Domestic Bliss?!

As a womens studies student, I have oftentimes found the "domesticity" is tied to the image of the 1950s woman. A woman who seemingly rarely leaves the confines of her home. She cleans. She sews. She bakes. She cooks. She takes care of her husband and her children. However, I am obsessed with domesticity, and in that, a conflict with many of feminist theories and ideals that I have studied.

I love to cook and bake. Much like Julie Powell, the main character in "Julie and Julia" I find comfort in the fact that if I follow the recipe, I will end up with something delicious (generally speaking). I love cooking with my girls. I love cooking with my friends. I love cooking with my husband. I love eating whatever I have made. I love discovering new favorite chefs and new favorite recipes, but still stick with some old favorites too. The Foodnetwork Magazine's recent quiz described me as an everyday entertainer...and I like that description. I don't need to find a special occasion to whip up something special. That fits me to a tee (although I often find myself creating reasons to whip up something special, take this weekend and the coming snow as an example. Tonight I will go home, and find some yummy, goey chocolatey recipes to go buy ingredients for).

I enjoy creating new things and I enjoy home decorating and fashion. Therefore, I love to sew. I love to shop for new patterns and new fabrics. I love to imagine how things will turn out once I have completed them, and I love the relaxing feeling of pinning, sewing, unpinning, ironing, piecing together, etc. that comes with new projects.

Perhaps the 2010 woman is more complex than the 1950s woman (or perhaps that 1950s woman really is just a stereotype...but i'm thinking not). Some 2010 women find pleasure in domestic acts, but also other hobbies as well. Perhaps its that domesticity can now be considered a hobby instead of a "job" or lifestyle. Others pay lots of money to redeem the goods that all women regularly created each and everyday.

Just thinking....