The average men are seen to be cooking more often, particularly those with a roommate or spouse. A study by the NPD Group, a market research firm, found “that nearly half of all men between 18 and 25 who are married or living with someone else will prepare at least one of the next 10 dinners.” This study show that the home gender roles are not as well defined as we once thought that predominantly women do all the cooking (Brown, 2007).
Eagleton (2002) states the ‘Cultural truths –whether high art or the traditions of a people – are sometimes sacred ones, to be protected and revered. Culture, then, inherits the imposing mantle of religious authority, but also has uneasy affinities with occupation and invasion; and it between these two poles, positive and negative, that the concept is currently pitched. It is one of those rare ideas which have been as integral to the political left as they are vital to the political right, and its social history is thus exceptionally tangled and ambivalent.” That hospitality is becoming a common occupation for male is now a culture, as the culture before was hospitality was seen as a women job.
It can be seen that hospitality is becoming a rising popular subject with male students due to the focus on industry-standard cooking. Statics show that “between 2002 and 2012, the number of boys studying hospitality for their HSC increased 41 per cent, while the number of girls taking the subject grew 13 per cent.” And it is the 13th most popular subject, in front of music, economic and geography.
Hospitality, a VET course is very different to the home economics classes back years ago, where the home economic classes focus on cooking food that is made at home. While hospitality studies how the meals are produce of industry standard, this shows that students can use this subject and apply it to their career in the food industry. The study of hospitality also ensures students with a certificate in commercial cookery.
Martin Benn was one of the only boys in his food technology class at high school, currently he is an executive chef at three-hat restaurant Sepia. He says “[cooking] wasn’t really the thing to be done back then, and cooking for a living was never as glamorous as what it is made out to be these days.”
However the view that male does not cook is not evident anymore because of the popular cooking shows on televisions such as Master Chef and Kitchen Rules, and also popular male celebrity chefs such as Neil Perry and Curtis Stone and international personalities like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.
I believe that it is a positive thing that there are more male students studying hospitality, and how it focuses on industry-standard cooking rather than cooking food at home. This allows students to relate the skills they have learnt in jobs and also give them qualification. It is a good thing that the media of cooking television shows plays a big influence in many students wanting to study hospitality, as it allows students to be more exposure to more career choices. Also how there is no more apparent stereotype view of women are always the one to cook back in the days, now cooking can be seen as an equal career opportunity for both genders.
References:
- Damon, B. (2007). The Rise of the Male Cook. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002822307004671
- Eagleton, T. (2000). The idea of culture. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
- McNeilage, A. (2013). Top of the boys’ class today: dishes for fine dining. Retrieved October 22, 2013, from http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/top-of-the-boys-class-today-dishes-for-fine-dining-20130920-2u57u.html.
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