Whose Place Is The Kitchen? | Creative Nonfiction #
The job of who should prepare the food we eat at home became a heated argument between my older brother and mother. Mommy was like "Where in the world has it become the responsibility of women to prepare food for the family, it is just a gender stereotype that has held sway for too long". Being the first time I heard that, I became amazed because frankly speaking, it has never dawned on me that men too can take over the kitchen.
"But mom, the responsibility of men is to provide and to ensure the social safety of the entire family". Emma, my older brother reiterated.
"You are my son and I can't teach you what will not benefit you. Get that into your head". Mother said, her anger protruding in her tone with beads of sweat on her nose.
Reluctantly, Emma entered the kitchen and started to slice the tomato fruits. He was going to make breakfast for the family and what we had on the menu was Tea with bread and fried eggs. "You all know I am already good at preparing sumptuous breakfasts, kindly shift attention to Angela, she will be needing it when she eventually gets married". Emma grudgingly complained as he started sliding onions.
From nowhere, Angela, our eldest sister veered into the kitchen, her forehead producing sweat while inside the air-conditioned room. Everyone could read the rage with which she came toward the kitchen.
"Can you possibly say two sentences in this house and not mention my name?", she queried no one in particular. We all knew that she was referring to Emma. They had never been best of friends. They are best described as cats and dogs.
"Why would an old girl like you be shouting like someone who is frustrated"Emma said, in answer to Angela. With the way things are turning out, there may be an exchange of fists. "You should be ashamed of yourself. Why would you be in the house and a guy is preparing breakfast, isn't it a shameful thing?". At that moment, I started to reason like Bro Emma. He may be right. But the reply of sister Angela made me know that Emma was far from being right.
"Oh! I see the problem. Do you think I was idle inside? No, dude. I was cleaning up your dirty bathroom". Emma was shocked to the bones and silence overtook the once rowdy atmosphere. Patiently, Emma prepared breakfast and we all ate and went about our different businesses.
In the evening of the same day, we had a loud bang on our gate, then the banging continued rapidly. When we checked, it was our neighbor's daughter. She ran out of their house for fear of being punished. As Angela and I approached the gate to open it, Tola, our neighbor's daughter, banged on it again, this time repeatedly. Then, just behind her was her older brother with a cane, coming to beat her.
"What's the problem, Bayo?", Angela asked Tola's older brother. "Angie, don't mind this naughty girl" (She calls my sister Angie, only God knows what that means). Bayo said. "She has been complaining too much of being tired of doing the home chores alone". With her mouth and eyes wide open at the same time, Angela faced Bayo and said to him, "In this age and time! You still belong to that school of thought that only girls should take responsibility for home chores, Oh! Come off it, Bayo".
I read the audacity with which Angela spoke to Bayo while Tayo was hiding behind her, warding off the cane that was with Bayo. I guess he was dazed at Angela's point of view. Trust me, I know my sister, whenever she gets an opportunity to express herself, she does it very well.
"See man! Let me tell you something. Emma has been the one preparing breakfast for us?". This was how Bayo fell his hand with which he was eager to beat Tayo on hearing that. "Please, come again. You mean Emma has been preparing breakfast?". Bayo asked. He never expected that a guy could prepare food for the whole house. He never envisaged it. Then Angela turned toward Tayo, "You have a point my dear, but next time, prove it with an iota of respect, with that, you can drive your point to a logical conclusion".
Sooner than later, the news spread across our neighborhood that boys can do what society has imagined to be the responsibility of the girl child. What a world we live in.
It's an age long belief in some places, including mine, that cooking is the exclusive duty of women. I am glad that such beliefs are changing now.
They are gradually going away and we are happy about it. That thing has made so many male children grow horns at home🤣🤣
You really taught me much through this post. I know that both a boy and girl child are supposed to share equal responsibilities at home but I don't know why often I feel certain duties especially cooking is reserved for girls. Maybe it's because of the way some of us were groomed from the beginning.That thing affected me so badly that I am still learning how to cook now.
Cooking is for both men and women the earlier we accept that fact the better for us.
You have produced a balanced piece with some realistic dialogue. It would, however, improve the delivery of your story if you spellchecked and edited for grammar issues before publication.
Thank you for sharing a story from your life with The Ink Well.
I wouldn't really blame Bayo, it's his parents I will blame because if they had been giving him chores to from when he was a child, he wouldn't have that mentality that only girls are responsible for doing home chores
A very good story. Good thing things are changing and household chores are not just the responsibility of women.
Greetings @
A very good story. Good thing things are changing and household chores are not just the responsibility of women.
Greetings @mrenglish
Times are really changing. There is need to break some of those crude old laws, they are not realistic.