Basic Female Skills Endangered
Wow! What a shock I received on Sunday morning when I read a story from the Courier Mail talking of young women and their lack of ‘female skills’. As a 22-year-old female with her own home I believe I’ve got the mandatory ‘female skills’ under my belt, but apparently not...
The article begins “BASIC "female" skills are becoming endangered with fewer young women able to iron a shirt, cook a roast chicken or hem a skirt.”
Read more: here!
The article states that only 51% of women under the age 30 can cook a roast compared to 82% of baby boomers. I honestly know how to cook a roast with vegetables and all- but I love the kitchen. Take a step back and maybe undertake research on how many baby boomers can successful roll sushi, create a stir-fry or understand which superfoods are crucial to providing antioxidants or how many calories are in that bag of Smiths chips?
Apparently baking lamingtons is an art as only 20% of Generation Y is capable of whipping them up? Doubt it! Lamingtons are not that hard, 100% of Generation Y would be capable of baking lamingtons but they choose to use their time making modern treats.
Mr McCrindle said "As such, many women have lost these skills. If we do want something repaired, women today are more likely to take it to their local drycleaner because they are busy and can afford it."
Honestly I do not know how to successfully use a sowing machine, I can use a needle and thread and do ask my mother to help fix anything that needs fixing. But with convenience and time spent in the office on the rise- where do we budge?
The article also states “Driving manual cars is also on the decline with just 40% of women under 30 possessing this skill compared to 71% of older women.” I know how to drive a manual car, I thoroughly enjoy driving a manual car- but honestly take a look on your local car selling site- the majority of the cars being sold are automatic… Why is this skill important?
Times are changing and EVERYONE needs to respect that- women are now working as hard in their jobs as men and then they are BOTH coming home and working even harder. Especially seeing as “more than 70% of women under 30 say they often take out the bins, 77% mow the lawn and 70% claim they wash the car.”
See the give and take? I can’t hem a skirt but I do take the bins out and wash my car and given the chance I’m sure I could mow the lawns.
I’m not sure these ‘basic’ female skills are so important to our livelihood anymore. I understand that my love for cooking, cleaning and driving a manual isn’t shared by all, but seriously what does it matter? Generational change is important and doesn’t that mean change?
Maybe we all need to take a step back and look around. There is no need to rant about ‘female skills’ or ‘gender roles’ we are in 2011… No one wears heels and a 1950’s housewife dress whilst using their Hoover around the perfect kitchen. Women are wearing their heels to work and rushing in to make a healthy dinner after being at the gym before doing a quick clean up of the house... Okay now I’m assuming, but come on… times are a changing- move with it…
