The attack on Celebrity Chef Nigella Lawson at a posh London restaurant by her millionaire husband has raised many eyebrows. I had observed Nigella's Tv episodes once and loved her big smile as she went around the kitchen, cooking and sharing tips at the same time.
Traditionally, women have been associated with creation. Creation includes food recipes as well. Women were expected to observe and create masterpieces that were pleasing to the eye and appealed to taste. Girls observed their mothers and other female members and helped them in and around the kitchen.
So far, so good. BUT, if your wife's culinary skills were not upto the standard of your mom, or failed to create the magic in certain recipes, the woman in question would be in serious trouble.Women were likely to face physical abuse over a late serving of food from their husbands. Neighbours and Relatives would be ready to speak against a Mrs. Somebody if during a festival she failed to add 'a little bit salt here, a pinch of haldi there' and so on. No matter if the poor soul was sweating profusely, stuck with work inside a hot kitchen, while everyone sat outside in cool settings. Dowry deaths were caused commonly inside the kitchen or nearby.
Today, in spite of serious advancements in food technology,new machines and ready-to-eat idlis,dhoklas,gulab jamuns and other famous food packets marketed by big companies ( Kitchens of India), we still expect women to be experts in kitchens. She must sacrifice her time and energy for her family. If guests arrive unexpectedly, the best food item must be served to them. In some cultures women can dine only when the men have finished their meals and kept 'leftovers' for the women to dine later. Indian women are expected to fast for their husbands, and wait hungry till the husband arrives from work. If the wife has a job, she may be excused perhaps ( in a nuclear family this is easy), but in joint families established in rural surroundings, societal norms are strictly in place. Chaatwalas and Gol-gappa stalls are more frequented by men than women. And normally you do not expect boys to help in kitchens nor men cooking( there are exceptions). Hotels in metros have male chefs with impressive resumes and stellar cuisines to impress diners, but your kitchen has to be supervised by a woman.
The fact is, whether you are a celebrity chef, a director of a firm or an ordinary housewife, kitchen duties are a part of your life, a survival trait handed down from generation to generation. But my request to the men who throw tanturms even after crossing their teens is, please spare a thought for the woman in the house (mom/sister/wife/girlfriend/live-in partner,daughter/ mother-in-law,sister-in-law,daughter-in-law and even those neighbourhood aunties who may be willing to help in the face of an emergency). God has given you two hands for productive work. If something failed to cheer your tastebuds, stop blaming the cook in question. It would be far better to call up for free home deliveries, or do something yourself.
Traditionally, women have been associated with creation. Creation includes food recipes as well. Women were expected to observe and create masterpieces that were pleasing to the eye and appealed to taste. Girls observed their mothers and other female members and helped them in and around the kitchen.
So far, so good. BUT, if your wife's culinary skills were not upto the standard of your mom, or failed to create the magic in certain recipes, the woman in question would be in serious trouble.Women were likely to face physical abuse over a late serving of food from their husbands. Neighbours and Relatives would be ready to speak against a Mrs. Somebody if during a festival she failed to add 'a little bit salt here, a pinch of haldi there' and so on. No matter if the poor soul was sweating profusely, stuck with work inside a hot kitchen, while everyone sat outside in cool settings. Dowry deaths were caused commonly inside the kitchen or nearby.
Today, in spite of serious advancements in food technology,new machines and ready-to-eat idlis,dhoklas,gulab jamuns and other famous food packets marketed by big companies ( Kitchens of India), we still expect women to be experts in kitchens. She must sacrifice her time and energy for her family. If guests arrive unexpectedly, the best food item must be served to them. In some cultures women can dine only when the men have finished their meals and kept 'leftovers' for the women to dine later. Indian women are expected to fast for their husbands, and wait hungry till the husband arrives from work. If the wife has a job, she may be excused perhaps ( in a nuclear family this is easy), but in joint families established in rural surroundings, societal norms are strictly in place. Chaatwalas and Gol-gappa stalls are more frequented by men than women. And normally you do not expect boys to help in kitchens nor men cooking( there are exceptions). Hotels in metros have male chefs with impressive resumes and stellar cuisines to impress diners, but your kitchen has to be supervised by a woman.
The fact is, whether you are a celebrity chef, a director of a firm or an ordinary housewife, kitchen duties are a part of your life, a survival trait handed down from generation to generation. But my request to the men who throw tanturms even after crossing their teens is, please spare a thought for the woman in the house (mom/sister/wife/girlfriend/live-in partner,daughter/ mother-in-law,sister-in-law,daughter-in-law and even those neighbourhood aunties who may be willing to help in the face of an emergency). God has given you two hands for productive work. If something failed to cheer your tastebuds, stop blaming the cook in question. It would be far better to call up for free home deliveries, or do something yourself.
The idea communicated by this article is quite interesting. Well done! :) I would just like to mention that women are not always associated with creation. If it were so, it would be common and widely-acceptable for women to be builders. However, this article talks about many things that are known yet unknown. It does a very good job of connecting the dots, and making us conscious of what we already know. Good work! :)
ReplyDeletethanks for reading my post :)
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