Family Chef

Buddhi and Todd share their perspectives on cooking responsibilities in their families.

Buddhi: Could you describe how household duties are typically divided in America? Is cooking mainly a woman's job, or do men also participate—how does it work?

Todd: I believe it's transformed significantly over the decades. It's comparable to what you mentioned regarding your own country.

America's probably one of the leading nations in striving for equality, so yes, currently men are expected to participate in cooking and household cleaning as well.

What I find remarkable, though, is that despite this shift, people still tend to fall back into their former patterns over time.

It appears that when couples are newlyweds, they plan for the husband to take on cooking and cleaning duties, yet as the years pass, it seems women gradually resume caregiving responsibilities while men tend to become less engaged. You understand.

However, I must acknowledge, my stepfather from childhood was truly wonderful.

He possessed excellent cooking abilities and prepared meals frequently, and remarkably he would arrive home before my mother. She was also employed.

Therefore, he undertook the majority of meal preparation, and he was actually the more skilled cook, though my mother is an accomplished cook herself.

Buddhi: Observing him like that, did you aspire to develop your own cooking abilities, and did you ever consider, "OK, once I'm older I'll definitely pitch in with cooking for whoever I'm living with."

Todd: Not really, actually… I feel quite embarrassed.

I unfortunately didn't pick up cooking skills from either of them, because they never really instructed me, so to this day I remain quite incompetent in the kitchen.

What about yourself? Did your mother teach you how to prepare meals?