In a society that values inclusion, it’s fair to ask: Why are Men’s Sheds exclusively for men?
The answer is simple: Men need spaces designed for how they naturally connect and seek support—just like women have long had Women’s Institutes, IODE chapters, and professional women’s networks.
Women often talk face-to-face, over coffee and conversation.
Men tend to connect side-by-side—working on projects, standing at a bench, sharing space without the pressure of direct emotional talk.
There are real consequences to ignoring these differences:
Research shows traditional “talk therapy” often doesn’t fit how men process challenges. Men’s Sheds offer a proven, informal alternative: activity-based social connection that feels natural and non-threatening.
As Shannon Sampert from the University of Winnipeg says:
“Let’s stop accepting that men lead shorter lives and actively support those working to create healthy space for men—particularly as they age. Men shouldn’t have to die quicker.”
The Men’s Shed movement in Canada is an unfunded, grassroots effort trying to fill this critical gap.
It’s time to help—not question—why these spaces exist.