's good--it does the work for you. I mean, I'm no good at cribbage cuz I can't count to 21, but I can still do fractions.

I'd much rather have a tool from a known, reliable, tool manufacturer (and my toolbox is well-stocked, and well-used), than from some girly site. I -would- love to have smaller, less heavy options, but not at that price...

Re: Ptooi

[drwex]

Nod. Thanks for the input. Now the question I'm wondering about is whether this price difference is like paying more for 'designer' kitchen appliances. Or whether it's an attempt to pawn off substandard crap on people who supposedly wouldn't know better.

Insulted? Not exactly. A customer? Not likely.

[catness.livejournal.com]

Okay, first off, let me just preface this by saying that I weigh my toolbox in dollars, vs. actual difficulty in lifting its contents. "Hey, this thing is $117 heavier than yesterday." So, I have a *lot* of tools, but not a limitless bank account. That means I look for solid (and also lifetime guaranteed) stuff so I only have to buy the damned things once (unless I need more than one of them, sigh). Nothing on these sites looked like decent enough quality to me, if I needed to do anything more serious than hanging a photograph. Perhaps women who've never used tools wouldn't know that, though, and this might be their first exposure to the concept. If it's cheap enough for a tool kit, then there's no reason why *not* to package them for women. There certainly are a lot of cheap-ass tools packaged for men. As for having parties to sell tools and teach their use, how is that any different from Home Depot classes, other than being in someone's home? *shrug*

That being said, the picture on the front page of the first site is really kind of ridiculous: two people holding a drill going straight down into a section of 2x4 in the middle of what looks to be a coffee table with a tablecloth... and two others looking on enthusiastically, enrapt with the process. Someone's hand is resting on the 2x4, but nobody's really bracing it. And why do we need two people to help with that drill? Oh, my... it's so big! It might bust out of that little lady's control if she doesn't have assistance. Cheese, crackers, or perhaps a grape?

Definitely I get that they're trying to illustrate tupperware party comfort levels while putting tools into the equation, but they're sort of missing the mark of actual instruction and practical use, while giving the impression that if a woman wants to use tools, she can't be serious.

Re: Insulted? Not exactly. A customer? Not likely.

[drwex]

Right, I think your last paragraph is the major difference I see between home parties and Home Depot classes.

I'm amused at the idea of weighing one's toolbox in dollars. It reminds me of Regis's wisdom to me once when she said "The tool you want to use to fix this problem is your checkbook."

[awfief.livejournal.com]

What everyone above said....

Plus, ANYONE who knows ANYTHING about tools knows that you don't talk about brand, you talk about color. And not even, you don't talk about it....it's just there. You don't buy Milwaukee because it's red, or DeWalt because it's yellow. It's like the ipod headphones, just a glimpse and you know they have something cool, something good, high quality.

I hate yellow but I love my DeWalt.

The other thing is I wonder what would happen if they started marketing those different colored Kitchen Aid stand mixers to men.

[drwex]

DeWalt is teh r0xx0rz. But what do i know, I like Craftsmen stuff too.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

Hey, Craftsman is better than Black and Decker. :) And, um, we will not speak of the blue malice that is Makita.

But, yeah. Craftsman is "the other red tool".

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

I also might pay extra for a (good quality DeWalt) drill that came in orange paisley, but i think the fashion aspect is cool where the "you can use this cause it's for girls" one is insulting.

I mean, what if they marketed a line of household brooms and mops for men, in camo colors with black grip handles? "It's okay to mop your kitchen floor now, here's a manly mop!"

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Dude, if that would get the men to actually mop the damned floors, I'd be all for it!

[c1.livejournal.com]

Where it matters most is how long the tool lasts, what I can do with it, and if it's well designed enough that I don't hurt myself or my workpiece. Beyond that, everything is superficial. I never understood (beyond basic ergonomic issues) why there could possibly be a difference between the sexes when it came to power tools.
Sure, I get a kick out of my nail puller (it's got "exhumer" stamped on the side, with a skull and crossbones and a bottle-opener) but beside that kind of tongue-in-cheek silliness, it's all about a. what you can make with your tools and b. recognizing that your most important tool rests between your ears.
Everything else is window dressing.