Why Women Belong in the Workshop (and Always Have)
- Lauren Twitchell
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Walk into almost any hardware store, flip through most tool catalogs, or scroll Pinterest long enough, and you’ll notice something: woodworking is often shown as a “man’s world.”
But here’s the truth—women have always belonged in the workshop. Not just today. Not just in the modern DIY movement. Always.
A History That’s Been Overlooked
Throughout history, women have built, crafted, and created alongside men. From weaving and furniture-making to tool use on farms and homesteads, women’s hands have always been part of shaping wood and home.
The difference is that their stories haven’t always been told. Workshops were often seen as men’s spaces, but in kitchens, barns, and backyards, women were building quietly, skillfully, and purposefully.
The Modern Workshop
Today, the workshop still carries that old stereotype—but women are showing up louder than ever.
Social media has cracked the doors wide open. You see women running table saws, crafting cabinetry, welding steel, and carving spoons. You see creativity that refuses to be boxed into a stereotype.
And it’s not just about breaking barriers. It’s about claiming space that was always ours.
Why It Matters
When women step into workshops, a few powerful things happen:
Representation shifts. Young girls see possibilities. They see themselves reflected in tools, not just toys.
Confidence grows. Power tools, lumber, and projects aren’t intimidating once you try. Every build proves what you’re capable of.
Community expands. More women in workshops means more shared knowledge, encouragement, and collaboration.
It’s not about proving women can belong—it’s about showing that we always did.
The Emotional Side of Building
Woodworking isn’t just technical—it’s deeply emotional.
It’s about creating something with your hands, about turning raw material into something useful and beautiful. It’s about patience, presence, and the confidence that comes from making.
For women especially, building can feel like reclaiming something. A voice. A space. A reminder that creativity isn’t limited by gender.
Your Place in the Workshop
If you’ve ever felt hesitant to pick up a saw, let this be your invitation. The workshop doesn’t need you to have years of experience, a massive shop, or fancy tools. It just needs you—your creativity, your willingness to try, your courage to start.
Because the workshop isn’t just a place to build furniture. It’s a place to build confidence, resilience, and pride.
Women belong in the workshop not because they’re proving anything, but because they always have.
So pick up the drill. Sand the edges. Make the cut. Not to prove you can—but because building is part of what it means to live a crafted life.
And when you step into that space, know this: you’re not alone. You’re part of a long, quiet history of women who shaped, built, and created—and part of a louder, brighter future where every workshop is wide open.
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