Which brings me to this morning, having a little Christmas in February.
These stunners are from Cyndi. She played with the pattern a little (some of them have lacy bits!) and added some vintage-y buttons. 
These are from Dianna and my research assistant Ronan (she's the grey one at the top of the photo) was completely fascinated with the brown one. She sniffed it all over and then rubbed her face on it. It didn't smell like cat nip...
These came from Stephanie. The right one is Red Heart and the left is some left over merino blend. I think they make a funny pair. Finally, this last one was the most interesting to open.
Followed by...
for wrapping. Then...
And when I pulled away the layer of tissue...
Sweet cotton flowers from Maria! Thanks so much, ladies! You made my morning.This weeks question might be another rough one. Hang in there! They get more fun next week.
Do you equate knitting with feminism? Femininity? Both? Why/not?I do equate knitting with both feminism and femininity. I equate it with feminism because when I am knitting I feel incredibly capable, talented, intelligent, like a yarn rock star. I love to teach knitting, I love to read about other knitters, spend time with other knitters. In my experience, all of those things have brought me closer to women - really strong, talented, gifted women. That celebration of women's talent and ability is incredibly feminist. I equate knitting with femininity because knitting is a traditional women's craft. Yes, some men knit and we love them for it. But historically knitting, like sewing, like child rearing, has been for the women. I think that is wonderful! Why shouldn't we have a craft / art all our own that makes us feel capable and brings us together? Of course, I am able to say this because my fore mothers fought like hell for my right to vote, buy property, live independently, and knit for fun and pleasure. So every few stitches is a little shout out to them. This is MY opinion and I'll admit, I get a little riled up about it. You may not feel this way at all and I think that is awesome too. How do you feel about knitting, feminism, femininity, and the whole business? Please share. And thanks again for your words and thoughts.
Sweet Zombie Jesus and the Skydaddy! My inner scientist is twitching. No. Emphatically not. I do not equate knitting with either feminism or femininity. To say A=B is to also say that B=A. There's no inherent order to the equals sign. Is feminism the same thing as knitting? What a silly question!
ReplyDeleteIf we draw a Venn diagram, do knitting and feminism have an intersection? (yes) Is it equal to their union? (hell no) Is one wholly within the other? (no, obviously)
Ok, me and my soapbox will go back to the corner again.
Eli,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had an experience at that point of intersection...or at least near it? What was it like? What were you knitting? Who were you with? My inner qualitative researcher is twitching, eager to know.
I have to agree with LE it has been my own personal experience that knitting and designing has definitely boosted my ego, but not done a thing for my stances on femininity or feminism. I think of knitting as a wonderful time fulling creative outlet that allows me to express myself and sometimes make some money doing so.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really see the question as a math problem. When I am knitting something, especially when it is for someone else I feel more "womanly." I am demonstrating my concern, care, love for someone by making something for them. I equate that with womanhood. It's right up there with cooking.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally it also stems from hearing criticism about not being feminine or "soft" enough. Knitting makes me feel like I have something to combat those comments with. This is not my motivation for knitting, but it some sense of accomplishment that I can go out, have my own career, make money (even if it is basically peanuts) and still provide a home-cooked (mostly) meal and knit a hat. It's the closest I get to the best of both worlds.
To tie into the last post, this is also a way for women to demonstrate their concenr over political issues in a way that has historically been "less threatening" to the men. While I am all for busting into congress and kicking ass and taking names for the war, it is also completely valid to do a knitted project of sweaters or socks for soilders. I'll probably get more visibility doing the latter. I consider women taking action to have some foundation in feminism, regardless of the action.
I think the bulk of this question changes depending on how you take it and what your definitions are. For instance, Grace said: "it has definitely boosted my ego" but doesn't connect that to femininity. I personally would. A great pair of jeans (ones that make my behind look sculpted), a word of appreciation for something I did around the house, and knitting something that someone loves all go to the same place of my ego, the feminine part. Thus taking me to connecting the ego boost with femininity.
Technically speaking - all the knitting guilds hundreds of years ago were male only - so the art form was male - the craft form at home was female.
ReplyDeleteBut no - I do not see knitting as making me more or less feminine. Honestly as someone who would be classified as more of a tomboy, working in a predominantly male area of the company, don't wear makeup - just too lazy there, I don't really take a stand on feminism at all. Don't hat me but I think feminism got women a raw deal in a lot of areas. My femininity is more in the fact that I wear my hair long, get my nails done every other week - you will never see me with short/broken nails or with chipped polish - and I am one of the biggest flirts - I'll admit it. And as Brea said - nothing beats a great pair of jeans! Actually the most common comment I get when people find out that I knit is that I don't look like I'd knit ( don't know what a knitter looks like) and I don't seem the type to knit ( don't know what type that is either) and they can't believe I can sit still long enough to knit ( ok I am very hyper - bit that is why I need to knit - it's like therapy)
I know this is kind of disjointed - hope it helps.
Oh - I just mailed out some swaps, and I needed a box so the flowers wouldn't crush. ( the salmon comes frozen in sealed individual plastic pouches so the box doesn't smell like salmon) and then I needed to cover all the printing before mailing it and the only brown paper bags I had were the one's I get my bread in (which may smell like bread) as I have switched to canvas and crocheted grocery bags. The tissue was new!!
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of Liela:
ReplyDeleteI agree--it's not a math problem; it's language, which is ambiguous and contextual.
I think knitting is symbolic of our culture's concept of femininity, so a person's feelings about knitting often reflect how they feel about both femininity and feminism. I think that embracing and valuing traditionally feminine activities is truly feminist; therefore I think knitting is a valuable activity which is both feminine and feminist.
