Cob: Re: "women only" workshops

[mama graham]

I did notice that somewhere on the website it mentions girl children
allowed.  That seems unfair to me, even with acknowledgement of the reasons
behind an all-woman workshop. I don't think having boys present would hurt
anything, in fact, it might open up their eyes to see what Mama and her
friends can do!

Judith... Mama to Jacob
born at home

"...and I try to laugh at whatever life brings.
 When I look down, I just miss all the good stuff.
When I look up, I just trip over things."
-ani
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kit Maloney" <lunakits at yahoo.com>
To: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 3:21 PM
Subject: Cob: "women only" workshops


> {background: In response to a question from Heather in
> Kansas about any cob courses going on in her area, I
> mentioned one being offered by Groundworks that is
> designated "women only."}
>
> --- Kyle Towers <ktowers at locl.net> wrote:
> >     Why only women?  How would a men-only natural
> > building workshop go over?
> > Am I missing something here?
>
> I'm only reporting what the brochure says, Kyle.
>
> As a topic of conversation, though...I believe that
> the "women only" concept derives from an apparent need
> to allow women a chance to excel in a field that is
> typically male dominated. (I'm referring to the
> building trade in general.) In a related experience, I
> have worked trail crews with a mix of men/women as
> well as with just women. In the former, the men were
> more likely to man the axes (no pun intended) while
> the women folk sufficed with clearing away the brush.
> It wasn't planned that way -- the men weren't bullies
> or even chauvinists -- the women just defaulted to the
> men where tools were involved.  Now contrast that to
> the all women crew. Axe-wielding women learned
> confidence for a skill that they might never have
> picked up had they not had a safe environment where
> they were encouraged to try something new.
>
> As for me, I'm looking forward to taking an upcoming
> "Women & Wood" course being offered by Cobworks. The
> reason? I just want some quality time with some
> tools...**
>
> ;) Kit.
>
> **Perhaps ironically, the instructor recently emailed
> each of the participants to say that a man has
> expressed interest in joining the course if no one
> objected. As far as I know, no one has.)
>
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