I think we need to change our views on washing-up as I feel it has received a bad reputation.
We seem to run a mile when there is a need to wash the dishes. Our faces take on expressions of abject pain, disgust as if to say, “Why the hell do we have to do them now”, why is this? Has something been instilled in us from a young age? Do we have bad memories of washing up as children? Was it one of those tasks given to you as a punishment? I guess some of had to do the washing up as a punishment so it did leave a sour note. Isn’t it funny how we consider washing up and many other tasks as ‘drudgery’ with little expectation of job satisfaction? Maybe we need to think about it all differently. Honestly, if I think about the task too much before I do it, then it just makes things worse. I have freely admitted in my previous blogs how I do not really enjoy the task but do it out of necessity and my need to catch up with my husband after a day at tech for me and a day grafting over at our other property for him. This is where we chat about our day. We have a need to communicate over this basic of tasks.
I have to admit I would like to wash sometimes instead of dry, and the opportunity arose this morning. Peter was in the shower and of course, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, the dishes were left over from the night before because of rugby. Therefore, I set about doing the washing up my way. I washed orderly, I set my dishes out in little groups, glasses, cups and plates, and the cutlery, ‘a bit of OCD never hurt anybody,’ I said to myself. I had a need to clean up and create order in my house. I had a need to do the things that I do not generally get to do these days (as I am very well looked after) while I am studying. Anyway, I was busted while at the sink. Peter arrived in the kitchen and proceeded to hang over my shoulder as if to say, ’get away from my sink that is my job’. I really mucked up his routine!
We have come a long way from when washing up and other household chores were considered ‘women’s work’, where gardening etc were considered to be a strictly male domain. Now males and females work at all manner of tasks.
Meredith (1935, as cited in Leach, 1997) illustrates this when he wrote to his mother about his household experiences as a bachelor in New Zealand in the 1870’s, he said,
" I have come to the conclusion that there are serious defects in the present system of education; all boys should have to go through a ‘practical course’ instead of being stuffed with a lot of Latin and French" (n.p).
Reference
Meredith, G.L. (1935).Adventuring in Maoriland in the Seventies. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
When i read this i started thinking back to when i was a child. As far as i can remember we always had a dishwasher. Dad always did the wash up (ie wash roasting dishes and really dirty stuff) after dinner as mum always did the cooking. Then i thought about our familly summer hollidays. We would go camping hence no dishwasher. Dad as usual would do the washup however me and my younger brother would tag along and as we got older took over this job. There was something about the communal camp kitchen. The 'cool' older kids used to hang out their and do the dishes. I always wanted to wash but as i got older changed to prefer drying because i didnt want to get dirty. My dad is one person that actually likes doing dishes - he finds it relaxing. Often he is left alone at home because like you said nobody else want to clean up.
ReplyDeleteI think there is something relaxing about this activity, perhaps its being alone or having your hands in water? Perhaps maybe its communicating with others?
Also what does this tell us about some of the 'affordances' technology is taking away from this mundane task?
ReplyDeleteHey, your entire blog is really good, in depth, great use of references, and informative, but there is also a lot of writing, maybe you could consider using some YouTube clips pictures or photos to mix it up a bit.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought
You make some very interesting comments. i was never made to do the dishes as punishment, and as we normally use a dishwasher, i dont mind handwashing the dishes. But your right, things have certainly come a long way, men are almost expected to chip in and help out with the dishes.
ReplyDelete