Tool time
Josey Vogels
|
Me and my box!
|
From Schneider's deluded notion, on '70s sitcom One Day at a Time, of himself as a irresistible handyman, to the "Lady, can I fix your pipes?" clichéd porno plot, a guy with a tool belt has always filled a certain dumb-but-handy-with-his-drill niche in Western culture's sexual fantasy menu.A woman in a tool belt has also been a classic male sexual fantasy standby, more often in a "Hey big fella, let me handle your tools while I'm wearing a tool belt over something really skimpy and completely impractical to fix anything in" Tool Time Girl kind of way. Check out this video of women in skimpy bikinis working their power tools: www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2509265. Or, for an even more literal association, how about a power drill dildo (www.kenstwistedmind.com/Fucking-Machines/KTM-121.html)?
But times they are a-changin', and while we're happy to let a man show us how handy he is with his tools, we're less willing to simply stand by and look pretty. More and more women prefer to handle their own tools. Including me.
When I signed up for the Women and Power Tools course offered through Lee Valley Tools, I was immediately stoked. The weeks leading up to the daylong seminar were like foreplay. I'd always fathomed myself a pretty capable gal, and I imagined myself learning how to handle those power tools like a pro.
Sure enough,
by the time I had that power router in my hands, I was completely turned on.Our instructors offered some insight into women's increasing interest in learning how to handle power tools.
"More and more women are buying homes on their own," explained Jennifer, whose calm, soothing voice made entry into this stereotypically male domain easy and non-threatening. And, she added, not to criticize men, but lots of women are tired of waiting around for guys to pick up their tools and get things done. So they're taking things into their own hands.
Turns out, we're pretty good at it.
"Women pay more attention to detail," said Jennifer, explaining why some of her fellow male instructors prefer teaching women, "and aren't afraid to admit they don't know something and ask for help."
And I can't imagine a group of guys standing around cheering each other on as each of them made his first cut on the big, bad table saw. But there we were, praising each other's work, stepping out of each other's way, apologizing for taking too long with the sander. In other words, being chicks.
Though I do admit I felt a little toolbox envy when I thought my partner's box looked better than mine.
But honestly, walking - no, strutting - down the street with my box after class, I felt invigorated. I was ready to go again.
At the risk of overthinking it, there was - dare I say it? - something sexually empowering about breaking down the gender barrier and realizing you can be the one handling the tools.
Of course, most guys don't analyze their relationship to their tools to this extent. But women being women, well, we do. Just read some of the wording on the increasing crop of websites devoted to women and power tools. "Power Tools for Women" founder Joni Daniels' site (www.jonidaniels.com/powertools.html) practically reads like a relationship self-help book: She describes your toolbox as "portable power," while safety goggles "help create clear vision," soldering irons help build "supportive relationships" and tape measures help "establish limits."
At womenwithpowertools.com, they believe in "making changes in the physical world through the application of raw feminine energy," while tomboytools.com even organizes "tool parties," much like Tupperware parties.
I draw the line at companies that design tools for women with names like Harriet the Hammer or Donna the Drill. Even Jennifer, our instructor, warns that these specially designed tools are often lighter and less powerful, and therefore often not as safe as conventional "guy" tools. You want the power, ladies.
As it says on Joni Daniels' site: "Power tools have, of course, been a traditional symbol of masculine ability, and [Daniels'] tools for empowerment allow women to play, to win and to accomplish goals in every aspect of their lives."
A little over the top, but I had to admit, it did feel damn good.
Now excuse me, I'm going to load up my tool belt and watch some hot home-improvement shows.
QUICKY
Montreal filmmaker Eisha Marjara is making a film about young women and sexuality and wants to speak to women who considered themselves "Lolitas" in their youth. If you think you qualify, contact her at e.marjara@pmaproductions.com.
| Women and Power Tools...Oh Yeah |
|
Am I the only one who was little turned on by the thought of a woman with power tools...be honest! I suppose that the accompanying photo with Ms. Vogel did not help matters...Women can do anything that they set out to to do plain and simple. They are our equals on every level and the thought of my girlfriend changing spark plugs or dropping in a new sink has a lot of..err...merits. Plus she would probably do a better job than me!
|
|
Reuven De Souza
|
{4 votes}
|
|
|
Like fellow contributor Mark St Pierre I'm as transfixed by the image of a scantily clad lass with a tool belt but really that's about it. It's a porn/stripper thing, what can I say. Maybe it's me but I just assume that women aren't completely incompetent boobs when it comes to power tools and home repair, I mean seriously, how hard is it to hammer a nail or turn on a power drill? Maybe I was raised by assertive hard-working women or maybe it's the fact that I assume that women don't want to helpless and be in need of a man 24/7 for every little thing. I'm frankly surprised that there even is a Women and Power Tools course given how simple most instructions are. Oh, well...live and learn.
|
|
Pedro Eggers
|
{8 votes}
|
|
|
Women and powertools, huh? While I find nothing incredibly allurng about the mere sight of a women in a tool-belt (unless she's wearing little else and the tools have dual-functions - nudge-nudge/wink-wink), I do, however, feel compelled to confess that a women who's self-assured in the use of said tool-belt would be provocatively appealing. What can I say - it's more about the confidence that a women exudes when she's empowered herself that I find sexy than the actual accoutrements.
|
|
Mark St Pierre
|
{7 votes}
|
|
|
What is Josie going on and on about being handy with tools and fixing things. Since when has the fem movement gone so far as to say that women stand and watch as men fix things. Sure, in our society it is often men who do all the "drilling" and "nailing", but I've never stopped a woman from showing me how to "drill" or "nail" ;) As proud as I am of Josie for taking a pwer tools class, no one ever showed me how to use power tools. Its something you just "learn to do". Next thing you know I'll be taking a class on how to use cleaning materials.
|
|
Jason Edelstein
|
{4 votes}
|
|
|
