Feminists, do they cook and clean?

Question

Just wondering how many feminists here are able to whip up yummy and nutritious dinners and who also do the house-cleaning?
Is it still an important skill to have in your opinion? Do you find that there is a negative assumption nowadays from men saying that women, let alone feminists, just don't have these skills anymore?
I do most, if not all of the cooking and cleaning myself. Home-cooked meals just about every night, was taught to cook from a very young age. And I know how to keep a clean house and don't hire a housekeeper.
What about you?

Hey GunsFan, in part I was inspired, but I hadn't clicked onto your question. I know it won't change your mind, but many women who stand up against backlash aren't evil manhaters, we're just ordinary women doing the mother/wife thing too. :)

Now I'm nervous :S

Answer 1

You name it I can cook it. I was taught by the best, and she is a feminist as well. My mom also recently told me that she doesn't know what she would have done with out me these past 2 months, and that my help was a life saver.

See my gma was very ill and about 2 weeks ago passed away. 2 months ago I took time off from school to be with her and to help my mom. For the past 2 months and especially since my gma died I have been doing all the cooking and cleaning. My mom hasn't taken her mother's death very well, understandably, and she told me that she wouldn't know what to do these past few weeks if it wasn't for me.

Feminists can still be nurturers.

Answer 2

Of course these skills are important, in fact I would say they are vital. Preparing healthy food is an essential skill for any person, male or female, and especially important if you are nourishing children who need good nutrition to grow into healthy adults.

Housekeeping skills are also important, imo. We all know how quickly houses deteriorate when they are uninhabited and there is no-one to see to the basic care a house needs. As well as that, keeping a house free from dust, bugs and dirt means a healthy environment with less allergens and dangers such as spider bite or health hazards such as waste products.

On top of it all, it is actually hard work, which is also time consuming. Unless someone has actually done this type of work, I doubt they have any real idea of how hard it can be. Certainly I would think it is more difficult than working in an office or factory, and depending on where you are it can be as hard as most manual labour type jobs, especially if the 'housework' involves animal care.

Additionally, having a person at home who cooks and keeps house is a HUGE finaicial benefit. As an example, a home cooked meal of spaghetti bolognese might cost $2 or $3 dollars a head (Aussie dollars) if the finest ingredients are used. To buy the same meal frozen at the supermarket will cost minimum $5 per head, and at a restaurant, even a 'cheap' one, at least $8 per head. And most people would prefer the home cooked meal.

Personally, I worked outside AND inside the home for many years, but nowadays I commute long distances to my work so have less time than I had in the past for housework. Also, with no children at home the need for having regular meals has lessened, as we can eat when and what we like and as everyone in the household works, we can afford to be less concerned about the cost of things.

I find that I am 'outsourcing' most of the household stuff right now, but will probably do more of it myself if I get a job closer to home or as I begin to work part time instead of full time.

I'm not sure if I think men generally have a negative assumption that women or feminists don't have these skills nowadays, but I have always felt that the work women do in the home is hugely undervalued.

It's early days yet for the 'house husband', but from what I'm seeing, things are very different at home when guys take this role.

For one, kids seem to spend more time watching videos than playing one on one with the parent, and a lot more of the actual work of the house (e.g., cleaning the bathroom and laundry) is left aside as 'unimportant'.

Also, several house-husband households that I know of have cleaners, which I doubt most housewives have ever had, unless they are wealthy, and of course wealthy people have always been able to hire home help (I've done that job, lol).

Of course, people are generally better off nowadays, too, which very possibly accounts for this type of change.

Time will tell, I guess.

Cheers :-)

Answer 3

Yes I cook and clean. I live alone so I have to do the cleaning. I don't mind it because I love having a spotless home. I can cook and I reguarly use my slow cooker which I absolutely love. I hate the stereotype that some men and women believe that feminists are against what is considered traditional female tasks. The women's movement was formed to push for equality and provide women with different choices besides staying at home.

Answer 4

Cooking and cleaning are a very necessary skill.

Both genders should share responsibilities evenly.

