Generation Y women losing 'female' skills such as cooking, ironing and sewing

[The Straight Story]

Generation Y women losing 'female' skills such as cooking, ironing and sewing

BASIC "female" skills are becoming endangered with fewer young women able to iron a shirt, cook a roast chicken or hem a skirt.

Just as more modern men are unable to complete traditional male tasks, new research shows Generation Y women can't do the chores their mothers and grandmothers did daily, reported The Courier-Mail.

Only 51 per cent of women aged under 30 can cook a roast compared with 82 per cent of baby boomers.

Baking lamingtons is a dying art with 20 per cent of Gen Y capable of whipping up the Aussie classic, down from 45 per cent for previous generations.

Social researcher Mark McCrindle said: "Women of today tend to be busier, juggling more roles, and are quite prepared to compromise a bit of the homemade just to save some time.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/generation-y-women-losing-female-skills-such-as-cooking-ironing-and-sewing/story-e6frfkvr-1225996810578#ixzz1CXUFfRQX

Gonna need some popcorn for this thread, looks like I will have to make my own though...

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. I predict this will not end well SS.

In fact, I have a buck that says it will be locked before all is said and done LOL.

Hope you're having a Great Day.

[The Straight Story]

11. If only we still had the duzy's.... :) (nt)

[The Straight Story]

304. You owe me half a bottle of $2 buck chuck

:rofl:

[undeterred]

2. Well, maybe "roasts" are on the way out now that more of us

are becoming vegetarian.

And who buys clothes that need to be ironed?

[hlthe2b]

10. THrow meat in crockpot... toss in onions, pepper, veggies...

Come back in a few hours. What's to know?

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. I can hear my daughter now...

What's a crock pot? I can't find the onions in the fridge! Where's the pepper! How high should I turn the oven, and how long should I leave the crock pot in it?

I say this totally tongue in cheek. Anyone who knows anything about my relationship with my daughter would understand that it's all in good humor.

[seabeyond]

28. see, learning to cook a roast wasnt so easy for me. had to experiment and research on net

hubby made it all out to being easy too.

gotta brown it first. that is a whole new experience. and recipes say seasoning. well.... i was clueless. lol

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. I mastered the crock pot when I was living alone as a single person...

I never browned anything though. OOPS!

No wonder I could never get my daughter to eat when she was at my house.

In fact, I learned to cook while married to my first wife, who told me shortly after we were married "I hope you don't think you married someone like your mom... I HATE to cook". I remember coming home from working swingshift to her in front of the TV. She would ask "hungry?" I'd say yes... she'd tell me she had taken stuff out for me to fix myself a sandwich LOL.

[seabeyond]

37. see, i was you. hubby taught me. i am good now. took a decade, but now

i impress me.

[hlthe2b]

103. Browning certainly makes the diference... but even those

who don't know to do so, could get edible results... that's the thing with the simple methods, they allow a lot of leeway for mistakes.

[Very_Boring_Name]

169. haha did you marry peg bundy?

[A HERETIC I AM]

245. That made me LOL...

It really did.

Funny.

[hlthe2b]

38. Once upon a time, perhaps... Now there are tons of Youtube videos...

that walk you through every step possible. There are cookbooks and internet websites designed for the totally uninitiated.

I'm a lousy cook because frankly I am lazy in that regard and don't want to do it--well maybe once a year, I get a wild hair and can cook something impressive for company, but otherwise, nah...

[seabeyond]

46. kids, hubby that works and we all want diversity in meals. so i love the internet

and ability to experiment. last couple years has been amazing progress in my cooking. also.... i bought a couple really expensive knives for hubby, for christmas. i find that is all the difference in cutting stuff up.

[cherokeeprogressive]

78. Ya can't say enough about good sharp knives.

cooks.com is one of my favorite websites.

[seabeyond]

83. for years i wouldnt do the cutting and leave to hubby. was afraid of knives, being cut

got those knives and they are so sturdy, sharp and feel good in hand. made all the difference. hubby kept saying knife mattered. i didnt believe. but it is really true.

[TheOther95Percent]

93. Right tool for the job.

The most dangerous thing in the kitchen is a dull knife.

[seabeyond]

97. that is what hubby would tell me. i fell on a steak knife when little

emptying a dishwasher, standing on a chair. when i stood up, i had a knife sticking out of my shin. only time had to get stitches. it was horrible and put fear in me. so bad knife, and handling knife awkwardly was really a problem cutting veggies.

[TheOther95Percent]

156. I also love my mandolin

I invested in one from Pampered Chef years ago and have not regretted it. A good one with a guard makes quick work of cutting veggies for soups, pot roasts, salad prep.

[Codeine]

92. Oh goodness yes. High-quality, sharp knives are a revelation.

For twenty years I just used crappy serrated-edge knives for everything, but then I did some cooking at a friend's house and used some killer blades. Rushed out the next day and got good knives and have enjoyed cooking a million times more since.

Learning proper grip and cutting techniques from Alton Brown also improved my cooking experience. Good tools, used properly.

[seabeyond]

94. exactly. i was amazed the difference. nt

[Beacool]

186. If you have a Wii, The Food Network put out a cooking technique game.

Here's a review of it.

http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/foodnetworkcookorbecooked/review.html

:)

[cherokeeprogressive]

48. I love to cook. There aren't many things more satisfying than hearing my company or family

say MMMMMMM when they sit down to eat something I cook.

I swear the 9mm sitting next to my plate doesn't have anything to do with it...

Seriously though... I cook roughly half the time and there isn't anything I can't make in the kitchen. My favorite is lobster ravioli and if I do say so myself it's a melt in your mouth delicacy.

[seabeyond]

52. wow, yum, that sounds good. nt

[TheOther95Percent]

87. Cook with Glock

Nice idea for a new show on the Food Network. Invite friends over with all manner of weaponry, prepare food and let audience taste test while chefs have guns drawn. It would be a real hit. Smile.

[hlthe2b]

113. I don't juggle as well as I used to... I like to cook when I don't

have twenty or more things on my priority list competing for my time/attention. Sadly, I haven't had many days like this in years.

If one doesn't cook much, it also means they probably no longer have a stocked pantry. Since they just opened a Penzey's spice store very near me (that sell the best cinnamon ever) I just looked at my spice rack and noted it is woefully incomplete as well. So, to cook a major more complicated meal would also take at least a half day of shopping as well.

[bobbolink]

130. Its important because it is a very nurturing thing to do, and brings us together.

[barbiegeek]

281. It saves money to know how to "really" cook the old fashion way

[Very_Boring_Name]

172. I love to cook too but I'm absolutely terrible at it

I can cook exactly two things well; chili and homemade french fries.

[Beacool]

187. You love to cook? Where have you been all my life?

Are you currently married? Says she, expectantly.

:evilgrin:

[cherokeeprogressive]

257. I've been right here doll... SoCal

Married? Depends... LOL

[Beacool]

272. Hmmm, that sounded suspiciously like a yes..........

That's OK, I'll repress my moral standards for a good dish of lobster ravioli.

A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do........

}(




:hi:

[Dappleganger]

303. Same here, and my husband loves to cook.

[hlthe2b]

31. Well, for her, there is always...

Takeout taxi, By Jeeves, and various pizza delivery... She just better be prepared to pay through the nose. Or go to "WHOLE PAYCHECK" (aka Whole Foods) and pay $18.95 (or more) per serving for their overcooked "gourmet" pot roast ;)

[MH1]

45. 'how long should I leave the crock pot in it'

:rofl:

[hatrack]

248. Yes, but isn't the default setting for everything in the over 350?

Baking, roasting, broiling, doesn't matter - it's ALWAYS 350!!!

[sammytko]

204. thank you - even when I was active duty - I (a female) sent my uniforms out!

As dog is my witness, I will never iron again! I do love to cook..

[okieinpain]

282. who's a vegie. n/t.

[Darth_Kitten]

317. Why iron when you can steam clothes?

Turn the hot water on, and close the bathroom door for a few minutes. :)

[Edweird]

3. Oh boy, here we go!

[seabeyond]

4. damn guys, so afraid? not a big deal. and true enough. males dont know how to change oil or mow

lawn. all about hiring out or paying out for those chores done. i didnt know how to cook. or sew. or do laundry. threw it all in one.

[hlthe2b]

16. I (female) had to show my male neighbors how to test a battery,

jumpstart, replace, and clean connectors. Can you say, clueless? These guys were in their 40s. So, there you go.

[joshcryer]

261. Embarrassing to my gender.

But encouraging that you know skills that society typically suggests you not know.

[Edweird]

24. I guess that makes those of us with skills that much more unique and badassed.

[seabeyond]

29. absolutely. we are making sure our sons learn these skills. just. saves. money. nt

[Edweird]

105. Awesome.

:thumbsup:

Also, as you allude to in a lower post, it has value in more than just it's inherent frugality. It 'works' on a primal level.

I'm also happy that your response is not all what I was expecting. :)

[seabeyond]

109. lol

i am not as bad as people make me out to be. sons and hubby actually see me as pro male.....

go figure

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

44. My wife doesn't let me cook after changing the oil or mowing the lawn.

Probably for good reason.

I don;t see why more people don' do stuff for themselves. Especially in a bad economy.
It's usually way cheaper to things on your own (cook, sew, change brakes/oil, home improvement).

If I could choose any time period to live in it would be dring the American Westward Expansion.

[seabeyond]

50. my father never did the stuff. one of the things that attracted me to hubby, was fix it

ability. i love how he could do all this stuff. when dating, i just had to sit and watch and be impressed, and he went at it. lol.

i agree. son is 15 and told hubby, changing oil, tire is one thing the kid is going to learn. hubby already did it once with him.

[joshcryer]

259. I had my 7 year old nephew help me put brakes on a car.

I do the entire families brakes because it costs an absurd amount of money, I save easily 75% of the costs. He got a sliver of metal in his finger, to me it looked really really bad (tiny fingers / rather large sliver). But with a bandaid he was a trooper.

I'd hate to see what DHS would have to say about a 7 year old handling asbestos brake pads...

[joshcryer]

258. Amen, too many people doling out activities to others. We're supposed to be a country of individuals

...but we're collective drones.

[MattBaggins]

5. Need to remind my wife tonight

to teach the girls how to darn my socks.

I'll let you know tomorrow how that works out.

[seabeyond]

7. lol. but be sure to teach son how to fix a leaking faucet. nt

[MattBaggins]

12. Don't have a son

Tried calling my youngest girl Rodney but my wife doesn't like it. Something about confusion and "emotional issues".

[seabeyond]

15. bah haha. ah well. teach daughter then, and the hubby can cook. nt

[Donnachaidh]

17. so what implements are used to darn socks?

Do *you* have any idea?

