A lot of people consider anything to do with woodworking and home improvement to be a man's domain, but I think that stereotype has really become outdated. A Lowe's study revealed that 69% of female homeowners and homeowners-to-be are seasoned DIYers. The NPD Group reported back in 2006 that women are often the key decision-makers behind home projects as well as the ones making the purchases. This research found that 44% of all DIYers are women.
So who are some of these DIY women? Here's a few of them on the Web and what they're up to.
Heidi Baker and Eden Jarrin teamed up to create BeJane.com back in 2003--a site full of interesting DIY advice and a community of women helping each other with their projects. Jarrin got her start in home improvement at the tender age of 10, when she decided to make a four-post bed. Baker caught the DIY bug when she purchased her first home. Now, they're drilling, sawing, and hammering away at their projects and out-dated stereotypes.
This Old House (TOH) may seem like a bastion of DIY men since its Bob Vila days, but if you check out their "Women of This Old House" article, you'll get a different picture. Their Executive Editor, Kathryn Keller, leads off the list of TOH women who are passionate about their homes. No, she doesn't just edit. She has a variety of home projects that she does in her personal time, such as turning a basement into a "green" playroom. Editorial Operations Director, Carolyn Blackmar, renovated a home addition and swapped out a box bay window, trimming it with wainscoting and built-in cabinets. And the Design Director, Amy Rosenfeld, has worked on renovating her 1930s condo in NYC.
Brenna Hartmann started up FixieChix.com to help empower what she calls "do-it-herselfers." She has a blog on herrochestor.com, where she recently chatted about a WaterSense rating. Similar to the way EnergyStar ratings measure energy, it would measure water consumption of appliances. She also can be heard on the Home & Yard Radio offering ideas for ladies everywhere.
So, this is a quick snapshot of women in home improvement, but as you can see, they're just as excited about miter saws and rabbet cuts as the men. BTW, we've created a swicki just for the DIY ladies. Check out homegal.swicki.com and have fun with your projects!