> Colin mentioned that he gets hassled for working in a craft that has long
> been recognised as "women's work", ie. knitting.
Strangely enough the reaction i get from men is usually WOW!, they are
impressed. Some women just sneer. The better a man is at it, the more the snide
remarks!
You know, here in this country there are still schools that refuse to allow
girls to wear trousers!!!!!! There was a recent court case about it. I was so
shcoked. I thought I was hearing a fictionalised news piece from 50 years ago!
I am useless when it comes to 'manly' things, like fixing cars(only know how to
drive one), doing DIY round the house(John does all that). I am good at cooking
and the finances. We have a good system. john earns and I spend it.
I recall as child, I liked stuff to do with my hands. I was taught knitting and
sewing at school. Loved it. But of course, being an army child, this was frowned
upon-actually it meant more beatings(but then any excuse would do for a
beating). I was good at woodwork and metal work and loved it but gave those up
because it was 'boys' stuff and boys generally didn't accept me as one of them
so being in a class full was not my idea of fun. Anyway, I gave up all forms of
creaivity for me. Till 84 when i started knitting again but behind closed doors.
I cam e out about knitting in 85 and started selling loads of sweaters. I now
spend all day every day knitting and sewing and embroidering. I have never felt
so happy and satisfied.
The one thing I am absolutely terrible at is housecleaning. I have a lady who
does come and do. Daphne is here right now getting it all clean tidy. She has
been sick 3 weeks so it looked like a tip when she got here.
My mother, a wannabe SS officer, was obsessive about cleaning. Ashtrays would
get emptied and cleaned before your fag was finished! Washing up was done before
you finished eating. One had to sit straight with feet on the ground when
watching tv because you might mess up the anti-macassers (sp?) and cushions had
to stay put. I have neither cushions or anti whatsits in my home. The hoovering
was done very early in the morning no matter who was asleep and again later in
the day. On visists we were always dressed up and not allowed to play because we
might get dirty. We had to eat everything whether we liked it or not. If
refused, it would be force fed down our throats. One soon learned to eat what
one was given.
Dad insisted shoes were polished till you could see your face. Clothes were
pressed so the folds could cut you! He also insisted you did not cry when his
fists slammed into you. One learnt to feel nothing. Great defence as a child but
not so great as an adult. Adults were to be obeyed and were always right. Hence
I was ripe pickings for peodophiles. I was in my late 30's before I knew I
hadn't misbehaved.
We were told what to think because we were too bad and stupid to have any ideas
of our own. God or people would kill us if we were not polite and obedeient. We
would get sent away if we were naughty.(I was stupidly terrified of being sent
away! Would have been the ebst thing....). i f we dared to have our own
thoughts, we were possesd by demons. Doubts was put there by the devil.
Questioning anything was wrong and evil and likely to be met with a fisyt or
land yoyu in hell when dead. A very reall fear at the time.
Freedom to think what one thinks and live how one lives and be who one is, is
wonderfull!!