[MattBaggins]

26. Don't you just point your finger at the sock

and say "darn sock"?

[seabeyond]

32. lol. really it is tough. you need... thread. needle. lol. not that i have EVER

darned a sock. trash can works. or hubby keeps for whatever, cleaning

[enlightenment]

84. It's actually pretty easy, but you do need a darning egg

or similar. I do it - but only for favorite socks that I'm loathe to throw away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darning

[seabeyond]

88. lol. see you enlightened me. who knew. nt

[gkhouston]

202. Doesn't it also help to have a curved needle? Or is that mysterious curved needle

that comes with a large paper of needles for repairing rent upholstery? :shrug:

[Donnachaidh]

110. nope.

Personally, it's been DECADES since I've seen the stuff --



And I know how to make socks, but darning them? Hell no!

[Cassandra]

131. I have a darning egg.

The small goose size with a curved handle. You use it to keep the sock hole where you can get to it comfortably. A light bulb (the filament type) will work, too. And I can darn a sock and cook and do crochet, needlepoint, beading, calligraphy, etc. I can't knit but am a crafty person otherwise.

[polmaven]

203. Oh, THAT'S my problem....

It apparently doesn't work to say "damn sock"??? I'm soooo glad you helped me out on that one! :bounce:

[juajen]

265. A rounded wooden thingie that you insert into the sock. It

makes a platform to pull the needle back and forth, for darning is almost like re-weaving with the thread. My husband made me a wooden mortar and pestle. The pestle would be perfect for darning, if I ever did it. I do know how to sew and cook, and iron, if forced, and then I would probably throw the iron at the person insisting I do it. I used to know a women who tatted (lace maker). This was great fun to watch. I also have an acquaintance that is a weaver. She weaves the material for shirts, blankets, etc. My husband was a woodturner and could do almost anything electrical as well as build me a porch, make me a bowl, wooden spoons, you name it, my husband could do it. No, he could not pass a great deal of this knowledge on to our children or grandchildren. They just weren't interested, though my girls are pretty handy, one of them can work on a car as well as operate a bandsaw, and the other two are handier than their significant others, and can easily wield a hammer. My cooking skills I did pass on to all three of my daughters, though some are better at baking and others at main dishes, etc., though one daughter is pretty good at all of these.

I do believe these are dying skills though, mostly because of the work load they are all taking on. Most of my children work 50 to 70 hrs. a week, and need all of the shortcuts they can get. This is a different world, and I don't believe it is a better one. Time will tell.

[Capitalocracy]

197. if there will BE a tomorrow for you. nt

[somone]

6. Lamingtons are good

[lonestarnot]

55. What are they?

:D

[justiceischeap]

8. Thank DOG! It's about time.

Women can finally tell men who expect us to cater to them hand and foot, that we can't because it's just not a part of our DNA (and never really has been).

Remember, at one point in history we were a Matriarchal society. :)

[newspeak]

118. I always allowed both my son and daughter to experiment in the kitchen

as long as they cleaned up their messes. My son is an excellent cook and worked as a sous chef, my daughter can cook, but loves her hubby's cooking.

My daughter had bought an old vehicle and apparently the radiator was leaking. My hubby told her to look in the auto book and do it herself, but he'd help if she had trouble. She pulled out the radiator and fixed the leak herself. She knows a lot about cars, and can help her hubby (who is one of the greatest mechanics) work on them.

Most clothes don't need ironing now days, and just think of those who are cooking challenged, aren't they providing more service jobs?

[hlthe2b]

9. Baking "lamingtons..."

You'd have to tell me what that was, first. :eyes:

[On the Road]

43. Number 1: The Lamington

A Lamington is a sponge cake in the shape of a cuboid, coated in a layer of traditionally chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. Lamingtons are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream and/or strawberry jam between, and are commonly found in Australasian outlets such as cafes, lunch bars, bakeries, and supermarkets.



----------------------

I think part of this, though, is that the study surveyed people under 30. People of either gender who cook regularly get a lot better over time. Despite having worked in restaurants in my twenties, I am an infinitely better cook now. And people are going to school longer and extending their youth as compared to the 50s, so most people start learning these skills later in life.

[lonestarnot]

57. let 'em get hungry. They'll learn if they don't burn down the house

;) And thanks for tell us what the hell a lamington is. :hi:

[hlthe2b]

95. When I was a young teen I baked cakes & bread from scratch

No mixes, no bread maker machine. Everything as our grandparents/great grandparents would have done.

It takes an entire day. How many could possibly tod this now. That lamington looks delicious, though. I must admit.

[cali]

13. people in general are losing essential life skills.

[MattBaggins]

30. If people are losing them... How essential are they?

[cali]

51. they're essential if things go south

I raised my son to know how to garden, cook, know basic carpentry, etc.

[Codeine]

72. Everybody should learn to plant a garden

and pound a few boards together properly. Good on you to pass those skills down.

[Chan790]

194. I disagree.

A world where those become common necessary skills again is a world I'd rather die exposed and starving in than endure.

[Codeine]

216. It's not a survival thing in my view.

I'm not one of those doomer/collapse types who thinks we're weeks from lapsing into starvation and civil war (Trends! Guns of August!), I just think having a more basic understanding of where food comes from and tasting the - literal - fruit of our labors makes us better, more whole people.

[Mopar151]

240. Are dirty hands beneath you?

For many of us, those are common, necessary skills. I , and many like me, see people who decry common skills as elitist fools. The only "skills" I seem to have trouble with are lying, sucking up to assholes, or selling.

Knowing how to use tools well is more than a skill - it means having a fundamental unerstanding of the science/process involved.

[Chan790]

266. Candidly...

not beneath me as much as my idea of hell on Earth. It's a real screwjob on my manicure too.

I don't really care about the science or process involved...shit breaks, I pay people who have the skills to fix it so I can go back to work or reading a book. I literally spent my entire childhood in libraries trying to cram as much knowledge as possible into my head just to avoid manual labor, finger-painting and shop-class.

[Mopar151]

276. Heard of gloves?

The handbook of my trade is about 2000 pages, in fine print. I read a LOT, have since childhood - my Dad read 3 newspapers a day, and 5-10 library books a week. When he died, the librarians sent flowers! Our garden was epic, and he rebuilt our house, including plumbing and electrical - but he had wired the home place for electricity when he was 14.
Mom was a farm girl, X-ray tech, best shot in the family - still an awesome cook. Transcriber of historic diaries, world-class crafter, still at the library every couple weeks.

Yes, we hire stuff done sometimes - but it's generally a matter of specaiised tools and knowledge. But knowing how gives an appreciation for the work done - ultimately getting you far better work, a good price, and a distinct lack of screwing over.

[seabeyond]

277. husband has masters in statistics, engineering degree. has garden, fixer upper, "chef"

had the best foods last night.... tiles, paints, builds furniture, works on cars.

his brother is a lawyer and feels the same as you.

i tend towards your choices, too. but i sure do appreciate hubby and awfully impressed. he is one that has to keep busy with these types of activities.

[KurtNYC]

300. being able to cook for one's self, seems pretty essential

even if it simply re-heating prepared foods. Cooking includes knowing how to store foods, detect spoilage and how not to make yourself sick.

[devilgrrl]

159. Exactly...

it's not good either. :-(

[TheOther95Percent]

14. What is a lamington? And why would I want to bake one?

Especially after working 10 to 12 hours per day at my job. Why would I buy shirts that need to ironed?

[The Straight Story]

19. Lamington

[TheOther95Percent]

82. It's a cake? Isn't that what bakeries are for?

If a significant part of the population couldn't identify a bakery as a place to buy baked goods than I would worry.

[Betsy Ross]

18. Proud to be passing on my skills to generation Y.

Forget any sexism, I'll teach anyone who wants to learn needle arts or cooking. With the American popularity of quilting and knitting, many young people are picking up traditional skills.

My niece came to me the month before she graduated high school to ask me to teach her to knit. My response was "where were you when you were ten?" But she did learn and has made a number of quilts. She and her friends often come over for a crafts or baking day.

But there is a great deal of truth to this report. Working as an engineer, colleagues are often surprised to learn that I make most of my clothes and they are very appreciative when I bring in fresh baked goodies. It has inspired a number of the guys to bake. Yum.

[seabeyond]

23. my lawyer sister in law took up knitting. last i saw her, she was doing clothes.

i was clueless, but it was really cool. i dont watch tv, i read. i want to learn, but i dont know how i can read and knit at the same time. and cant just sit.

[gateley]

20. Well this baby boomer must have been ahead of the times, because

I can't do any of those things!

[hlthe2b]

21. I dare say the Aussies are the most misogynistic of western

countries. So, no surprise here...

[MattBaggins]

116. Arkansas with a beach

[Davis_X_Machina]

25. Adult education. people...

...it's the growth field of the future.

All those gappers laid off at 50, and who can't draw on their retirements till 59 1/2, or 62, or 65, they know how to do this stuff.

All we have to do is figure out how to make teaching it pay.

[malletgirl02]

42. Good Idea

I actually think that is a good idea.

[Caretha]

239. Let me know

when you figure it out. I know how to darn socks and have many skills. :)

[GSLevel9]

27. I will say one thing...

there used to be a time when most men could change a spare tire and many could change their own oil in their car. Most men also had some around-the-house skills, too whether it was electrical, plumbing or construction related.

Modern humankind is becoming less and less able to DO everyday work and I guess that covers men AND women.

[GoCubsGo]

119. To be fair...

Automobile manufacturers have made it difficult to change the oil. My car is so low to the ground that one has to put it on a lift to get to the drain plug. It's almost impossible to get at the oil filter without special tools. And, don't get me started on changing tires. I know how to do it. I just CAN'T. I am no match for an air wrench, and even most men I know have problems loosening the lug nuts because those mechanical wrenches tighten them down so damn hard.

[Mopar151]

251. Get a better tire shop!

wheels should be HAND TORQUED, and lugn nuts lubed with anti-seize compound. If your stock lug wrench does not work well, get a breaker bar and the right size socket at the cheap tool store.



http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00944202000-1?hei=400&wid=400&op_sharpen=1&qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0

[jeff47]

269. Loosen the lug nuts before jacking the car

Don't take 'em off, but get them to the point where you can use the wrench to turn them. This may require putting the wrench on the nut and jumping on the handle - which is why you leave the car on the ground while doing it.

[GoCubsGo]

295. Duh.

As I already said, I know how to change a tire. I just think it's ridiculous that I have to jump on the handle of the tire iron just to loosen the damn nut. When I attempt that, I usually wind up on my ass.

[Mopar151]

297. That's what the breaker bar is for!

Whi i gave my architect sister one - after she could'nt loosen the lugs even by jumping on the cheezy wrench. The cheezy wrench that came with my car won't stay on the nut well enough to do the jump-on trick....

