Kitchen Reader Review – Dinner Roles

The good thing about the internet is that the world is a bigger place and if you are so inclined on occasion a greener place. The second contention may be debatable. Since, one might argue that we do waste a lot of energy staring into our computer screens. I have been wanting to do a book club for a while, but have been unable to make time or the availability to do this. I was almost ready to put this down to the list of when the kids grow up, but luckily I found the kitchen reader, an online food book club. This month’s book was Dinner Roles by Sherrie A. Inness, chosen by Liz of Enter With Love into Darkness.

The book is written and reads like an academic paper which I find, interesting aind a little annoying. It tends to offer a lot of data points to support the general viewpoint that cooking is mostly regarded a woman’s job in current day american society. A belief that has emerged through the entire twentieth centure. I do like the culture timeline that the author draws and how she leads us through this path, showing societal and general concerns anytime women threatened to “upset the applecart”.

I do think however, there are exceptions and facts that appear to be ignored. There are men particularly in light of single parenthood, who do fend for themselves so to speak. Also, there are a lot of professional and recreational male chef who do consider cooking their primary responsibility.

What I did find very interesting and true is the societal re-enforcement of “feminine” food. I think while we might have done away with some of the trapping of the tea party, it is not surprising to expect women to eat light, particularly if she wants to make the right impression.