Gender imbalance in cooking ability

Winning_Stroke · 27-01-2020 02:04PM #1

Right, so I'm a man in the 30-35 age bracket and I've noticed something, and want boards opinions on the matter.

Is it just me, or (in general) are women my age really lacking in cooking abilities?

My wife cannot cook at all (I do it every day and she handles the cleaning), my younger sisters are incapable of doing anything bar a Goodfellas and even then that's a dicey operation, the vast majority of women acquaintances can't cook. Came up at the weekend with the lads and the overwhelming majority of them are the cooks of their house.

Is this in line with your experience? What happened?

As it turns out, I don't mind much as I really enjoy it. But I do worry at times.

lozenges · 27-01-2020 02:06PM

I (29, female) can cook straightforward recipes no problem, just don't really have the inclination or enjoy cooking. My partner (31, male) on the other hand loves cooking, is really good at it and will happily spend hours cooking dinner.

Each to their own!

Winning_Stroke · 27-01-2020 02:09PM

lozenges wrote: »

Each to their own!

Well... yes, but it does seem utterly disproportionate.

I don't think it was healthy for the imbalance in my Dad's generation (he can manage a crap fry) and I don't think it's healthy now.

begbysback · 27-01-2020 02:14PM

Winning_Stroke wrote: »

Well... yes, but it does seem utterly disproportionate.

I don't think it was healthy for the imbalance in my Dad's generation (he can manage a crap fry) and I don't think it's healthy now.

Are studies even possible in such, I’d imagine it would be difficult to quantify ability to cook. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some truth to it given that women of the 60s, 70s and 80s where expected to fulfill the role of stay at home guardian, and this has greatly changed in recent decades.

Leg End Reject · 27-01-2020 02:16PM

Winning_Stroke wrote: »

Well... yes, but it does seem utterly disproportionate.

I don't think it was healthy for the imbalance in my Dad's generation (he can manage a crap fry) and I don't think it's healthy now.

We should never have been allowed out of the kitchen, look where our notions of equality got us.

A lot of people don't have an interest in cooking, women are no longer expected to be just homemakers, so it stands to reason many won't bother if it doesn't interest them.

Interestingly, some men can be better in a lot of roles that were perceived to be "women's jobs - chef, hairdresser, makeup artist etc.

Winning_Stroke · 27-01-2020 02:19PM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

We should never have been allowed out of the kitchen, look where our notions of equality got us.

Yeah, definitely what I'm saying :rolleyes:

A lot of people don't have an interest in cooking, women are no longer expected to be just homemakers, so it stands to reason many won't bother if it doesn't interest them.

I don't particularly have an interest in driving, ironing or cleaning bathrooms, but these are tasks that most adults cannot get by in life without. You don't have to have a passion for something to be able to do it. Do you think all motorists dream of F1 glory?

FTA69 · 27-01-2020 02:19PM

I've gone out with three women in my life and they've all been crap to diabolical at cooking. I think it's not related to gender so much though, rather the changing nature of work. Women used to do the vast majority of domestic tasks and as such skills such as cooking and cleaning used to be passed down and taught in the home. Nowadays everyone is working and doing long hours with changing shifts and there's far less time available for food shopping, preparation and cooking - people are increasingly knackered and stressed as well hence the explosion in ready meals and takeaways and Deliveroo etc.

I'm lucky I took an interest in cooking in my mid-teens and my mam set me on the road to it but it's definitely an issue. I live with people who are 29 years old and can't do the washing up properly.

Keyzer · 27-01-2020 02:20PM

I do all of the cooking in my house... and by cooking I mean not taking stuff out of the freezer and putting it into the oven.

I see this trend a lot with friends and family.

tdf7187 · 27-01-2020 02:21PM

Most of the best chefs are male.

Leg End Reject · 27-01-2020 02:23PM

Winning_Stroke wrote: »

Yeah, definitely what I'm saying :rolleyes:

I don't particularly have an interest in driving, ironing or cleaning bathrooms, but these are tasks that most adults cannot get by in life without. You don't have to have a passion for something to be able to do it. Do you think all motorists dream of F1 glory?

I didn't suggest you were implying that, it was an attempt at humour.

We all do things we don't enjoy, some people won't do everything they don't enjoy.

Look at the contents of other people's trolleys when you're shopping, some children grow up with convenience food and don't learn at home, others will just refuse to learn.

lozenges · 27-01-2020 02:24PM

Winning_Stroke wrote: »

Yeah, definitely what I'm saying :rolleyes:

I don't particularly have an interest in driving, ironing or cleaning bathrooms, but these are tasks that most adults cannot get by in life without. You don't have to have a passion for something to be able to do it. Do you think all motorists dream of F1 glory?

Just to be clear, I said I can cook. I just don't particularly enjoy it. My partner does so it makes sense for him to do it. He hates cleaning so I do that.

Don't really understand what the issue with that is? If I was single tomorrow I wouldn't starve...

Feisar · 27-01-2020 02:24PM

Cooking is generally easy however one gripe I have with cookbooks is that while they give a recipe there is a lack of any attempt to teach skills. Example, if making a chicken fillet burgers, throw four chicken fillets onto a pan and you get a steamed mess.