[Mopar151]

299. Well, Chief, I used to work in that good tire shop.

Anti-seize on the lugs, hand torqued, spare tire, jack, and lug wrench properly re-stowed. Tires mounted with new valve stem, correct bead lubricant, wheels cleaned, aluminium wheels sealed (paint or grease)

The mass merchadisers (Sears, Wally World) can't be bothered. They would have to train and pay their help a lot better, and actually give a shit about their customer.

Far as NASCAR goes - anytime other than pit stops, they hand torque the lugs, usually with a torque wrench. Harbor freight has one on sale for something like $12 with a coupon - and it'll do for a breaker bar in a pinch.

[dixiegrrrrl]

125. I have a collection of "how to " books from 1879 to 1920's.

They cover everything a family "needs to know"..all those "essential" skills.

Back then, a "guy" was not un-usual if he could make his own buildings, fences, starting with the tree,
forge his own iron implements, etc.
AND make his own glue and grease and bullets, etc.
These books have directions for doing all of that...including plumbing, wiring, in some of the later ones.

Might come in handy some day, I am thinking.

[Beacool]

200. Sounds like a pretty cool collection.

I have some old books, but mine are about cooking.

;-)

[dixiegrrrrl]

217. Best of all, they are free to dowload!

So I have them on disc now.
Most books over 80 years old are out of copyright, and can be found on the web in pdf format.
cool, huh?

[Beacool]

237. That's great!!!

Most of my old books I bought at yard and garage sales. There are great findings out there.

:D

[Hippo_Tron]

243. Where does one take the old oil to be properly disposed of?

I would do my own oil changes but I can't figure that out. As for changing tires, most people I know can do that.

[GSLevel9]

250. most Auto Parts stores like Kragen, AutoZone, etc... nt

[Johonny]

308. I agree

I can't change my oil because my complex doesn't allow this, nor cleaning the car on site. Nor are they thrilled with me changing the wiring etc...

This post seems linked to a news item from last week that Gen Y wants smaller places than there parents. Why? They can't afford them of course. If you live in a small apartment, you don't exactly have a huge kitchen to cook extravagant meals, a sewing machine, a place to do machining... etc. You don't even have a lawn, or place to grow a garden.

They would love to have these skills, but these skills generally come with space and free time that came with suburbia lifestyle that doesn't exist for this generation.

[Silent3]

316. I'll change a tire myself because I'd rather get moving again quickly...

...that sit around waiting on the road side to pay someone to do a job I can easily do myself.

But I can't see bothering with changing my own oil. $30, often just $20 with coupons I routinely get, gets me an oil change, lube job, and change of air filter, and I don't have to deal with the mess of figuring out where to responsibly dispose of the used oil. That's easily worth the small price I pay for having someone else do the work.

[FirstLight]

33. hmmm...what about women having to assume more tasks

because the 'boys' are busy with video games ??

or what about the women having to parent ALONE because the men can't be bothered to stick around?

It's not easy to be a 'traditional' woman (like my mom was) when you are having to be the daddy & the mommy at once...

and FWIW, my grandma taught me how to sew, and i enjoy it ...but i sure don't have time to mend socks or such when i am working and cooking and whatnot for the whole house...ALONE

[WolverineDG]

34. I think both young men & women are losing traditional skills

I was at the grocery store & just about keeled over when I saw some young guy just pick up a carton of eggs & put it in his cart without looking at it first. "Hey, aren't you going to check out the eggs first?" "Why?" "Because some might be broken." "Oh, they wouldn't sell broken eggs" :facepalm:

Jeez.

dg

[seabeyond]

41. funny... lol. ah ha. right. nt

[WolverineDG]

47. what's your problem this time?

I post to counter the OP's post that only girls are "losing" traditional skills, & get nothing but snark from you?

dg

[seabeyond]

56. "Because some might be broken." "Oh, they wouldn't sell broken eggs" :facepalm:... snark?

funny. i thought that was funny. ya right. like they wont have broken eggs, of course you need to check the eggs out.

i thought your post was funny

was agreeing with you

no snark, hence .... funny

so

what is your problem?

[WolverineDG]

165. ah ha. right

:eyes:

dg

[seabeyond]

188. ah ha... to eggs wont be sold broken. right... to eggs wont be sold broken

now

i think i explained every part of my post.

gonna still see the snark that isnt there.

i would try to remember not to post on your posts, .... for whatever reason, but i dont pay attention to that shit.

[petronius]

68. I think I'm the only person I've ever seen do that at my store,

although I have found the occasional broken one.

Do instinctively count to yourself as you check each egg? Caught myself doing that last time and I felt really silly...

[seabeyond]

70. lol. i dont count but i move each egg, two at a time. too often i had them stuck

the looked ok, but when i got them home, couldnt get them out of carton. wasted money.

[petronius]

98. That's all I'm trying to do too - just give them a little nudge

But for some reason I can't help counting as I do it, even though a missing egg would be pretty darn obvious! :silly:

[seabeyond]

100. that is so funny. nt

[Celtic Raven]

132. Simple trick for that

Use all of the other non-stuck eggs first, then before you need the stuck one(s) put the carton into the sink & run some water in it. Let it sit for a few minutes to dissolve the dried egg.
The paper cartons make this a lot simpler since they absorb the water & peel away easily. The foam cartons form a seal with the egg(s) so the water can only work from the top, but with patience you can loosen them.

[aikoaiko]

231. That's what I do -- just like my mama showed me.

;)

[WolverineDG]

167. yup, I count to myself too

lol--like, what? I'm expecting there to be 13 eggs in there? :rofl:

dg

[fishwax]

108. that reminds me of a Carl's Jr./Hardee's commercial

A guy is standing in the meat section of the grocery store, staring at the cabinet with a blank expression, repeatedly poking a package of ground beef with his finger, and the announcer says: "without us, some guys would starve."

"Oh, they wouldn't sell broken eggs"

:rofl:

[Odin2005]

142. I think that just has to do with that "young guy" being an idiot.

[WolverineDG]

168. more likely that young people today aren't being taught to care for themselves

it's more common than you think.

dg

[joshcryer]

262. I think it is an example of someone expecting a business to hold their hand.

[Beacool]

192. Serves the guy right if he had to make an omelette when he got home due to the broken eggs.

I always open the carton and check the eggs before I buy them.

:D

[joshcryer]

263. I buy a flat of eggs and just give it a cursory glance.

I've found that, counter-intuitively, the egg flats tend to not break as much.

[Beacool]

273. Good to know.

I always check because I've encountered plenty of times a cracked egg or two when opening cartons. That guy was a fool. He'll just have to learn the hard way, won't he?

:hi:

[tabbycat31]

35. I am 30

Ironing--- I severely burned myself with an iron as a child and refuse to touch one. I don't own clothes that need to be ironed.

Cooking--- enjoy it and am good at it. I like baking too.

Sewing-- I can do something like sew a button on and that's about it. I envy people who can make clothes because I'd love to be able to do that (especially considering I'm in between sizes).

[MH1]

39. what the heck is a 'lamington'?

:)

[surrealAmerican]

58. Apparently, it's sponge cake squares ...

... covered with chocolate icing and dried coconut, and a big favorite with Australian children.

[denese]

40. It's worse than that

most people have completely lost touch with their food.
it comes from a drive through window where they don't even have to get out of their cars.
A host of problems stems from this view of food IMHO.
We all need to learn to love our food and treat it with the respect and gratitude it deserves

[DawgHouse]

49. Roast + Crockpot. Dinner is done. n/t

[druidity33]

53. I'm a house husband...

I do all the cooking and cleaning, laundry, all the gardening and yardwork, most of the hand sewing and the rest of the household chores. I watch the kid after school and during summer break, usually we can't afford camp.

I don't iron though.

:)

[Liberal Veteran]

54. What's the problem. Just speak to the replicator and tell it what you want.

"Pizza. Pepperoni and Mushroom. Extra crispy."

or

"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot."

[Hippo_Tron]

246. I've been re-watching DS9 recently and now I crave Raktajino in the morning

Unfortunately the replicator is centuries away.

[JitterbugPerfume]

59. the times they are a-changin'

I am 70 and I wouldn't be caught dead ironing ANYTHING, and sewing is still a mystery to me.

I can fix an ass kicking roast though.

Why on earth go young people need those skills ?

[Codeine]

60. My girlfriend can't cook for shit, but that's fine because I can.

She's a whiz at sewing, though. I was shocked -- who the hell sews anymore?

Ironing? Hang your shit straight out of the dryer and there's really no need for that.

As far as traditional "man stuff" goes I can't even drive a fucking stick shift! :rofl: Forget oil changes -- the guys at EZ Lube can do that way better than I.

[seabeyond]

61. can't even drive a fucking stick shift! .... ba hahahah. funny nt

[Codeine]

64. The first time I tried it was such a complete disaster

I just couldn't bring myself to experience that embarrassment again. Seriously -- it was like a monkey trying to drive a big rig or a dog reading Proust; it just made no sense at all to me. :dunce:

[seabeyond]

66. i bought a used with stick. asked father if he would teach me. he took me out for ten minutes and

left me with it. that was it. i got to practice in carmel, ca with hills everywhere. it was learn to drive, or walk.

now i love stick

[The Straight Story]

136. I learned to drive on one, in a cemetary (figured I could not hurt anyone there)

Still had driving stick though :)

[Pisces]

62. THey haven't lost the skill, they just don't want to do it. Gen Y know s how to use google a recipe.

[Codeine]

69. Exactly. I learned a killer aloo gobi recipe from YouTube last month.

I improved the quality of my already-good Indian dishes tremendously with the help of Google and Youtube.

[seabeyond]

74. i will do that on the recipes. look at a number of different recipes and see what i want to add

the thing. i finally got the perfect clam cowder, tweaking, and havent written down what i did differently. so next time i make it will be another guess. gotta remember to correct recipes. but it has been fun, and allows me to be really creative.

[malletgirl02]

79. You Tube

You tube is great to learn new skills. I never used it for a recipe, but I used it to learn how to bind-off knitting.

[msanthrope]

294. I've used You Tube for recipies, hairstyles for my kid, and how to pierce the ears of

an American Girl doll.

Pretty useful.

[Phentex]

201. Yep! We have places to go, things to do!...

I love to cook and I do it but I LOVE watching a video on youtube to help me see the recipe. And I love looking up recipes online.

[LWolf]

63. I'm 50 years old and I've never been able to iron a shirt properly.

As a matter of fact, it's been 20 years since I owned an iron, let alone used one.

