How Cooking Became Political
Once upon a time, when humans lived off the land (hunting, fishing and planting), men came back with meat and fish and women cooked it. Women were mainly involved in farming so they planted, harvested and cooked what the land produced.
Industrialization happened, and families moved to cities but women still cooked for love, but it was abused. Wives that cooked every night got divorced for women who don’t lift a finger in the kitchen. Maybe we should say, they don’t lift a nail because they spend a fortune on their nails.
Because of bitter break-ups, some women vowed not to do anything for love again, including cooking. This is a problem when it’s just two people under one roof. Society has ‘evolved’ so much we are made to believe they can depend on each other for everything. It doesn’t seem to work, because they weigh, count, analyze and archive every gesture or word spoken. This led to women realizing that they are the only ones that are on their feet most of the time, stocking the fridge and putting pots on the stove, while the men watch the game and make money online with video games.
And here we are in 2024, fighting about who should cook when the two people have full time jobs. Both are humans so they need food in the belly. There is an alternative though. They have credit cards, so they eat out or order food to be delivered.
“I don’t cook. I provide.”
It was a podcast interview. It was a disappointing answer from a man I respected. I was under the wrong impression that he is most likely to understand that providing money for groceries is not superior to cooking. Because if ‘to provide’ is his criteria for being a man, the same woman will kick him out when his NFL career crumbles and he can no longer, provide.
It all rests with the individual woman. She cooks if she loves it. She doesn’t, if she thinks its slavery.
Nonqaba waka Msimang
Blogger Without Borders
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