Knitting as Woman's Work Alone
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 10:41PM 
Since we don't have class on Thursday, I figure I'd post again for the week, and am hoping this will generate lots of responses. I loved our conversation this morning in 3024. I actually love our conversation all the time, but something was very striking about the idea and theory behind Woman's Work that we talked about today. I've always wanted to do this, and this seems like an interesting opportunity to maybe throw the idea out there. How many of you knit, crochet, or engage in some type of craft work? Second, how many ARE interested in learning to knit? Last, and in particular, how many of the men in the classroom would be interested in learning something as basic as learning to knit a scarf? What if it was to knit for the good of humanity? What if it changed the perspective we had on those who are part of what Freire consider the "have nots?" What if we formed our own little/huge group of knitters who helped to change the world, one strand of yarn at a time? Would you feel girly? Feminine? Corny? How could this form of "woman's work" change the world? Even if you are a 3085'er, you are more than welcome to post a response here as well.
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Reader Comments (6)
Knitting or engaging in any other type of craftwork would be great especially for guys. I believe that if more guys would get involved in these kinds of activities they would be more in touch with their gentle side and be less hostile towards women or people in general. This can be a hobby that would definitley be good for humanity. Wouldn't it be nice if the guys from our class got together and had a knitting date? Plus, i've seen lots of girls get attracted to guys who are gentle, who cook, and do other types of domestic chores so this activity would be even better to get the girls attention. I never learned how to knit or crochet, however i would love to learn because when it seems relaxing, peaceful and at the same time you're creating something with your hands which at this point in time is unsual due to all the machinery that do things for us. I think it's a great idea and there's nothing to be ashamed of because at the end we're going to be proud of accomplishing making a difference in the world. So guys....start knitting.
I don't think that there is anything wrong with knitting. I don't actually knit myself but I heard it is actually fun to do. Doing anything that takes creativity is always fun to do. It's something that i always did want to learn but never got around to. I really don't think that it is too feminine for a guy to learn. I don't see how it is different from it being a fashion designer. There are plenty of male fashion designers in the fashion industry who are not gay. I think it would be something good to get into especially if you know that you have a lot time on your hands and you spend it watching t.v. or doing something that is not that productive.
I am interested in the idea of learning how to knit. In elementary school for a school wide play, all the classes had to sow quilts and make clothes out of scraps. I had a lot of fun learning how to do such tasks. The problem occurred as we get older and the gender roles say this is not a "manly" thing to do. Personally, I do not find anything wrong with knitting, crocheting, or sewing. The problem is the stigma that people have with doing what they consider feminine or "girly". If more men just start doing these activities, eventually the stigma will be removed just like the ones placed on gender, race, and sexual orientation. I would rather knit then watch tv due to the fact there is pure garbage on television (minus Family Guy)
Well I am a knitter. Back in the 90s when I used to live in the Dominican republic in the 4th and 5th grade they teach you how to knit. I went to a private school but even in catholic school it was a priority. Men had no option but to knit with the girls as well. I mean it was productive and Fun. I don't think that the men in the class felt any more feminine than girls or took out alot of energy. We all made dolls for mothers day and jewely boxes. In thins life it's always good to learn everything beacuse you never know when u might need thoes skills that you learn. We can all probably create a knitting club and start donating our knotted clothing to others. Lol. We can become the knitters of America :)
Well in middle school we had this 1 hour period every Monday morning where we could all choose what class we wanted to take. One of the classes for us was a knitting and crochet, I was curious so I took the class. I loved the class, after that I chose knitting as my class for the 4 years I was there. Throughout all 4 years I took knitting if I remember correctly no male students took the class, they always ended up going to the gym and played sports. I wanted to knit for a long time but I can’t seem to find a place to get the yarn and the knitting rods. I think guys do think knitting it more a female activity, like one of the students said in class it was more traditionally women’s craft, since he always remembered his grandmother and other female figures knitting while they told him to go play. The fact that knitting is seen as a women’s craft all these years I think it difficult to change that.
I don't actually knit but I think it would be very interesting to learn how to do it. I can see how it would be considered feminine by some men since knitting has been a labor for women since the beginning of time when it was the man's job to go out and hunt and fish while women would gather food and do more domesticated activities. A man who can knit is definitely seen as modern and as open-minded, especially today when so many "traditional" roles are reversed and more people are receptive to these reversals. Further, it would be interesting to have a man knit to see what the artistic creation would be. In the past to knit a scarf was to create something essential, to keep warm. Now the emphasis is to express creativity and be fashionable. It is great to have men designers create pieces for women and men that are beautiful pieces to wear and that also tell the consumer about the designer. More and more men are engaging in activities that were solely women-dominated. For example, my girlfriend is talking a jewelry making class and there is a male in the class. He makes jewelry for women and none of the women find it too bizarre. I think we are slowly all looking in that direction.