Why doesn't knitting get the respect it deserves?
Firstly, we might consider why it deserves respect? (We know
the answer to that, but others don't, so let's just do a tally here.)
- It clothes us.
- It keeps us calm.
- It lowers blood pressure and stimulates the immune system.
- It slows dementia and prevents depression.
- It encourages math skills, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to focus.
- It is recession-proof in its support of locally-owned businesses.
- Its traditions express and contribute to our culture (especially relevant if culture is given Brian Eno's definition of the making of something we don't have to make).
- It feeds the innate human need to create for those we love: the hand makes what the heart needs to express.
We could go on, and we could elaborate, but let us move on
to the question of why folks who don't knit don't get this? Why
do they ask Why would you make that when you could buy it? Why do they,
therefore, see what we do as a waste of time? What would they prefer us to be
doing?
Despite the fact that we spend a lot of money and derive a
lot of benefit, why are we relegated to the stereotype of a non-active, elderly,
usually female, person-without-anything-better-to-do.
A woman in an interview recently asked me if I thought this
was changing, and I responded "Not quickly enough." She wondered what
would make it change? When will knitting get the respect it deserves?
There are lots of answers to this, but my immediate answer
was The men need to do it.
When an activity is associated with only one sex, and isn't
tagged to a huge amount of money, it doesn't get a lot of respect. And, yes,
this most often happens when the activity is female. Nursing and child-care
readily come to mind. Never mind that they are essential human activities that
add inestimable value to our world! The world respects the jobs that are higher-paying and shared by both men and women.
But it can work
in reverse: I, for example, don't give stock car racing much respect.
We all make judgments about how people spend their time,
don't we? What are yours?
I have a bit of a thing about professional sports myself. I can appreciate a good soccer game or an Olympic win but far too much importance is laid on these athletes when there are so many humble sorts who go about unnoticed, helping others in big and small ways, never expecting to be revered or compensated in a completely overblown way. So that's my judgement!
ReplyDeleteIt is true about the lack of respect for "female" work, unfortunately, and I don't know what will change that. I spent my career as a registered nurse, raised two kids, and feel pretty good about what I have done. Nobody wants to put me on a pedestal or give me millions of dollars though, sadly.
God bless the nurses! Both my mother and sister were nurses: I did not have the courage.
DeleteI kind of enjoy laying low. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting silver lining!
DeleteI know several men that knit. And may I add they are beautiful knitters. Actually I first learned how to knit from my uncle! It was decades ago but my uncle Frank was an avid knitter. But I do agree with you more men should knit.
ReplyDeleteHappy Knitting,
ana
My dad new how to knit (although did not teach me). His mother taught him when he was laid up with the measles.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, there are beautiful men who are knitters AND teachers. We very much celebrate them!