When I was growing up, an only child raised by a single working mother, Mom kept a laundry basket on the floor of her closet. She called it the "ironing" pile. If something needed ironing, it went into the basket for whenever she got around to ironing.

I don't remember her EVER getting around to ironing. We owned an ironing board and an iron, I just never saw her use it. The only time I saw her iron anything was in a hotel. We were traveling, and I guess she didn't have any alternative. She used our hard suitcase as an ironing board, and it forever after had a scorched-in imprint of an iron. Just like the shirt when I was done with it, the only time a man ever asked me to iron anything for him.

The "ironing" basket? As I recall, the contents were periodically donated to organizations that took used clothes, we continued to wear the clothes that didn't need ironing, and by the time I was in high school, we weren't buying any clothes that needed an iron.

Cooking? I cooked for decades to keep food in front of my family. I still cook for myself. For larger family meals, though, my sons do the cooking. Neither my mother nor I cook meals for others.

Sewing? I took a sewing class in high school. I sewed some really badly-fitting maternity clothes when I was pregnant. I can still sew a button on, I could probably sew a seam if I owned an iron, and I can repair saddles and bridles. I can still crochet quite well; as a young woman I crocheted bundling garments for my babies, blankets, scarves, xmas stockings that we still use 25 years later, xmas ornaments for the tree, purses, neckties.....I could still follow a pattern with a little refresher course.

I'm not married any more, but one of the things I like about being married was my ex could do mechanics, plumbing, construction, electrical, run a tractor, and all kinds of skills that I now pay big bucks for. I can do some of those things, just not very well and not if it's a big job. I can use a light chain saw, I can put washers on my faucets and change out the faucets, I can do some fence maintenance and repair, load, unload, and stack hay...I remember nothing about the lessons I had in changing my own oil, but I can jump-start my car with or without cables, since I drive a manual transmission, take care of battery cables, and other minor maintenance chores.

Neither of my sons is good with all of those things their dad, and step-dad, could do. They will mickey-mouse it until they can afford to pay someone to do it right. They can, though, build and maintain their own computers and technology systems.

All of the skills that men and women of previous generations had are now specialized, and we have moved on to other generalized tasks. They don't need to be gender-identified.

[Codeine]

65. I don't own an iron either.

I just hurry up and get the warm clothes from the dryer straight on a hangar and that seems to do the trick.

[Davis_X_Machina]

73. Irons..

...are those flat things that get hot that you use with the wax on your cross-country skis.

Fancy using them on shirts. Isn't the wax uncomfortable when you put the shirt back on?

[WillyT]

89. Irons...

:hide::evilgrin::hide:

:yoiks:

[LWolf]

218. Does it well enough for me, anyway.

[sufrommich]

225. That's the trick. nt

[sufrommich]

224. My Mom tried to teach me to iron,she was a pro at it. I never got

as good as her because I never had to (most clothes don't need ironing anymore). I'm a decent cook, my son is a much better cook than me. I'm 53, to this day I regret that I didn't learn to sew, I may have to take classes one of these days.

[bobbolink]

67. More importantly, young women are losing "female" empathy and nurturing.

This does not bode well for peace.

[newspeak]

144. not all women are nurturers or have empathy

it is culture and media that attempt to put men and women in certain categories-who they SHOULD be. I have a book about war and women. And some of the fiercest, cold blooded fighters have been women. In one African nation, a king had only female guards who were described by the French as ruthless and coldblooded. The Catholic church had to do an edict three times to keep women, especially in Ireland, from fighting along side their family. In Celtic culture, women fought beside their family before roman times. And one group from eastern europe (it's believed that the myth of the Amazons might have been from these people), they fought along side the greeks (they were mercenaries), those women with children stayed home and protected the home front.

In my anthropology class, we learned of a tribe in Africa where the man lays beside his wife during labor and goes through the process, then it is the man who stays with the young while the wife works in the fields. So the father is the nurturer (except for feeding).

[bobbolink]

146. true and not true. Women *shouldn't* have a lock on them, but of course that is how it has been.

That loss, as I said, doesn't bode well for *this* society. I am well aware of differences in societies, but I was referring to this one.

And in our society, it is the mother, by and large, who is most bonded to the infant. That gives rise to empathy and nurturance. By losing that, we are in deep sununu.

[seabeyond]

148. both my borthers had women that were not nurturers.

really, i did not get it. i had never experienced this. but seeing both women have kids and results of their unwillingness or inability was a lesson for me. an insight. yet both my brothers ARE nurturers. so it made me look at the whole thing differently.

[newspeak]

152. actually, just looking at the boob tube

with all of that FEAR--fear your neighbor, fear the different--and all of these bogus reality shows-I see less empathy. Again, the perception of the nurturer, when even some women a hundred years ago were abusers, and probably had more issues being "pidgeoned holed" into something they did not want, but what was expected would not seem to create empathy in their offspring. Having one or both parents that show signs of altruism to others and caring are good examples for children, even if one or both of those parents work. It matters what type of quality time and what values the parents relay to their young, seeing the selfish ideology of some on the right may do more harm in creating empathy in one's young than whether or not mommy is home 24/7.

[bobbolink]

158. I really don't think we disagree... I think we are just looking at different aspects.

In short, we ALL need to find more ways to unleash mmore empathy and more nurturing in this hurting society.

[WinkyDink]

232. Especially when men wage wars.

[Kalyke]

71. Hmmm... this morning, I made homemade blueberry pancakes,

scrambled eggs and turkey bacon.

That was just before I started sealing the tub with enamel paint (old porcelain was wearing away and I couldn't get it to look clean). Hubby washed dishes and started the laundry.

I'll be changing out a small cracked PVC pipe behind said tub, as well. After I put on the second coat of enamel paint, I'll be prepping spinach and zucchini to make a lasagna for dinner.

In three days, when the tub dries, hubby and I will be re-caulking, as well.

Who are these people who don't know how to do anything?

[Codeine]

77. I know it's totally weird, but I love caulking tubs.

There is just something tremendously satisfying about laying a clean, neat bead of caulk.

[DoBotherMe]

134. Tub interior, right?

My old cast iron tub is worn and dulled. Does the enameling kit work? Are there any tips to getting it right? Any insight is appreciated as I would like to repair the enamel. Thanks! Dana ; )

[GoCubsGo]

162. One of the biggest mistakes in my life...

I have that tub painting chore hanging over my head. I have a fiberglass garden tub in my master bath. The previous owners must have washed their dog in it, because it was all scratched up. I found a tub refinishing kit on clearance, and decided to refinish to cover up the scratches. So, I prep the tub, only to find out that the "almond" paint is really dark. I paint it anyway, thinking it might lighten up with drying. Nope. So I go out and buy some white to cover it up. The white orange peels. So, I sand it down and try again. Orange peels. It is sanded down for one last time before I call in a professional, which I definitely CANNOT afford. Been putting it off for far too long. It's supposed to be really nice and warm on Wednesday, so I will be able to open the windows for ventilation. I really, really don't want to do the job, but it needs to be done. There are enough layers of enamel on from previous attempts on that I'm hoping one coat will be sufficient. It was just the shiny top coat that got sanded down.

[CountAllVotes]

75. we had cooking and sewing classes when in school

And you had to take these classes (called Home Economics) in order to move on to the next grade level. I took these classes in the 7th and 8th grades. :dunce:

As for ironing, my mother was really into ironing and I ended up doing a lot of it for the family. I have a nice huge scar on my left wrist to prove it that I've had since I was 7 years old. I still iron today as many of my 100% cotton clothes need ironing.

I was buying some canned salmon at the store the other day and this young woman came up to me and asked me what I was going to do with it. I told her I was going to make salmon cakes with it. She was baffled, absolutely baffled. I gave her the recipe and she didn't know how to get crushed crackers and wanted to know if you could buy them. I advised her to take a bunch of salt crackers, but them in a bag and bang them on the counter or better yet, use your hands to crumble them up. She couldn't get this idea and wanted to know if bread crumbs would work and I told her they would work but you wouldn't get near the same result that you'd get with crumbled up salt crackers. She also couldn't understand why you'd put a beaten egg into this mixture. Oh well ... sort of gave up after that. :D

[Liberal_in_LA]

154. mandatory sewing and cooking classes for girls in California in the 1970s

I'm one of the few women I knew who can sew. Glad to have the skill.

[CountAllVotes]

161. me too!

I broke down and bought myself my first (and only) Singer sewing machine in the 1970s. Said machine has made a lot of clothes, etc. in its day and still works like a charm! :) I'm glad I learned how to sew too, it is a worthwhile thing to know how to do. :)

[Liberal_in_LA]

163. I just got a new sewing machine! I love making household items like curtains

so simple and you get to choose the material.

[CountAllVotes]

171. They are easy to make

I bought a bunch of huge tapestries from India and made drapes for my living room when I first moved in. There were many people coming in and out the first few weeks after moving in and they all complimented me on the drapes and wanted to know where I got them. When I told them that I made them, they were shocked!

[Liberal_in_LA]

178. nice! HGTV design shows demonstrate how bedsheets and any

square cloth can be quickly turned into window covering with little or no sewing (using those grommots (not sure how to spell it) to put holes on one end for hanging. People are too dependent on Wal Mart.. lot the ability to DIY.

[WinkyDink]

233. See, to me this sounds like the 5th circle of Hell. :-)

Female here.

[Liberal_in_LA]

290. awwwww. Nope, not hell. Great feeling of accomplishment to make something with your hands

[gkhouston]

208. Sewing: the only thing I learned in junior high school. n/t

[Lorien]

280. Home economics-which included cooking and sewing-was required for both genders

in my school district in the 1970s.

[Bettie]

76. My boys are being taught the skills necessary to live

On their own in the world.

This includes cooking, sewing, ironing, as well as basic maintainence tasks.

They aren't very far in as they are only 9, 8, and 2, but they will know all the things they need to to be independent young men.

They have no concept of "women's tasks" and "men's tasks" as all work in our house is shared. Daddy cooks and cleans, Mommy cooks and cleans, we both sew...though auto maintainence is pretty much Dad's job since I don't really care for dealing with it.

OH, and I have no clue what Lamingtons are...

[Codeine]

80. The only gender-specific job in our house seems to be the trash.

My GF refuses to take it out. "Man's job." Very odd for that single task to be relegated to dudes only, but what the hell -- I can live with that.

[Bettie]

292. It is gender specific under the "I don't wanna" clause

Not a real thing, but my DH humors me by doing the I don't wanna jobs!

