https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bB5EDwcYH3GwoRWZf/women-should-be-able-to-open-things
KatjaGrace
21st May 2026

I’m pretty annoyed today, for nominal reasons ranging between ‘petty’ and ‘doesn’t even make sense’. I’m not entirely sure how or if to take oneself seriously when one has such absurd grievances. But that’s a question for another time—I’m here now to tell you about my one potentially valid peeve.

I understand that gender is complicated and difficult, for the whole species (and honestly probably more so for some other species). And it can be hard to tell exactly if anyone is behaving badly regarding it, at least in my modern bubble. Maybe women just aren’t that into designing programming languages? Maybe the thing I’m saying is just boring and a man is saying a more interesting thing?

But a thing that is undeniable is that women want to open jars, dammit! What’s your nuanced explanation there, Bonne Maman? Does the proper amount of friction for maintaining spread safety fall just between the male and female human grip strength distributions?

This study suggests that would be about 400N Fmax (though this would not avert most elite female athletes acquiring jam, see second figure, and the pictured participants are young adults):

(more at link)

dv said:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bB5EDwcYH3GwoRWZf/women-should-be-able-to-open-things
KatjaGrace
21st May 2026

I’m pretty annoyed today, for nominal reasons ranging between ‘petty’ and ‘doesn’t even make sense’. I’m not entirely sure how or if to take oneself seriously when one has such absurd grievances. But that’s a question for another time—I’m here now to tell you about my one potentially valid peeve.

I understand that gender is complicated and difficult, for the whole species (and honestly probably more so for some other species). And it can be hard to tell exactly if anyone is behaving badly regarding it, at least in my modern bubble. Maybe women just aren’t that into designing programming languages? Maybe the thing I’m saying is just boring and a man is saying a more interesting thing?

But a thing that is undeniable is that women want to open jars, dammit! What’s your nuanced explanation there, Bonne Maman? Does the proper amount of friction for maintaining spread safety fall just between the male and female human grip strength distributions?

This study suggests that would be about 400N Fmax (though this would not avert most elite female athletes acquiring jam, see second figure, and the pictured participants are young adults):

(more at link)

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

Michael V said:

dv said:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bB5EDwcYH3GwoRWZf/women-should-be-able-to-open-things
KatjaGrace
21st May 2026

I’m pretty annoyed today, for nominal reasons ranging between ‘petty’ and ‘doesn’t even make sense’. I’m not entirely sure how or if to take oneself seriously when one has such absurd grievances. But that’s a question for another time—I’m here now to tell you about my one potentially valid peeve.

I understand that gender is complicated and difficult, for the whole species (and honestly probably more so for some other species). And it can be hard to tell exactly if anyone is behaving badly regarding it, at least in my modern bubble. Maybe women just aren’t that into designing programming languages? Maybe the thing I’m saying is just boring and a man is saying a more interesting thing?

But a thing that is undeniable is that women want to open jars, dammit! What’s your nuanced explanation there, Bonne Maman? Does the proper amount of friction for maintaining spread safety fall just between the male and female human grip strength distributions?

This study suggests that would be about 400N Fmax (though this would not avert most elite female athletes acquiring jam, see second figure, and the pictured participants are young adults):

(more at link)

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

I gots one of them. Only works when the jar lid is unpopped. Subsequent openings require muscles.

Smearing oil on the rim of the jar helps, but for some reason the garlic jar is always hard to open 🤷🏻‍♀️

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

dv said:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bB5EDwcYH3GwoRWZf/women-should-be-able-to-open-things
KatjaGrace
21st May 2026

I’m pretty annoyed today, for nominal reasons ranging between ‘petty’ and ‘doesn’t even make sense’. I’m not entirely sure how or if to take oneself seriously when one has such absurd grievances. But that’s a question for another time—I’m here now to tell you about my one potentially valid peeve.

I understand that gender is complicated and difficult, for the whole species (and honestly probably more so for some other species). And it can be hard to tell exactly if anyone is behaving badly regarding it, at least in my modern bubble. Maybe women just aren’t that into designing programming languages? Maybe the thing I’m saying is just boring and a man is saying a more interesting thing?

But a thing that is undeniable is that women want to open jars, dammit! What’s your nuanced explanation there, Bonne Maman? Does the proper amount of friction for maintaining spread safety fall just between the male and female human grip strength distributions?

This study suggests that would be about 400N Fmax (though this would not avert most elite female athletes acquiring jam, see second figure, and the pictured participants are young adults):

(more at link)

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

I gots one of them. Only works when the jar lid is unpopped. Subsequent openings require muscles.

Smearing oil on the rim of the jar helps, but for some reason the garlic jar is always hard to open 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve got a couple of pieces of that high-friction drawer liner polymer to help. And if things get very bad, well there’s always the oil filter removal tool. I have one like this:

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

I gots one of them. Only works when the jar lid is unpopped. Subsequent openings require muscles.

