AAW Statistic Question

[Barbara Gill]

I was re-reading "10 Tips For A Successful Turning Event" in the Spring 2005 American Woodturner magazine. The statement that most turners are men caught my eye. I don't dispute this statement but it got me thinking. How many of the AAW members are women?

 

[arbud]

Ms. Gill: I would think Eunice Wynn could answer that question for you.

woodturner@qwest.net

 

[JimQ]

I was at the AZ Woodturners Assoc meeting yesterday and I would guess that between 5 and 10% of the members there were women. There may be a higher percentage of members, but not at the meeting.

JimQ

 

[john lucas]

Barbara Not enough as far as I'm concerned. I'd like to see more young people as well.

 

[Erwin Nistler]

Minnesota woodturners we don't have a lot of women woodturners, at the meetings, but we have some very good women woodturners. It would be hard to get a count as we have a family membership option which includes men and women under one membership.

 

[Andy Hoyt]

My chapter is running right about 10%.

The thing I like best is that when looking at all the stuff our members produce as a collective, it is nearly impossible to identify the gender of the turner.

 

[Jake Debski]

Barbara,

I have met many women turners through our Chapter events, maybe it would be better said, women that have tried turning, but few of these belong to a club or the AAW. A lot of the ones I've talked to seemed to be hesitant to enter what they consider to be a male dominated area (chapters etc.) The common thread amoung the women in our chapter is that they are very confident in their ability and have a healthy respect but no fear of the machinery they need to complete the task. A look at the women at an AAW symposium and you see most of the women attending have made a name for themselves both as turners and artist/demonstrators. I know this doesn't answer your question about numbers but it seemed relevant at the moment.

 

[Ken Grunke]

A small list

Speaking of women woodturners, I'm still looking for names to add to my list, on the links page of our AAW chapter's website:
http://www.crwoodturner.com/links.html#women

If anyone should be listed here, I'd like to know--email me at <kengrunke@crwoodturner.com>.
They DO need a website, as this is a links page and I don't post people's email addresses or other contact info on the website.
Thanks.

 

[Barbara Gill]

Thanks everyone. I had no hidden agenda by asking the question. Gender is not an issue with me. It was something that just popped into my head while reading the article.

 

[BigGuy]

My wife turns more than I do currently. She regularly attends our woodturning club with me. I started turning and decided she wanted to do it too. She is on her 2nd lathe now. I taught her how to sharpen the tools. We cannot underestimate the value of belonging to a local club and AAW. There are a few other women in the club but only see them a few times a year.

Lloyd Frisbee
AAW member
Silicon Valley Woodturners
San Jose, CA