“Pass me the ratchet screwdriver,” and obediently you dive
into the toolbox, rummaging for something that looks like a screwdriver but
clearly has something a bit different going on- the ratchet part-whatever that
is. You respond with “just a second!” to give yourself time to make sure the
screwdriver with the funny T-shaped handle is the most likely tool there to fit
the name. Gritting your teeth you pass it over and wait for a response but
there’s none and it seems it’s being used. Smile of relief and an inward pat on
the back for getting it right.
The thing is, all is ok if all you have to do is hunt for
tools in a box beside you and use your logic and cross your fingers that you
can manage to match name to object. What happens when the problem arises and
there’s no one else there? When you have to figure out not only what needs to
be done but what tools to use and how to
use them? I grew up in a house where if something was broken, my Dad would fix
it and if my Dad was too busy my Uncle would fix it and probably from about the
age of 12, my brother was pretty capable of fixing pretty much anything too. No
electricians, no plumbers, no handy-men, just the boys in the family with their
innate ability to see a problem, investigate and do what needed to be done to
put it right. There was never any need for me to participate except for being
the gofer. I learned the names of the tools and what they did but never used
them and I was always perfectly happy to leave it that way. Fixing stuff was
for boys. I had way more interesting things to do to occupy myself.
There does come a time however when you have to fend for
yourself. I have a multi-tool in my car that has different screwdriver heads
and pliers and all sorts of functions. I have been known to google search and use
these tools very efficiently on occasion to fix certain issues that have
arisen. I also carry a can of WD40 in my car. I love using that whenever possible-
such a sense of satisfaction to open a previously squeaky door and not hear a
sound! Admittedly however, as a grown woman, I am still perfectly content to
let men do the investigating and figuring out and fixing. It’s not that I lack
the intelligence or ability to learn how deal with lighting problems or
plumbing problems or technology that doesn’t do what I want it to do, it’s just
that I would prefer to have someone come sort it for me- someone who naturally
understands the way things work and who thrives on making them run as they
should. Though I believe that for any person, self-reliance and independence
are very important, I think a little part of me is happy to stick to the
stereo-typical role of man as the fixer. I’ll happily learn to recognise a
ratchet screwdriver and what it does, but don’t ask me to use it!*
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| A ratchet screwdriver. |