I'm sure an old school feminist would disagree, but there you go. I think they're wildly misguided about such things. Wearing a power suit and working in a law firm is not a more valuable way to spend your time than raising children and knitting. It is a different choice, and isn't feminism about choice and equal value?
Having come of age as an adult during the birth of the feminist movement, I remember when needlearts were frowned upon. The hippie in me back then loved my needlearts and defended my right to engage in them. As a senior citizen now, I see my knitting and my quilting as a link to the youth in my life- thru teaching, gifting and by my example. I am a complete person and they can be too engaging in a variety of activities regardless of gender.
ReplyDeleteOK so here is my ramble for the week. Read at your own risk of boredom. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was brought up to believe knitting was one of those things women do. My uncles and grandpa were/are hunters. Knitting was just one of many "things" that were only women's work. I think if asked while growing up I would have been more inclined to answer yes to both.
In my adult life I have learned and have grown very comfortable with less of a line drawn in the sand. At this stage of my life I do not equate knitting as a female activity/art/craft.
That said.... All of my knitting friends are female. When I look for a project or even yarn selection I am inclined to pick something that is pretty, soft, sexy, or feminine. I would say that is tied to femininity.
This question isn't as black and white as my mind tends to gravitate towards. I don't think I answered the question but these are the thoughts I was able to write out....
On behalf of Stefanie:
ReplyDelete"i guess inasmuch as i consider myself a feminist who knits, then yes. i don't know if it's specifically feminist, or making some sort of social, feminist statement, but it seems like a lot of crafty, feministy ladies are into the knitting, and i myself would definitely fall into that intersecting part of the venn diagram. seems like third-wave feminists especially are into it - as previously noted, first and possibly second wave feminists would probably not approve of something that smacks so much as traditional women's work (men originally owning hand-knitting way back when notwithstanding), but i like to think that now we are at the stage of reclaiming what was once seen as the "gentle" home arts and making them into our own artistic expression - instead of being unpaid work that you have to do so that you and the people in your family have clothing to wear."
I'm not sure how I feel about knitting and feminism. I feel a sisterhood with other knitters, but I am also an "artsy" person where I love to create things with my hands and tend to gravitate towards other artsy people. If I had to associate knitting with feminism I would say that men were the first knitters and when they went off to hunt and/or war, women too over. As with everything, women stepped in and made the process beautiful and challenging and theirs!
ReplyDeleteEep! The question does make me twitch. I consider myself a feminist, but don't think knitting has anything to do that (especially since I've only been knitting for three years). Do I think it makes me more feminine? I suppose it could be argued that it does, especially if one sees me after I've been out with the wolfdogs and am covered in poo. But I certainly don't feel more feminine because I knit. (Hey, I wear pink too, but that's because I look good in it, not because it's a feminine color.) And I think I should stop now, because I'm not making any sense!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stephanie -- there's a big distinction between knitting because you need clothing (not feminist) and knitting as artistic expression (could be feminist).
ReplyDeleteI knit. I am a feminist. I spent the last week thinking of times when those two spheres interact. Is it feminist to own my house? Yes, in a first wave sense. But even first-wavers wouldn't care that I own my own yarn stash, and some might even reject the consumerist nature of it.
What about knitting for profit? for charity? for others? These are all anti-feminist acts, inasmuch as they are political at all. I don't do charity knitting partly on feminist grounds, but it's hard to claim that avoiding that quagmire makes the rest of my knitting somehow feminist.
If the act of knitting, therefore, isn't feminist (at least, as I perform it), then what about projects? Which of my projects are feminist and either art or useful? I have a knitted uterus in menstrual red. I'm not sure if that's feminist or merely amusing.
The other half of your question was about femininity. Being feminine, to me, is being practical, thrifty, and innovative with found materials. (I take the early Edwardian middle class view of being feminine. Blame the BBC.) *Obviously* knitting is feminine, and knitting in public is more feminine, for being a thrifty and industrious use of time.
Noodling on the internet, however, is not feminine nor feminist nor knitting. So no more details on this subject now.
Well, I do not consider myself a feminist, but I would consider some of my knitting friends to have leanings in that direction. We are all quite feminine. . .and I do not personally know any male knitters. That said, I would encourage anyone who wanted to learn to knit, regardless of age, gender, political party, etc. KNitting is just another hobby/craft/art form that draws like-minded hobbyists/crafters/artists to share and to show off a little, helping with the details as we go. (You need help picking up gusset stitches? Let me show you how I do it, and Jane can show you how she does it, and then you can figure out how you want to do it.) Knitting can bring solitude to some, or it can greatly enhance your scope of social experiences! Femeinism doesn't play into it.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing, as I read over my post. . .
ReplyDeleteGirls are usually more into all the social stuff, status and otherwise. So maybe the way I see knitting could be called feminine. Again, I know they are out there, but I do not personally know any male knitters. . .
When I was a kid knitting/crochet was not feminist at all, in fact the opposite. :) Now thanks to articles in Bust, scholarly entertainment books like KnitKnit, etc, I perceive knitting to be thought of as more feminist. I think it is again the intention of the knitter. I was at Knitter's Mercantile yesterday and I'm fairly certain none of the women there would think that they were being feminist by knitting. On the feminine question, my husband and both sons knit, but there aren't many men in the knitting shops when I visit them. Some of it could be because of the mistaken idea that certain activities should only be done by one sex or the other. And I don't know how a knitting guy would go over in a sports bar :) I don't think of knitting as only belonging to women (aka feminine) just as I don't think of most activities as being only feminine or masculine. But that doesn't mean that cultural symbols, characters in books, etc don't have an effect on what activities we expect to see a man or a woman engaging in. Malcolm Gladwell has an interesting test in his book Blink which addresses this very kind of issue (for instance is "career" more associated with a male or female, pick up the book to see what I am talking about, it's very enlightening).
ReplyDelete