When did you ever read a recipe that said:

Remove from the fridge for 20 mins
Beat/knead fillet so it's the same thickness throughout
Dry with kitchen paper
Season with salt and pepper
Pan smoking hot
Don't over crowd the pan

eviltwin · 27-01-2020 02:25PM

Unless it's your partner OP and they expect you to do all the cooking I don't see the problem. Both me and my other half cook.

27-01-2020 02:27PM

I've just thought of couples I know and I reckon it's a near 50/50 split as to who is the primary/better cook.

If I was to sit down and give it serious thought (which I won't be) I reckon I'd get to about 60-40 split one way or the other. I certainly wouldn't be getting anywhere remotely close to an overwhelming majority.

Winning_Stroke · 27-01-2020 02:28PM

lozenges wrote: »

Don't really understand what the issue with that is? If I was single tomorrow I wouldn't starve...

Just wondering about the imbalance, was it just me etc.

When one of my aunts/old female relatives are going away (say to Loudres or the likes which happens a lot nowadays), it needs to be arranged for people to bring dinners to the left-behind husband

eviltwin wrote:

Unless it's your partner OP and they expect you to do all the cooking I don't see the problem

Look lads I'm just looking for a bit of chat and fun on the topic, I'm not proposing we march on the Dail about it.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 27-01-2020 02:31PM

There was no gender imbalance in our household because we were both terrible at it in equal measure.

But we started to take cooking more seriously and began making actual home-cooked meals from scratch. YouTube is your friend if you want to learn to cook. Find videos that focus on the basics and are not too fussy. Older kids can help in the kitchen by peeling potatoes, chopping, stirring, etc.

It takes more time but turns meal preparation into a nice communal activity that's fun and also gets kids involved so they won't have a phobia about cooking when they grow older.

JohnnyFlash · 27-01-2020 02:31PM

My harridan of an ex-wife was an outrageously bad cook. Which is funny as she was a very talented eater.

I suspect she was trying to poison me with her dreaded cottage pie at one stage.

RobertKK · 27-01-2020 02:35PM

Parents should have taught their children irrespective if they are male or female on how to cook, bake and prepare a meal. It is a basic thing needed in life. I don't think either sex has an excuse if they are unable to do a basic healthy meal. It is one of the basic and most important life skills. It is not rocket science to follow a recipe and it is easily taught.

Feisar · 27-01-2020 02:38PM

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

My harridan of an ex-wife was an outrageously bad cook. Which is funny as she was a very talented eater.

I suspect she was trying to poison me with her dreaded cottage pie at one stage.

:D:D

Also thanks for the new word.

Feisar · 27-01-2020 02:38PM

RobertKK wrote: »

Parents should have taught their children irrespective if they are male or female on how to cook, bake and prepare a meal. It is a basic thing needed in life. I don't think either sex has an excuse if they are unable to do a basic healthy meal. It is one of the basic and most important life skills. It is not rocket science to follow a recipe and it is easily taught.

You should have seen some of the efforts I witnessed while in house shares.

is_that_so · 27-01-2020 02:40PM

A whole lot of adults don't seem to have learnt how to cook. While you could point to the traditional uselessness of the male, I reckon it's spread to a whole generation!

suicide_circus · 27-01-2020 02:44PM

with the internet in your pocket there is no excuse for not being able to cook. it's not like singing where some actual innate talent is required. if you can read and tell the time, you can cook.

27-01-2020 02:46PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

with the internet in your pocket there is no excuse for not being able to cook. it's not like singing where some actual innate talent is required. if you can read and tell the time, you can cook.

Feisar · 27-01-2020 02:48PM

is_that_so wrote: »

A whole lot of adults don't seem to have learnt how to cook. While you could point to the traditional uselessness of the male, I reckon it's spread to a whole generation!

You sound like a Drow!

Deebles McBeebles · 27-01-2020 02:51PM

Myself, well, I'm an impeccable cook. Or "Chef" as I make the ladies call me.

"Hows your steak, dearest?"
"Lovely."
"Excuse me?"
"Lovely, Chef."
"Better".

begbysback · 27-01-2020 02:52PM

is_that_so wrote: »

A whole lot of adults don't seem to have learnt how to cook. While you could point to the traditional uselessness of the male, I reckon it's spread to a whole generation!

Would have to disagree, with microwave ovens, air fryers and programmable multicookers it’s pretty difficult to go wrong.

topper75 · 27-01-2020 02:56PM

Aren't we up there on the international take-away purchase table?
Can't quite recall what position. I wouldn't bother trying to genderise it.

is_that_so · 27-01-2020 02:58PM

Feisar wrote: »

You sound like a Drow!

Not sure that's a good or a bad thing!

lawred2 · 27-01-2020 02:59PM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

We should never have been allowed out of the kitchen, look where our notions of equality got us.

:rolleyes:

chrissb8 · 27-01-2020 03:00PM

"This meal is super easy and will take half an hour to prepare and cook!"

1.5 hours later.......

is_that_so · 27-01-2020 03:00PM

begbysback wrote: »

Would have to disagree, with microwave ovens, air fryers and programmable multicookers it’s pretty difficult to go wrong.

You still need to know what you're doing, especially in flavours!

Gender imbalance in cooking ability

Comments