When my first husband and I got married I earned $30,000 less a year than him. For this reason he said I should do more of the work around the house, never mind I worked more hours at a far more stressful job. It wasn't something I fully agreed with, but I went along with it to keep the peace. THEN, four years into it I was earning more than he had been when he lost his job. He decided to "find himself" and did not bother getting a job for nearly a year... Yet he still seemed to think that I should do most of the house work. I'd come home to dirty dishes and he'd complain that I never did any housework anymore, never mind the X-Box was still warm and he was only pretending to be job hunting on the internet... I got rid of him.

That said though, there is a certain nesting instinct I have found within myself recently. My first husband, I never wanted to cook for. I would occasionally cook because eating is necessary to living. But now, I have met a man and fallen hard. I actually want to cook for him! I want to see him smile when I make meals. I plan and smile over meals days in advance.

I'm not sure that this means I am far from being a feminist. I think it is more of a relationship issue. I know the new man in my life loves good food and appreciates the efforts put in. He's actually really happy and pleased when I make efforts to do things around the house and cook for him. I like making him happy and he does many things that make me happy too. Over a year into the relationship and I still enjoy cooking for him and he still remembers to tell me how good the food is and how much he appreciates it. Its more of a sharing happiness and responsibilities situation than it is a series of expected tasks. I think that's what makes the difference.

Oh and he does split the house work with me, which makes me not mind picking his shirts off the ground...

Answer 5

I'm only a college student...but I clean and cook for myself when I'm living at school. When I'm home I help my mom clean, cook, etc. (By the way, my mom is also a feminist and she makes great food and our house is always clean!). I think domestic skills are important if that is something a woman desires to do....but the level of these skills/having them should be optional...I say if a woman can afford and wants a housekeeper/cook...why not?

Answer 6

I consider myself a feminist and yes I cook and clean.

EVERYBODY [all genders] should be able to perform these skills.

I have a partner, we do not live together. I do all the cooking, he cleans up after. He helps with housework [most appreciated when I am hosting a party].

My parents made sure that my brothers and I all knew the following before we left home.
Cook
Laundry
Basic sewing and mending
Dust, vacuum, etc.
Put gas in the car, change whiper blades, top off battery and radiator in a car. If you own it make sure you know how to care for it.

Answer 7

nicely i would be unable to truly prepare dinner something till it fairly is curly fries, tator little toddlers, pancakes, or eggs. i'm an extremely awful prepare dinner on the rest. and that i do no longer prefer to bathe. i myself will sparkling my lounge or my kitchen (I purely believe the kitchen could desire to be sparkling cuz you devour there) yet i do no longer sparkling my mattress room. I surely do no longer see the factor because of the fact I consistently throw my outfits and footwear everywhere so I enable or no longer it fairly is. If it gets too undesirable i will sparkling it nevertheless. And definite I do my very own laundry. And no i do no longer sparkling my boyfriend's abode or do his laundry. If we lived at the same time than yeah I in all probability might because of the fact it could be my abode too. and because i'm a awful prepare dinner i do no longer even hardship to prepare dinner for him, he's a extra effectual prepare dinner in any case. yet i do no longer fairly locate the initiatives demeaning. you're able to desire to comprehend a thank you to guard your self. the only way they're demeaning is that if a guy expects it fairly is all you're solid for is abode initiatives.

Answer 8

I'm a terrific cook and manage my husband's diabetes very well. I hate to clean and supervise a housekeeping service very well (I can afford it). I'm a fabulous seamstress, too.

They're very important survival skills to have, and have NOTHING to do with feminism.

Since when does being a feminist mean being "unwomanly" (whatever that is)? And who said cooking and cleaning are the exclusive province of females? Tsk.

Answer 9

Cooking and cleaning are skills everyone should have, even if they don't intend to spend all day on them. I can cook a few things very well, but I have much to learn. I can clean well enough when I'm properly motivated, which is basically never.

Answer 10

The majority of feminists cook and clean, like the majority of non-feminists, since most people like to eat and live in a house. I cook and clean as little as possible, since I'm not picky about food or my house, but I also don't have children.