Women's Work

[China Cat Sunflower]

Is there such a thing as "women's work"? How about "men's work"?

Chris

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Is there such a thing as "women's work"?

Breastfeeding. (Yes, it is a heck of a lot of work!)

How about "men's work"?

Chris

Everything else? (OK, I had to try! )

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

Breastfeeding.

We could add pregnancy!

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

We could add pregnancy!

They don't call childbirth 'labor' without reason.

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Is there such a thing as "women's work"? How about "men's work"?

Chris

lol Chris, could be setting yourself up for a scalping here

To stick to tradition, Why do women traditionally get married in white?
Because traditionally most kitchen appliances come in white Now I better run before I get my privates thrown in the blender ......


tao

[greymare]

yes, womens work is just about everything, except...
men are good for.......... opening tight jars

lifting heavy boxes.........
fixing cars............
killing spiders..........
standing up for you..........
collapsing into their arms.........
beating their chests...........
saying kind words........


hahahaha, who am I kidding? (sorry, too many "old movies").

[greymare]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

lol Chris, could be setting yourself up for a scalping here

To stick to tradition, Why do women traditionally get married in white?
Because traditionally most kitchen appliances come in white Now I better run before I get my privates thrown in the blender ......


tao

privates in a blender!!!!!
privates in a blender!!!!
OH my dear friend............ Id do a lorena bobbit on ya, cept I havent got pepper and a pair of tweezers............ OUCH

[greymare]

ummmmmm Id like to apologise for my earlier outburst.(above)
As in other "anger" forums I have divulged my tendency to react a little, shall we say, bluntly. Id further like to add..............
"im sorry, I was drunk....."
"im sorry, she/he meant nothing to me.."
"I wouldnt have done it, if you hadnt pushed me into it........."

sound familiar,??????
god, I hope not..........

[Tao_Equus]

lol

I'm saying no more!!

[wil]

In this day and age, I'm thinking we've pretty much grown beyond that women's/men's work issue.

Yes some still see the divide, but it is dissapearing rapidly.

There are some jobs that women in general do not have the physical characteristics for. Like a fireman, most women and many men couldn't toss a person over their shoulders and climb down a ladder. Some women could pass that test. But things like that I do believe the job requirements should rein supreme and not be bent for 'equal rights'.

[Garnet]

I have held a "traditionally male" blue collar job for 29 years.

I'm a sewage treatment plant operator.

Because the plant I work at has aspects/divisions that don't exist at other plants, there have been a couple of times when I could say I was the first/only woman to hold my job. That isn't so any longer, although there are few women doing my kind of work (at least where I work).

[wil]

Originally Posted by Garnet

I have held a "traditionally male" blue collar job for 29 years.

I'm a sewage treatment plant operator.

Now I would suggest that there are many wives/mothers that if asked would tell anyone who would listen that they are sewage treatment plant operators.

[Alex P]

So you get to see all ths stuff people flush down their loo's? Awesome.

Must see quite a few gold fish though

[Thomas]

Well, if I dare even contemplate asking this question, then the homefire would be burning, and I'd be on top of it.

The whole concept of 'womens' work' is anathama in our house. My daughters grew up playing with cars and trains as well as dolls and tea sets. We are an equal opportunity operation. And if I really want to annoy 'me uver arf' then I need only mutter "yes, dear" in response to any statement, question, comment, whatever, to see the sparks fly ... however ...

... there is something that 'she who must be obeyed' refers to as 'williwork' which seems to include anything to do with electrical wiring, hard manual labour, and/or the risk of serious personal injury ... now where's the justice in that, I ask you? (Quietly tho, she might be listening)

Thomas

[China Cat Sunflower]

I agree that pregnancy and breastfeeding are women's work. Wil says firefighting is men's work. My oldest girl had a male first grade teacher this last year. I thought that was interesting. I work in the trades. There are almost no women in the trades. No carpenters, drywallers, electricians, Hvac people. There are almost no female auto mechanics. I mean, I'm sure there are some, but I never see them. OTOH schools and hospitals are absolutely dominated by females.

There are, of course, dangerous and strenuous jobs in the trades, but most aren't. Same goes with police, fire, and military occupations. Girls want to be cops and fire fighters, but no girls want to change tires or hang drywall for a living. So ingrained is the gender role stereotype in these occupations that young women don't even consider applying. Not because it's a bad job or too hard, but because they've never even thought of it. And, well, not to mention that these jobs are well inside the good ole boy perimeter.

How does the division of chores come down in your family or relationship? Is it like Thomas'? What does that say about how far we've come toward, and how much we actually value sexual equality.

Chris