I have just completed some work on my property - the first bit of home renovation for me: fixing the drainage off my garage and creating a paved area for pot plants. I have been using Placemakers, New Lynn for my supplies where the customer service is good (courteous, helpful, prompt staff), prices are reasonable and there are decent products available.
But what irks me is I kept experiencing this attitude that I as a woman was not capable of doing the job at hand: staff asking whether I had a "bloke/man/husband/boyfriend" to dig a trench/use the trailer/saw a plank/shovel scoria/join spouting/hammer in the pegs/lay paving. Being advised that without this "male" tool I should use a tradesman.
Now I realise these comments were well intended by the staff as the work was a bit of hard graft, and I understand professionals are needed at times but after the 4th trip to the store this kind of attitude was tedious.
I have sent you pictures to show the job I finished by myself, without a "male" tool, and while it's not perfect I am proud of it. I have loads of other projects coming up and will continue using Placemakers, New Lynn. I just hope the Placemaker's slogan is not gendered though - "MEN Know How, MEN Can Do" - because so many women are doing home renovation and repair jobs these days. The "Know How" Placemakers provides today should determine if I "Can Do" the job or hire a professional - not determine which of the sexes should do the job.
Thank you for your time in reading my letter today.
Yours sincerely,
Jasmine Christie
(bloody hard work but worth every minute!)
2 comments:
I'm loving your gumboots!! Hole and dirt, eehhh not so much.
That is a bit of digging for a useless girl. Lovely stuff. What did you use as a base for the tiles (on top of the dirt)? Is it that rock plus mortar?
m
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