Smearing oil on the rim of the jar helps, but for some reason the garlic jar is always hard to open 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve got a couple of pieces of that high-friction drawer liner polymer to help. And if things get very bad, well there’s always the oil filter removal tool. I have one like this:

I have not seen those before. They look extremely useful. Ta

dv said:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bB5EDwcYH3GwoRWZf/women-should-be-able-to-open-things

Does the proper amount of friction for maintaining spread safety fall just between the male and female human grip strength distributions? This study suggests that would be about 400N Fmax (though this would not avert most elite female athletes acquiring jam, see second figure, and the pictured participants are young adults)

one why do they talk about gender complication then switch to sex differences in grip strength

two so grip strength is a reliable classifier for sex

three brute compressive gripping force is passé and jarring, it takes torque to twist open containers, the simple solution is to mill the lid circumference

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

I gots one of them. Only works when the jar lid is unpopped. Subsequent openings require muscles.

Smearing oil on the rim of the jar helps, but for some reason the garlic jar is always hard to open 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve got a couple of pieces of that high-friction drawer liner polymer to help. And if things get very bad, well there’s always the oil filter removal tool. I have one like this:

I have not seen those before. They look extremely useful. Ta

haven’t seen a real one for like 600 Ms now we’re wondering where ours went

SCIENCE said:

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

I’ve got a couple of pieces of that high-friction drawer liner polymer to help. And if things get very bad, well there’s always the oil filter removal tool. I have one like this:

I have not seen those before. They look extremely useful. Ta

haven’t seen a real one for like 600 Ms now we’re wondering where ours went

Now what was I doing 20 years ago?

When my arm was recovering I got by by pouring boiling water on metal jar lids to expand them.

I can usually manage but occasionally need recourse to a large pair of pliers (the handles, not the jaws).

really though who uses jars these days, isn’t there some kind of 跟爱 that can provide the same experience from the comfort of one’s own ergonomic recliner chair without the complications of all the sticky stuff that comes out

I can usually get them open with just grunt work, but occasionally I have to run some hot water over the lid and tap on it a few times to break the stiction.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FyR_sJ-9aDw

Link

Whack and wait.

SCIENCE said:

really though who uses jars these days, isn’t there some kind of 跟爱 that can provide the same experience from the comfort of one’s own ergonomic recliner chair without the complications of all the sticky stuff that comes out

You’re thinking of the Jar Wars Holiday Special

Bogsnorkler said:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FyR_sJ-9aDw

Link

Whack and wait.

When they hit the jar it kind of binks.

Etymology 3

Onomatopoeia
Noun

bink (plural binks)

A musical, percussive noise; plink.

Verb

bink (third-person singular simple present binks, present participle binking, simple past and past participle binked)

To make a bink noise.

To poke lightly.
(poker) To win, especially a substantial amount due to luck.

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

I gots one of them. Only works when the jar lid is unpopped. Subsequent openings require muscles.

Smearing oil on the rim of the jar helps, but for some reason the garlic jar is always hard to open 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve got a couple of pieces of that high-friction drawer liner polymer to help. And if things get very bad, well there’s always the oil filter removal tool. I have one like this:

I’ve got the drawer line pieces too. Works well. Although the other day there was a jar that we both struggled with.

Michael V said:

dv said:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bB5EDwcYH3GwoRWZf/women-should-be-able-to-open-things
KatjaGrace
21st May 2026

I’m pretty annoyed today, for nominal reasons ranging between ‘petty’ and ‘doesn’t even make sense’. I’m not entirely sure how or if to take oneself seriously when one has such absurd grievances. But that’s a question for another time—I’m here now to tell you about my one potentially valid peeve.

I understand that gender is complicated and difficult, for the whole species (and honestly probably more so for some other species). And it can be hard to tell exactly if anyone is behaving badly regarding it, at least in my modern bubble. Maybe women just aren’t that into designing programming languages? Maybe the thing I’m saying is just boring and a man is saying a more interesting thing?

But a thing that is undeniable is that women want to open jars, dammit! What’s your nuanced explanation there, Bonne Maman? Does the proper amount of friction for maintaining spread safety fall just between the male and female human grip strength distributions?

This study suggests that would be about 400N Fmax (though this would not avert most elite female athletes acquiring jam, see second figure, and the pictured participants are young adults):

(more at link)

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

I have never seen this before. Ta

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

I recommend a Brix Jarkey. A wonderful kitchen tool that works for both women and men.

I gots one of them. Only works when the jar lid is unpopped. Subsequent openings require muscles.

Smearing oil on the rim of the jar helps, but for some reason the garlic jar is always hard to open 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve got a couple of pieces of that high-friction drawer liner polymer to help. And if things get very bad, well there’s always the oil filter removal tool. I have one like this:

All of the mod cons!

I wouldn’t know how to use it though.

I had a circle of some rubbery material from the local fire brigade’s state fair display.

It had 911 printed on it.

I often wondered how many people called 911 when they couldn’t get their jars open using the rubbery thing.

I threw it away when I was packing the kitchen. The rubber had started to disintegrate.

dv said:

Bogsnorkler said:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FyR_sJ-9aDw

Link

Whack and wait.

When they hit the jar it kind of binks.

Etymology 3

Onomatopoeia
Noun

bink (plural binks)

A musical, percussive noise; plink.

Verb

bink (third-person singular simple present binks, present participle binking, simple past and past participle binked)

To make a bink noise.

To poke lightly.
(poker) To win, especially a substantial amount due to luck.

this works by damaging the seal though right

dv said:

When my arm was recovering I got by by pouring boiling water on metal jar lids to expand them.

+1

Without the arm issue