[glowing]

81. I'm 31 and grow a garden, sew (quilts, pillows, clothes), crochet,

and knit. Socks aren't worth the work to darn them.. They are just way too cheap to pick up a new pair to bother with that pain in the ass situation. I generally enjoy most crafts (except scrap-booking), gardening, cooking, etc... I also work many hours during the week. Its really easy to do these things when you don't worry about tv watching. Its amazing how many people have to watch something during the evening. That's what, 1 to 3hrs of primetime. Thats a lot of time spent vegging when you can create and/ or pass on what you are doing. Both my husband and I can cook. There isn't anyone who leaves our table that doesn't say we should own a restraunt. AND our son has been standing on a chair helping stir in ingredients and watching us cook since he was 2. He also like using the sewing machine (its like pressing on a "gas pedal").

Now, for "men" jobs, I know how to do basics as a woman.. My husband is much much handier under the hood, but I'm more of the "handy-man" when it comes to wood-working. People really shouldn't be changing their own oil. Its an environmental issue. You have to take it to a disposal site and pay environmental fees.. There is no dumping it out and letting it into the environment. That is one job the pro's should just do.. but its not hard, stick a pan under, open the oil spout, let it drain, put it back on, pour in new oil. Its not rocket science.

[Liberal_in_LA]

181. About scrapbooking - the industrial corporation has taken something that

was a CRAFT done with homemade or found objects and turned it into a very commercial interprise. Target and Michaels have aisle of the itty bitty theme items, special paper, and stick ons for scrapbooking. I'm not a scrapbooker but it seems to me that buying plastic doodads made in China would take the joy out of the project.

[Lars39]

235. Photos in that kind of a scrap book just do not have the same impact

as an old fashioned photo album with black pages and those little corners to glue on to hold the photos.

[KittyWampus]

278. I don't "watch" tv, I listen to it at night while knitting or whatever.

[HockeyMom]

85. My Dad, born 1919, did all the cooking

when I was growing up. He LIKED cooking and went through receipe books, etc. The only cooking Mom really did was the traditional Italian meals.

I like cooking too, although I am a "skinny" cook. lol What the hey, look at Bobby Flay!

My son-in-law, aged 29, also does all the cooking, again, because he enjoys it. He, too, watches the Food Network looking for receipes.

I suppose it all comes down to how much you ENJOY cooking, whether you are male or female, young or old.

[Donnachaidh]

115. my grandfather did the GOOD cooking -- holidays, etc

He was also a 30 year Coast Guard cook. So he could handle crowds. Crewmen would steal his apple pies while they cooled! And it's taken me years to figure out how he made such great meals.

[CountAllVotes]

151. my father was the head chef in the Marine Corps during WWII

and wow could he ever cook! :9 I still wish I had his recipe for his molasses cookies! They were so good. He did all of the cooking during the holidays and otherwise too! He used to say that the worst quality a woman could have was an inability to cook (and he married MY MOTHER who was known to leave the spoon in a packaged cake mix on a good day ... :rofl: ). }(

:dem:

[Donnachaidh]

160. I wish I had Pop's apple pie recipe

But he was so old school -- learned to cook in Canada and everything was a dash of this, a pinch of that. I have to say watching him helped me to become a great baker and a good cook. He could knit socks, too -- taught by his shipwright grandfather!

[CountAllVotes]

175. I never saw my Dad with a measuring spoon - never!

and boy was he ever offended when I gave him a copy of the old Joy of Cooking from the 1970s! :rofl:

Btw for learners out there, this is the best cookbook out there (IMO) that teaches one everything needed to know and that includes how to make and bake sourdough bread. :9

[RB TexLa]

86. My wife knows her place in my kitchen: Out of my damn way.

[seabeyond]

90. ha ha ha. hubby would give me a glass of wine and tell me to sit and entertain.

funny

[Cleita]

91. Actually, men should know how to do those

traditional skills like cooking, ironing and sewing. Women should know traditional skills of men like basic car maintenance, carpentry and fix-it-up around the house. I do all those things because there is no butler, maid, handyman, gardener or mechanic in my life these days. I was young in the days when men didn't do so well on their own. They didn't know how to feed themselves or take care of their stuff unless it was a car and women didn't know how to fix a leaky pipe, lube their car or repair equipment that they used around the house. I think if young people were taught those basic skills, when they go out on their own and get married, it would be a much more equitable arrangement with both pitching in to do the household maintenance chores where needed, not according to the roles they are supposed to play.

I personally like to cook, sew, knit and crochet. I hate ironing and make sure everything I buy is permanent press or is dry cleanable. I always sent my husband's dress shirts to the laundry. I refused to iron them.

[lumberjack_jeff]

128. Much of the stuff we talk about is interconnected.

Last week it was all about "critical thinking skills".

I think that for most people, if they're not engaged in a task with their hands, they are not *really* critically thinking.

I think shop and home ec were vitally important parts of a HS education.

I don't iron either, but then again, my uniform is a t-shirt, carhartts, romeos and suspenders. :D

[ellie]

96. I asked my

mom to teach me to sew, knit, and crochet when I was in my 30s. No way was I going to pay someone to hem my pants when I could do it myself. I also cook dinner every day for myself and my husband. It is cheaper than going out and there are leftovers for lunch. But I work from home and have no commute. People are busy and I see how they don't have time to learn and time to practice.

[fishwax]

99. I don't have the life skills my dad does ... but then he doesn't have the life skills I do, either

I'm clueless about cars, compared to him. He always does his own basic mechanic work. I, on the other hand, can diagnose a problem but other than basic stuff I'm not likely to be able to really fix it :). I'm sure I could change my oil if I wanted to, but I never do, because for a variety of reasons it's worth it to me to pay to have it done.

On the other hand, dad is clueless about things like computers compared to me. He can use a computer, but if the computer has a problem and won't respond to either alt-start-delete or profanity-laced threats, then he's at a loss.

So just as he's got life skills that have served him well that I don't have, I've got some essential life skills that he doesn't have that have served me well.

That's only natural, of course, since our lives are somewhat different and all ...

[distantearlywarning]

101. In other words, nobody knows how to do anything anymore.

What the hell do traditional gender roles have to do with it??? :shrug:

[Safetykitten]

102. Australia. Why am I not surprised?

[tularetom]

104. My now 29 yr old granddaughter's first Christmas after marriage

They invited us over for dinner and we were astounded at the quantity and quality of the food. Especially since we had never seen this girl as much as boil water in her entire life. It was the subject of family legend for months. Until her younger sister had a few too many the following Thanksgiving and blabbed that SHE not her older sister, had prepared the whole meal. After she finished cooking her sister made her leave and just sat there basking in the praise for her cooking skills.

She's no longer married but as far as I know she is still unable to cook any food that she can't nuke.

[alphafemale]

209. She made her cook the entire meal...then made her leave?

Been me I'd of dumped the meal on the floor and texted her the number to Denny's.

[tularetom]

219. The younger one loves to cook

And I guess the two of them dreamed up this little scam to fool the dumbass grandparents.

And we knew at the time something wasn't right. That girl would never involve herself in anything wher she could break a fingernail or mess up her hair.

So it really any big surprise later when little sister spilled the beans.

[annabanana]

106. ironing? really?

I haven't ironed in decades...

[seabeyond]

112. my dad owned dry cleaners. i know how to iron. hubby a snob and wants knit shirts ironed.

so iron i do. he tries and i scoot him away. he fails. i am much better. but it sets me up to a lot of ironing. khaki work shorts ironed and starched are so crisp, and knit shirts ironed, prettier.

looks like i am one of the few that insist ironed.

[southernyankeebelle]

107. I have a 5 yr old granddaughter who I am trying to let help me cook so she can learn to cook. I

want her to learn our family receipes. My son is a cook but he doesn't take the time to learn our family receipes. She loves to help me. I don't let her cook on the stove. A couple of days ago she helped me make breaded pork tenders. She dunked them in egg wash and I put them in bread crumbs. This teaches to cook. When I was a kid I use to ask my mom how to make something. Sometimes I wanted to help her but she would say watch me cook. You must learn to steal with your eyes. She was right. I remember some of the very simple receipes I would watch her make.

[GoCubsGo]

111. This does not surprise me at all...

For the past three summers, I worked with recent college grads. Only two of the five could cook actual meals, such as a roast or a nice pasta dish from scratch. The others were limited to frozen dinners, sandwiches and spaghetti with sauce from a jar. One, a female, didn't know that you need to wash your bedding more than once every six months. (She was shocked when I said that laundering your sheets should be done weekly, or at the very least every other week.) One had never mowed a lawn in his life. I noticed the same with the two young men who grew up next door. Mom and Dad did everything for all these kids, instead of making them help around the house. That's how one learns those "skills".

And, it boggles my mind that with the Food Network and a million cookbooks and on the market, along with a zillion recipe sites on the Internet, that so few people can cook a roast or much else. Cooking is not rocket science. (I'll cut some slack with baking, as that IS a science.) How difficult is it to follow a recipe?

[Codeine]

117. Six months for bedding?!

Holy shit. Even as a single guy I never let sheets sit on the bed for more than four days. God, that's just nauseating. Don't they smell it?!

[seabeyond]

120. every four days.... lol

ah, your world is gonna change with two little ones. lol. how fun is this gonna be.

i say this with complete confidence all will be great.

[Codeine]

123. I'm suddenly very nervous.

:scared:

:rofl:

[seabeyond]

126. cause they are little

all the things that "happen" come to mind. i giggle.

hey

food on the face. a wonderful time to always sit napkin next to them and teach them, good heartily. please. lol. we played a game to teach the kids. whoever got napkin on lap got to say first... second... third.... and the last person was the big L. loser. it became so popular, people that would visit got into game and a decade later we have people come over and yell.... first.

[Beacool]

205. I was taught the same way my mother was:

No sitting at the adults' table until I had proper eating etiquette. In my family the adults ate on European time, around 8 PM at the earliest. Too late for small children.

:-)

[Odin2005]

145. YUCK, I change my bedding every other week!

And every week during the hottest part of the summer.

[GoCubsGo]

170. No kidding.

You'd think the sheets would get all crunchy and uncomfortable after a while, not to mention stinky. I admit I don't wash my comforter/blanket often enough, but I do use a top sheet. But, no way would I let my sheets go longer than two weeks.

[Lorien]

283. A 32 year old guy who worked for me said that he didn't think you were supposed

to wash your sheets (!!!) I had to wonder how many years he'd had his sheets on his bed-but it was no longer a wonder that he didn't have a girlfriend! I taught this hapless guy how to grill herbed lemon butter chicken as well (even though I'm a vegetarian). He thought it was the best thing he'd ever eaten. No wonder; his idea of cooking involved sticking frozen chicken in the oven and turning it up to 450 degrees!

[RegieRocker]

114. I can do it all

so I don't need a woman for chores. I am still looking for a woman that can do it all also, so she don't need me for chores.

