| Though tools are traditionally the domain of | | | | to have to rely on the man of the house to |
| the males, there are an increasing number of | | | | put up those new shelves), there are now |
| tools aimed at the fairer sex appearing on | | | | specially designed girls tool sets. The main |
| the market. | | | | difference in a tool set for the girls and a |
| | | | tool set for the guys is the colour; the |
| Take one of the most masculine pieces of | | | | ladies' kits tend to come in pink or in |
| equipment of all time - the Swiss army knife. | | | | floral designs and some even come in a |
| Ever since the boy scouts were formed the | | | | stylish hand bag style case, which not only |
| penknife has been an essential piece of kit | | | | looks good but is also bound to keep the |
| for any straight guy. Infinitely useful with | | | | men's hands off your tools. |
| their various corkscrews, blades, pliers, | | | | |
| toothpicks and tweezers, there are few men | | | | The auto-industry is also recognising that |
| who don't own at least one of these. | | | | females offer a significant market to tap and |
| | | | as such have begun to offer female-specific |
| However, Victorinox, the company behind the | | | | roadside tool kits containing all the |
| classic Swiss army knife have in recent years | | | | essential emergency supplies such as jump |
| sought to double their customer base by | | | | leads, mobile phone chargers, screwdrivers, |
| making penknives aimed most definitely | | | | hammers and ratchets - again available in |
| towards the ladies. The classic knifes are | | | | pink. |
| now available in more female colours (think: | | | | |
| pink) as well as more compact, elegant | | | | The move into the female market has generally |
| designs that would slip into a handbag. Other | | | | been very well received, though there are |
| innovations that target the female market | | | | some hardy feminists who feel that pink tool |
| include the SwissCard, a credit card sized | | | | kits are patronising and have pointed out |
| multi-tool that fits neatly into a wallet and | | | | that women don't need tools to be pink to be |
| contains the essentials such as a nail file, | | | | able to use them. |
| mirror and scissors. | | | | |
| | | | However, the feminised tool sets continue to |
| Other companies have also sought to feminise | | | | attract girls into this traditionally male |
| what has always been considered the domain of | | | | dominated area and for the fairer sex, and |
| the male. In a bid to encourage more ladies | | | | the manufacturers alike, that can't be a bad |
| to take matters into their own hands (and not | | | | thing. |