Over the years the perception of men and women in the kitchen has gradually changed. Traditionally, cooking has been women’s work. The first cooking classes were utilitarian, a means for women to find employment as domestics.
-Rena Stephanus
A man being in the kitchen used to be a serious offence to masculinity as it went against their expectations. Back then being a man and in the kitchen meant that you were not man enough, more especially in African societies.
Gradually men in the kitchen became accepted in society, not just in the kitchen but domestic work as well. It is no longer a surprise to find a man cooking for the family, it is a broadly accepted phenomenon globally. Today, the mystique of the male chef endures.
During the period when men had to hunt, they handed over cooking to the women, as they had to spend time gathering food outside. When we moved over to a much-developed society, we still continued the same practice. Although men being in the kitchen is not fully accepted as some gender groups still consider it as “not right” or against patriarchy.
To put more focus on African countries, Namibia for example, we get a diversity of cultures and most of these cultures have not accepted men doing domestic work, be it cooking, cleaning or taking care of the kids.
For example in the Caprivian society men still consider it a women’s job to be in the kitchen, proving that some societies prefer patriarchy over being equal in all the household work. They still consider the ways of old and feel like being in the kitchen will never be a man’s place.
It is hard for African societies, especially in Namibia to come to terms with the changing and diversifying 21st century where it is an everyday thing to find a man cooking or doing laundry. To some cooking is a passion especially if one is doing it for a family member or a loved one.
It will take time for the older generation to accept the changing world and come to terms with it but for now it is spreading slowly but surely.
Men in the kitchen is no longer be an abstract to some and a reality to others but it will be reality for all.
