Holiday dinners: Pass the gender roles
The Bilerico Project
Filed by: Drew Cordes
December 27, 2010 6:00 PM
http://www.bilerico.com/2010/12/holiday_dinners_pass_the_gender_roles.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2010/12/holiday_dinners_pass_the_gender_roles.php)
The holidays always provided me an opportunity to observe the curious divide between our world's two most popular genders. Every year, at every age, I have sat at tables with both sides of my family for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners--most with expansive and wonderful fare, some a bit baffling (enchiladas for Christmas? Really?).
Every year, the same actions wrinkle my mouth in thought. At the end of the meal, all the women stand up and begin clearing dishes from the table, then congregate in the kitchen to clean plates, load the dishwasher and squirrel away the leftovers. Meanwhile, the men remain seated, chatting and waiting for desserts to arrive, which are brought to the table by the women, of course.
QuoteThis situation mirrors some other areas of my life. I love to cook, for example. I live alone, so I cook for myself. I ask myself, if I had a boyfriend or husband, would the cooking then become expected of me? Will I cease to enjoy it once we decide that cooking is my "job?"
When I was married I was forbidden to enter the kitchen unless my help was needed. It was her realm, a virtual no-mans land. Expect for the dishes, you could offer to help do them, but generally you were not expected to. Only in the Summer time was I allowed to claim the kitchen. Barbecue time you understand. Women do not cook over open flame. It is man's work.
Now that I am coming into my own, I feel the same way. It is my kitchen! Get out! But I am in an LDR with another woman, and it would be a battle royal as to who get the kitchen. Which is still cool. And as to the cooking over open flame being strictly man's work? Boy, You best get away from MY BBQ grill or I will break your arm. hahahaha
I would just be happy to have a bigger kitchen to work in.