[madmom]

121. I made sure both my kids ( 1 male 1 female) knew how to

cook, sew, iron, do laundry, clean up after themselves. Hubby made sure they knew how to pump gas, change oil, change tire, mow lawn etc. We told them if they knew how to do these simple things they would not need to depend on anybody but themselves.Seemed to work here. I also told them if you can read, you can cook.
BTW my so is ever son grateful..his wife can't cook for shit.Made something (she called it lasagna) with velveeta and was upset even little kids wouldn't even try it.
Along the same line, I crochet (sweaters slippers etc) I have had several younger girls ask me if I would teach them how, so the "art" isn't lost. So it isn't all of the younger generation by any means.

[Codeine]

124. Velveeta lasagna?

God help us.

[madmom]

184. LOL, that's pretty much our sentiments too!

[Xithras]

166. Yep. Both of my teenagers (son and daughter) are expected to cook dinner once a week.

My daughter also mows the front lawn, and knows how to give the mower a tuneup. Just last week I taught her how to change a tire on the car, and last night my wife taught her to make authentic enchiladas.

Both of my kids also know how to sew, how to do laundry, and how to bake a turkey. My daughter helped me to set fenceposts and hammered together a 40 foot section of cedar fencing by herself a month ago.

The goal of a household that promotes equality among genders should NOT be to eliminate traditional "female" roles from the young women. It should be to ensure that the young MALES are also taught those skills, and that the young women are ALSO taught traditional "male" skills.

Nobody benefits from a society where nobody knows how to cook a dinner, or where the expection of knowledge simply shifts from one gender to the other. In a just and fair society, BOTH genders should be exposed to ALL skills, so that workloads can be balanced fairly.

[ClaireF]

122. I don't think of it

as losing skills. It's a matter of choice. If you really need to know how to cook a roast or bake something just google it.

[The Straight Story]

137. Welcome to DU! And I can see your point of view here - folks don't need to know as much

because they can just look it up from experts who do it for a hobby.

Still, not having experience is a little like trying to learn sex from a book - you get better the more you do something.

[Dorian Gray]

127. Well

I can cook a roast; I just choose not to. I much prefer a stir fry or a pasta dish or sushi, all of which I can also make.

[Fire1]

129. "Browning," as you call it is called, "SEARING." N/T

[Oilwellian]

133. Both of my sons cook dinner every night for their families

Yes, times are definitely improving for women. My daughter-inlaws love me. :D

[blondeatlast]

135. While at the same time, men are discovering the joiys of these endeavours.

I've been dating lately--the guys are better cooks than I ever could hope to be and they love it.

[notadmblnd]

138. And let's not forget cleaning in that list

I currently clean homes for a living and there's a few things I could add to that list.

[Codeine]

140. Young people are fucking dirty.

That's one thing I've learned from my employees -- people under the age of thirty are simply incapable of cleaning anything or any space in a thorough, efficient, or tidy fashion. Drives me up the wall. I'm the only grocery manager around who cleans the restrooms and does all mopping because his employees just make such a cockup of the enterprise.

[GoCubsGo]

153. Not all of them....

I worked with two young men this past summer, both in their early 20s. They were housemates. One of them confided in me that, in spite of some of the other one's quirks, he was a great roommate because he was neat and clean. Unlike my 26-year-old niece, who shares an apartment with her mother. My sister is constantly bitching about what a lazy slob her kid is. I shut my sister up by reminding her that she brought it on herself by doing everything, and not making the kid do chores when she grew up.

[Odin2005]

139. Somebody tell this moron why more of us guys are not learning these skills?

I am shocked by how many people my age know jack shit about cooking.

[Codeine]

141. Especially with all the Food Network/Cooking Channel stuff!

Seriously people, a little Alton Brown will not hurt you! Is fast food that tasty? :shrug:

[Odin2005]

149. And it's not even that hard, either.

I can throw something in a crockpot in the morning and have a delish roast or stew for supper. I cam cook up quick some homemade mac-n-cheese that is a lot better than the boxed shit, too.

[MorningGlow]

143. Pah.

I cook better than my mother. Of course, my niece (Gen Y the Hell Bother) can't even boil water to make pasta with butter. But she's just 21--there's time. And I intend to teach my SON (ahem) how to cook. No need for him to be like his dad (eat out or fetch something from the freezer full of microwave dinners).

[ProgressiveProfessor]

147. Self sufficiency should be the goal for every adult

My wife could sew and mend, a required skills where she was posted as it turns out. Our girls learned a fair amount of that from her (as did I). They also learned basic carpentry, automotive, and electrical skills from me. Mom taught them handguns, I taught them rifles and shotguns. They figured out on their own that a tool bag, jumpers and first aid kit is required in every vehicle.

If I recall correctly, one of better quotes from Lazarus Long was along those lines.

[Caretha]

244. This is from memory

but a couple of things that Lazarus Long said was:

"don't be a insect, only insects specialize"

"learn how to repair a computer and how to birth a baby"....

wish I could remember all of it or find my Lazarus Long book of quotes...too many book cases, too many books at this time of night for me.

[yurbud]

150. Generation Y? Gen X and even a lot of Boomers didn't have it

I'm about 47, and among those of us who grew up as latch key kids with both parents working, guys know how to cook because we EAT. Women don't because they are worried about their weight and don't eat more than salad. There's probably more issues like that too.

If I had a button fall off a pair of pants I like, I'd sew it back on. If they ripped, I'd try to figure out a way to patch it. Women are more likely to be horrified about wearing shabby, repaired clothes.

And so on.

By the same token, I suspect women are now about as likely as guys to know how to do the minor repairs and maintenance on their car since they want to go places.

It's like we were born into a world of things with no people to guide us in using them except in books, on TV, and now on the internet.

[rug]

155. I haven't had a chicken fricassee in 20 years.

[pipi_k]

157. Are they not teaching that stuff in school these days?

I'm over 55, and I remember Home Economics class.

Cooking class. Sewing class.



I thought it was a good idea...still do...only maybe with a minor change...teach it to boys too.

[CountAllVotes]

173. I cannot answer your question

But, yes I do agree. I suspect such classes are no longer being taught (?). Does anyone know? Everyone should be taught these basic SURVIVAL SKILLS (IMO)!

[malletgirl02]

177. I'm 26

I took home economics and shop in 6th grade. I think home Ec was a waste of time, I don't remember learning anything useful. I do remember I had to make a pillow. It suck, and I got a C.

[pipi_k]

241. I gotta laugh...

There were a couple of very memorable things I still remember from cooking class in junior high...


1. How to make bisquits

2. How to make Welsh Rarebit

3. Eggshells are "clean garbage" and can be thrown into the regular trash


:7

[GoCubsGo]

179. I think Home Ec still exists in a few districts.

But, I understand it was one of the first subjects to be phased out with budget cuts, along with wood-working shop. They DID start opening it up to boys in the mid to late 1970s. And, they opened wood shop up to girls then, too--just after I graduated. I would rather have taken wood shop than home ec. I already knew how to cook and sew before I took those classes.

[seabeyond]

191. home ec or shop wasnt offered to my boys in middle school here in texas. our district

anyway.

[pipi_k]

242. Lots of boys didn't get Home Economics in school, yet...

they managed to become pretty good cooks.

I don't know how my son picked it up. He loves to cook.

Maybe because he was single for a long time and had to survive somehow. Fried Spam sandwiches and tomato soup gets real tiresome real fast, I imagine...

;)

[BR_Parkway]

271. Back when I was in 9th grade, they offered a class called Batchelor's Survival

that covered the basics of sewing and cooking (assuming we didn't find a woman to do it for us later I guess). A lot of us signed up for the class cause we were 15yo boys and there was food involved!

[Liberal_in_LA]

164. I think cheap clothing from China and other places killed off sewing

It is sooo much cheaper to buy than to sew. Back in the day, sewing was the economical way for the low income girl to make a prom dress or special occasion dress or to have a nice wardrobe. Now there is no economic reason to sew.

[malletgirl02]

174. I agree

It is also the same for knitting. It costs more to make a scarf than to just buy one. It could just be the yarn I buy. Since I'm not that good at knitting, I buy the thick yarn.

[Liberal_in_LA]

182. throw away society. Socks can be had at the 99cent store now. Scarves too.

[Donnachaidh]

183. not necessarily

DH works for a fabric company on the net, and their business is HUGE - and expanding rapidly. The economic downturn has forced lots of folks to start learning how to sew again. Our local JoAnn's is packed -- crowds of folks crafting, sewing, knitting, etc.

The BestBuy across the street is dead by comparison. :rofl:

[Liberal_in_LA]

185. My local JoAnn closed. A Michaels (craft store chain) has fabric now, but not big

selection like JoAnns. But Los Angeles does have the garment district.

[gkhouston]

227. More crafting than sewing is what I've seen. The women (and it's still mostly

women) buying fabrics that are sewn into garments are still 50+. Lots of ladies buying up stuff to make things for church bazaars and such. They do still carry a lot of "special occasion" fabrics, so people are still making their own fancy dresses for something.

[aikoaiko]

176. As a male "gen Xer", I was lucky to have home ec for a couple of years in jr high

I learned to sew, bake, and cook. My wife is always amazed at what I do today that I learned in that class.

We alternated sessions in wood shop and home ec.

[Beacool]

180. What the hell is a "lamington"?

I can't cook it either, and I do know how to cook.

:shrug:

[rug]

190. They sound delicious.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lamingtons/Detail.aspx

Besides, we're way overdue for a flamewar about Australian cuisine.

[Beacool]

193. Thank you.

If I had bothered to read all the responses, I would have seen some pics of the lamingtons. So it's a cake. OK, I can do that. I just never heard the term before. They actually look pretty tasty. Maybe I'll try baking one.

I enjoy cooking. I have dozens of cook books and went into mourning when Gourmet magazine stopped being published.

Thanks again......

:hi:

[Bill McBlueState]

189. "can cook a roast"

I suppose this is the percentage of women who *say* they can cook a roast -- the pollsters didn't actually test anyone's ability to cook a roast.

The real generational difference could well be in the tendency to *claim* domestic skills, not the tendency to have them.

[gkhouston]

223. Yeah, but who can't cook a roast? That's the dish my Mom always made on ironing day.

No shit, my Dad was always so impressed she made roast on ironing day (Monday). He never figured out she did it because roasts require so little attention. The leftover beef always got used in soups or stews later in the week.

[Capitalocracy]

195. Maybe more people (not just women) would know how to sew

if it was something you could do for a living, instead of something little kids do in third-world countries for pennies a day.

[alphafemale]

196. People still "iron?" Really?

I do know how to cook. Good food makes people you love happy. I know how to sew as well. But that's mostly as a hobby. With the cost of fabric it costs way more to make clothes than buy them.

But I also know how to change the oil or a tire and drive a stick-shift.

