Anything they can do, we can do better, right? But what about home maintenance and repair? Convention says fixing leaky faucets, installing light fixtures, repairing holes, and knowing what to do with a ratchet are part of "the man's job," but many women are currently kicking that norm to the curb and strapping on a tool belt.

In response to the number of women wanting to bin their dependence on the repair man, the Nova Scotia Community College created "Home Maintenance for Women," an eight-week continuing education course that builds confidence and teaches ladies how to DIY.

"More women are homeowners now and want to do these things themselves," says Seana Blanchard, the training coordinator at NSCC. "We thought it was important for women to learn in an environment with other women and be comfortable doing these things that are more male-oriented."

Typically, most home maintenance courses at the community college drum up male participants, says Blanchard, and women interested in the subject matter may not be as comfortable in a room full of men. Classes geared just for women, such as NSCC's "Home Maintenance for Women" and "Woodworking for Women," provide a safe and relaxed atmosphere for ladies to learn at ease.

"It's just coming around to starting to be more and more women involved in the trades," says Blanchard. "We're breaking down those gender barriers."

The NSCC course, lead by carpenter and contractor James Byrne, builds its participant's terminology and knowledge of tools while instructing on such topics as door, deck and drywall repairs, ceramic tile and light fixture installation, faucet repair, window maintenance, heating systems, proper use of a measuring tape and basic troubleshooting around the house. And even though the instructor is male, Blanchard insists Byrne has the personality necessary to manage being in a classroom full of women and is able to adjust his teaching methods and subject matter to be more conducive to a female class.

Hands-on and casual, "Home Maintenance for Women" - which has successfully run four times at NSCC in the last few years - will have local ladies feeling the bliss of independence in their homes.

"It makes women more self sufficient in their homes so they don't have to typically rely on somebody else to do these things that are very easily done," says Blanchard. "But I think women in the past have been hesitant to try these things because of a lack of knowledge. We provide a little bit of knowledge so that they can expand on it in the future."