Both my son and daughter were taught all these skills as well.

None of these skills should be gender biased anymore.

And if it is really important that a certain shirt be pressed perfectly? There are these places that do it for a price that is well worth the exchange of time it would take to do at home.

[aikoaiko]

206. me too on the ironing -- I use Lamas Dry Cleaning. They pick up/ drop off at my place of work.

And I send in a check once a month.

[Phentex]

198. 2011 tip: the flat iron you use on your hair...

can remove a wrinkle from your collar too. You can do this while you are wearing the shirt if you are careful! :)

I don't iron otherwise.

[grahamhgreen]

199. Cook a roast??? How about something healthy?

[Odin2005]

221. What? Meat is unhealthy?

:eyes:

[Dokkie]

207. weird

I can perform all the tasks mentioned in the op and am a 27 male "paths himself on the back". Ohh the pay off of taking home economics class in high school :)

[tammywammy]

210. I don't know anyone that sews, I'm the only one among my friends that owns a sewing machine

I love to cook and bake, and would say most of my friends know cooking. (We're all around 30). Everyone I know, knows how to iron, but then maybe it's because where I've worked the last couple of places required men in button down shirts, optional ties.

I do cross-stitch and crochet and don't know anyone my age that does that. But in the end my friends always love it when I make them something.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

220. I learned to sew when I was little.

I have three all steel Singers. One Featherweight and two Slant-O-Matics, circa 1956.
Taught my 25 yr old daughter to sew as well.
I learned pattern drafting from a book and made myself a witch's robe for Halloween.

I make bread in a Cuisinart. It's big and holds six cups of flour which is enough for a loaf of bread.

Dad also taught me to jump a battery. I have heard women say "I don't need to know that stuff". I guess their idea of a good time is standing by the side of the road with a dead battery?


If kids can't even fix macaroni and cheese, they got a problem.

I put in extra cheese and a can of tuna.

[tammywammy]

226. I learned when I was little too

I made clothes for my Barbies. I had a machine when I was younger, after my grandmother died I got her Singer. It was only a few years old and she only used it a few times before she got really sick.

[joshcryer]

260. I can sew but I haven't had a reason to, maybe the person upthread talking about cheap clothes...

...is on to something.

I have a sewing kit in my car for "emergencies." It has come in handy. Once split some jeans right at the buttcrack, took a whole lunch break to get them repaired but they held up fine the rest of the day (I work construction, and don't wear underpants, heh, sorry if that's TMI but it was a really bad situation).

But generally what happens is I just toss whatever needs repairing, when a good pair of pants is $10 and has a lot of holes in it, it gets trashed, etc. Why repair?

I'm eyeing a pillow I have had since I was 8 years old, my dog used to sleep on it and she got ran over by a car. It's had so many repairs that I'm afraid it's over for that poor pillow (sleep with it ever night, yes I'm a grown man, 34 years old, etc). Ahh, sad times indeed, time to retire it in a sentiment box...

[Red State Rebel]

285. I'm glad I know how to sew

Took it Home Ec in high school back when they actually did that. It came in handy when I did volunteer work for the high school Color Guard and Winterguard. I sewed almost every flag they used and some the of their uniforms.

It pays to learn these things. I also learned to crochet, knit and embroider. You never know when those things will come in handy!

[Johonny]

310. my mom has a machine, but she has a large empty house

Gen Y in general don't have/can't afford houses. Most of these "skills" are easier to do when not stuck in apartment living mode. If Gen Y/X can ever get into the house living style of their parents and grandparents they will likely learn the skills that are more easy to do if you own your own home. Change my oil, lol my complex won't even let us wash our cars on site.

[gkhouston]

313. I had a nice sewing machine (the one I still have) when I lived in a studio apartment.

I had very little money and made a lot of my clothes, including evening gowns. Now that I live in a house, I use it for a variety of things -- mostly making costumes or repairing/altering clothing for family and friends. It must be very inconvenient to have no sewing skills.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

211. Try to find a woman who can whip up a good haggis!

Aye, a lost art, it is.

More's the pity.

I should be able to sit in the den, with a good cigar and bottle of Scotch. Come get me when the haggis is ready!

:hi:

[Lucian]

212. Gender stereotypes should go the way of Old Yeller.

It's 2011 now. Gender stereotypes are as old as the use of fossil fuels. Both need to go.

[Fearless]

213. How about men? I'd think that's a bigger "crisis"

:eyes:

[Urban Prairie]

214. I can hand sew, and do everything that women have traditionally

done as good or better as most can. I learned how to sew back in the late-60s through early 70s when I wanted to turn some of my straight-legged jeans into bell bottoms, and sew patches on them, the latter as well as for denim shirts and jean jackets back then. I am not a good cook, except preparing food that does not take a lot of ingredients and mixtures, but my wife is adequate at it. Back when I had a job that required wearing dress clothes, I could iron creases in my shirts and pants, (including pleated) that were so sharp that they could cut and draw blood...heh!!!

[Jennicut]

215. I can cook, iron and sew but who cares if a woman can't?

If a man wants something done, they can get off their asses and do it themselves, can't they? I am a Gen Xer, not part of Gen Y but grew up basically with a father that told me that I could be pretty much anything I wanted to. I teach my two daughters the same.
Although I do have to wonder how anyone can't throw a piece of meat in the oven for one hour, it is the easiest thing to cook ever. First thing I ever learned.

[lib2DaBone]

222. 24-year-old mother of two... "what do I do with these beans?"

Last fall.. we had an overflow from our garden. A young mother who lives behind our house was having a hard time with finances.

I gave her a big bag of snap beans... plum tomatoes and new potatos... and her comment?

"What do I do with these...?" (facepalm)

[sufrommich]

228. Yeah, it says more about our ability to take care of ourselves

rather than the status of women.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

229. Back in the 1970s, I knew a graduate student (not from my department) who

was so lacking in cooking skills that he alternated pizza and McDonald's for dinner. (Breakfast was cereal, and lunch was whatever was being served on campus.)

I lived in communal households where we took turns cooking. My mother never taught me how to cook, perhaps because my grandmother was living with us, and the two of them didn't see any need for it. What cooking skills I have (Asian, Mediterranean, Latin, soup, salads) came from cooking with and for housemates. For that reason, I have never roasted a hunk of beef or a turkey. I was too poor when I was a grad student, and afterward, I lived alone.

[WinkyDink]

230. People in advanced nations tend to learn what they want and think they need. if sewing is one, it

will be learned. A person who wants a roast, will learn how to roast.

[MrSlayer]

234. If it didn't take two incomes to live the way older generations lived on one, there'd be no issue.

Stagnant wages and a lack of comparable quality of life is what did in the so-called "nuclear" family. My wife cooks a mean roast in spite of this fact.

[sufrommich]

236. You do know that some women were not completely happy with

their lot in the nuclear family back in the day,right?

[Skittles]

238. I would say the vast majority

[hayu_lol]

247. In most of rural America, the girls have learned these survival skills...

and are using them today. As conditions get worse for most of us, the old ways will make a comeback...think opportunity those of you who can cook, sew, and so on...write your own book.

Ironing circa 1950: One day, as a brash(stupid)teen male, I was unhappy with one of the shirts my mom had just ironed(15 at the time). Her answer: handed me the iron and she never ironed anything of mine again. Good skill.

Roasts: I used those bake in bag things for roasts. Makes really good meals and keeps the oven clean.

Used to be the family baker: breads, rolls including Parker House Rolls, cakes, and the rest. Almost never do any baking today. Stuck with an electric stove and hate it.

Helps both genders to know basic skills and to teach them to their kids.

[Skittles]

252. your mom is my kind of gal

yes INDEED

[Kaleva]

256. Older generations had it pretty rough.

They didn't learn to plant and care for gardens and can food because it was healthier. It was so they wouldn't go hungry. My mother mended most of our clothes as my parents couldn't afford to buy new clothing very often. My father hunted deer and often violated like many others to put meat on the table. I learned early how to quickly dress a deer.

[raccoon]

274. Older generations lived a more modest lifestyle as well.

Yes, education/housing/medical costs have increased exponentially over the years.

But houses were smaller and most people didn't have nearly as much STUFF.

School kids didn't get brand-name clothes; they got whatever was cheap, wore hand-me-downs from their older sibs or cousins, or clothes their mothers sewed.

IME (later 1960's) very few school kids had cars. A few boys did, and they were certainly not new cars.

[burrowowl]

249. Everyone should learn how to cook

Both men and women. And at this point grow food!
It is cheaper to cook at home and press grocery stores to stock things you can cook with scratch with. Some things are disappearing from the shelves, with more processed shit appearing.

[Matariki]

255. +1

Absolutely. Men of my parent's generation are helpless without a woman to feed them. It's sad.

[AmandaMae]

253. So? Those aren't essential skills anymore.

I can cook (not roasts, I'm vegetarian), and sew, iron, etc, when I need to, which I usually don't. Most people don't. Clothes now don't need to be ironed for the most part, etc.

I think the only thing that's worrying is that I've seen some people my age who literally don't know how to do *anything* for themselves, whether it's dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. But women of today not being able to do these specific, gender-stereotyped tasks, doesn't really say anything one way or another about the overall self-sufficiency of Gen Y.

[Matariki]

254. This female has been in her studio all day sawing, sanding and hammering.

Building furniture. Neither of my parents had those skills.

Oh yeah, I just took a break from all the woodworking to eat the delicious baked salmon and roasted asparagus I cooked. Mark McCrindle can kiss my well toned ass.

[darkstar3]

264. Well, it seems McCrindle is a moron who asks the wrong questions and doesn't get

the generational gap. I haven't eaten a roast since I left my parents' house, and I really couldn't care less whether I have the skill to cook something I've never heard of and may not have any interest in.

Maybe if McCrindle asked questions such as "how many different dishes do you cook with any frequency," or "How many times a week to cook for yourself or your family," he'd realize that the internet is a wonderful thing. Much like other posters on this thread have stated, I am another young person who finds recipes on the internet and tries them out. I even tweak them from time to time to add that certain something that is missing for my palate.

Oh, and BTW, I'm male, and a damn sight better cook than my mother. I have more than 5 items in my spice rack, and I know the value of cooking with spirits (and don't have the "temperance movement" hangups of most of my family). I also know how to keep my home and cars in working order, build cabinets worth 6 times the materials put into them, and run various types of dangerous machinery. And except for the cabinetry, darkspouse can say all of the same and more.

Nobody worth talking to IMHO gives a flying shit about conforming to gender roles. Generation Y is in no danger of losing skills like cooking, ironing, sewing, or others...we've simply stopped caring which member of the household does them.

[blueamy66]

267. Why would anyone bother to darn a sock

when you can buy a new pair at the 99 cent store?

I can cook and iron. I don't like to iron, but sometimes ya gotta do it.

I still remember my Mom ironing my Dad's American Airlines shirts.....she'd always spray me with starch...wonderful memory...

Anyway, I got all the female skills. :-) I just pick and chose which ones my fiance deserves.

[travelingtypist]

268. 'Female' tasks were never valued anyway.

Like everything women did, the work was invisible, not counted, not considered "equal" to what men did. Every time my mother tried to teach me that stuff I pretended I had a cold or something. I couldn't stand any of it.

[WinkyDink]

270. This article is about and from Australia ("baking lamingtons"), so maybe it doesn't travel well.

[raccoon]

275. How 'bout this: "Generation Y men losing 'male' skills such as cutting the grass, fixing things

around the house, repairing the car. :rofl:

(Yes, I know cars are much more complicated these days.)

I think it's great that people of both sexes are learning to do tasks that were traditionally those of the opposite sex. The more an individual can do, male or female, the better off he/she is.

[lumberjack_jeff]

284. That's true and well covered.

http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/shop-class-as-soulcraft

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html

[Lorien]

279. I'm quite good at all of the traditional "female" drudgery and many "male" skills

as well. As the eldest child growing up without any male family members around-and without a mom around most of the time-meant that I cooked, cleaned, did laundry, yard work, repaired electronics, did "handyman" tasks etc from about age eight or nine on. I hated car repair (got claustrophobic under the car) but other than that my mom taught be how to be completely self sufficient and independent. Screw the "gender jobs"; everyone should know how to take care of themselves, period.

[JustAnotherGen]

286. no subject

My twenty something workers (I’ll be 38 in two weeks) are all learning to cook – because they saw me bringing in left overs. :rofl: But that said – I look at my niece (turning 18 in May) – raised by my brother post his divorce from her mom . . . and she knows how to cook. She learned the way I did – in the kitchen with family.

But eh? In my family/culturally cooking is ‘love’ and ‘nurturing as Bobbolink suggested up thread. Doesn’t matter if it’s mom’s ratatouille or dad’s fried green tomatoes – it was love so we learned.

[krabigirl]

287. Men and women are losing basic skills, period. I am gen x, have no idea how to sew. Love to cook.

Hate ironing though..but i do it.

[jtown1123]

288. Disgusting sexist article. Yes, let's assign a sex to cooking skills.

Just vomited a bit in my mouth.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

291. Everyone eats and wears clothes.

So everyone should know how to cook and sew, or at least mend things.
And do dishes and laundry.

I learned to knit and crochet from a lady who was born in 1901 in Indian Territory. Before it was the state of Oklahoma.

I spent some time with her one summer when I was ten. She was also an excellent seamstress. She made my prom dress from a Vogue Bridal pattern. She also could tat lace.

I have a lavender scarf she made me that I treasure. It's something called "broom knitting". :D

Good memories of a lady with great needlework skills.

[Odin2005]

309. Yep, and remember, us guys are "chefs" while the ladies are "cooks".

Something I have noticed! :puke:

[csziggy]

289. The first of the Baby Boomers lost a lot of life skills

Many, including my older sisters, did little or no cooking from scratch, almost no sewing, and bought mostly permapress or no iron clothes for themselves and their spouses. The men of the families worked too many hours to do the household repairs and chores themselves so they hired them out to specialists. My older brothers-in-law know little plumbing or carpentry and never had any interest in doing those things, even for the one who worked for a time as a plumber's assistant (he ended up being a tool holder since he never really wanted to work with plumbing to start with).

Later Baby Boomers were part of the "back to the earth" movement that came out of the 1960s. A lot of us returned to doing hands on work, the women not just working with traditional female chores, but learning to do our own carpentry and plumbing, farming and animal husbandry. Some even took the movement farther by re-learning older skills such as dyeing, spinning and weaving their own cloth from wool or other fibers they raised themselves on their farms (as sheep or cotton or other types).

This whole thing is cyclical - many basic skills had been lost at the end of the 1800s, then the Arts & Crafts movement was part of a revival of handicrafts that spread across our culture. During the Depression and World War II, many that had land had gardens to supplement the food available at markets - the needed skills were relearned or revived though economic or wartime necessity. It is part of the way our history flows.

For instance, my mother was brought up on a farm in a house with no electricity or indoor plumbing. She learned from her mother all those basic skills needed to grow, harvest, preserve, and prepare food from real scratch, not just from "fresh" materials bought from a store. Once she left the farm and married, she was introduced to a middle class style of life. To her, luxury was being able to open a can of green beans rather than having to pick, clean, and cook them or to be able to go to the store and buy bread rather than having to make it herself.

Mom never understood why I would want to live on a farm, bake my own bread, or even have a vegetable garden. She thought she had raised us to be "beyond" those onerous chores. I do think she understands that being able to do those things by choice rather than necessity makes a tremendous difference.

[musette_sf]

293. I'd call that cause for celebration.

In my public grammar school in NYC, in the early 60s, *boys* had team sports period, and during that same time, *girls* had SEWING. Needlepoint and aprons, a half-apron in 5th grade and a full apron with bib in 6th grade. I HATED IT, and thought it was tremendously unfair to the girls.

I went to 6 years of a progressive high school - my 7th grade class was the LAST to "study" Home Ec. I HATED THAT TOO. Because by then I was already reading cookbooks and cooking what I wanted to cook. Which did NOT include Harvard Beets and Popovers. This was a total and complete waste of time, and all of us were glad to see the Home Ec lab dark and abandoned.

As far as cooking a roast goes, the keys are a good meat thermometer and a good meat source.

As for ironing, either you like it or you don't. I like ironing, on the occasions it needs to be done. I know men who like it and are good at it - my husband prefers to iron his own shirts, and that's just fine with me, I iron my own stuff.

[pokerfan]

296. The current xkcd is apropos

[Silent3]

318. +1 n/t

[mainer]

298. Men who can't cook are sad creatures indeed.

I'm seeing that now, as my mum-in-law's ill and dad-in-law is utterly helpless and they'd starve if it were up to him. Truly. You'd think that cooking is one of those must-learn life skills for all, since if you can't eat, you're dead.

[eilen]

301. Not in this house

I've started making my own pizza (Mark Bittman is da bomb) and it is the easiest thing. If I have to work, I just make up the dough in the food processor and stick my rising bowl in the frige, it's ready by the time I get home. I save some major $$. It costs little to make, most expensive is the cheese. And it tastes better.

Started making our own giant muffins too as the grocery bakery sells them for $1 each. I can make a roast if needed, they are pretty easy. I can make delicious coffee with the percolator (most everyone I know can only use a drip coffeemaker).

I sew clothes, do my own mending, hems, I know how to darn. I press my uniforms and my husband's shirts (I know how to starch a collar). I can knit-- just haven't had the bug to do it--but I can. I taught myself to crochet but need to practice more, learn new stitches. I can also do other needlework.

I garden and can the produce.

I know how to change a tire but call AAA anyway.

This past weekend I fixed my leaky faucet in the tub.

I don't work full time, only part time. I would be dead meat if I did and not do any of these things.

[Dappleganger]

302. Each of our four children are GREAT cooks, and also can iron and sew.

Two girls, ages 19 and 14 plus two boys, ages 17 and 13. Although I am not all that crazy about the boys' sewing skills, they know how to hem their own pants, fix a ripped crotch seam and the oldest knows how to replace a zipper (and that's not easy!). I taught them sewing by doing quilts with them as a project, just as my own mother taught me on our Singer featherweight (just for the quilting).

They are all actually pretty damn good cooks and often have to pitch in and either help, create a menu or the older ones both can go shopping for the week either with or without a list. Our oldest son works at Publix so he knows groceries and deals inside and out.

They also know how to till, plant and tend a garden.

[pokerfan]

307. Specialization is for insects, not human beings

I took both Home Ec and Metal Shop in high school. I also took typing even though back then it was considered a "girls" subject. I had the last laugh when the computer age began. My mother taught me how to knit, crochet and operate a sewing machine; my father taught me how to tend livestock and fields.

I still have my Field Sewing Kit from my climbing days and I've used it heavily over the years, to repair tents, packs, etc.

[Dappleganger]

315. That is sweet!

Haha, my husband took home ec in order to meet girls--turns out it was the best thing he ever did. I already did that all but it was nice to have someone who appreciated it (especially the need to have good sewing tools/machines).

I don't know livestock (didn't grow up on a farm) but learned a lot from our friends back in VA with farms where we vacation once a year on their property. We have milked and chased wayward cows, shorn sheep, shorn llamas and given them meds (these critters can be a bitch!), cared for hens as well as horses. What it taught me is that it is WORK for good bodies, and hell on bad backs, lol!

Wish I knew how to knit but there's not much need for it here in FL. I don't crochet that well but my mother-in-law is talented and does it to order (plus, she teaches all the grands).

[JuniperLea]

305. I guess some dudes need to step up and learn then...

Spread the wealth of knowledge.

[alp227]

306. a lot of angry comments at young turks commentary about this story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9bVM_nB-O4

[Johonny]

311. Gen Y in general can't afford suburban life style of past

Living in a house with a yard, a large kitchen etc... simply produces a different set of skills. Most of the younger generation lives in smaller houses if they can afford one. Most can't. Apartment living really doesn't lend itself to extravagant cooking, growing gardens, changing oil... I think Gen Y is more than able to do these skill if ever the US economy allows them to start to develop them. Who is surprised the lifestyles of suburbia are being lost but the generation that can't afford to live in suburbia?

[Dulcinea]

312. Let's see:

I'm not Gen Y, I'm 45, but the only thing I use an iron for is getting badges on Girl Scout sashes. Downy Wrinkle Releaser is the way to go.

I tolerate cooking. I don't enjoy it. My favorite meals are the ones someone else makes & cleans up. I can't frost a cake to save my life. Publix does a much better job, and their cakes are excellent. Baking cookies for Christmas is as involved as I care to get.

But I do like to sew. My next big purchase will be a sewing machine. I do my own mending, & would like to learn to do my own alterations.

[TNLib]

314. Modern materials usually don't need ironing

Sewing is a hobby skill now and cooking is quickly becoming one as well. Modern technology has made and is making these skills obsolete.

Women are generally still the primary care givers when it comes to taking care of the elderly and children and many are now the primary bread winners in their home.

So who the has time to make a roast when you can pick up a premade roasted chicken at the grocery store?

[underpants]

319. How cheap is dry cleaning? How often does anyone sew?

My wife and I do both - I iron in fact I went all of 2010 without dry cleaning- my wife cooks because she loves it and because we have a 5 1/2 year old who has eaten food better than 99% of the world since she was born.