The age of feminism is in full swing, and Gen Z shows no sign of slowing down. Throughout the past 50 years, a steadily increasing number of women have been entering the workforce, many with college degrees. Typical gender roles are continually challenged as women rise to leadership positions in businesses and study medicine or engineering. Females are encouraged to defy the standards of the 1950s — when posters reduced the roles of women to cleaning, cooking and pleasing their husbands — and focus on their own careers and dreams instead.
The Rosie the Riveter approach to gender equality has motivated women for decades in an effort to free them from the kitchen and enable them to do “real work” in the “real world.” While opening new doors for women has brought long-awaited opportunities and a greater chance for independence, there is a toxicity that comes with putting down women who choose to embrace the more traditional female roles.
This sentiment is echoed by YouTuber and podcast host Kenzie Elizabeth, who coined the phrase “breadwinning housewife.” As a self-employed entrepreneur, Kenzie thrives as an independent businesswoman who built her own networks, is in control of her finances and lives alone. At the same time, she loves to talk about her recent love of more feminine hobbies and typical housework, such as gardening, reading and cooking. Her mildly self-deprecating humor of feeling like a middle-aged woman is coupled with an “I can cook this food and pay for it too” attitude.
I am grateful that we are moving towards a place where women can be and do whatever they set their minds to. Part of me loves studying Civil Engineering because it proves that a “dainty” girl like myself, as my grandma often calls me, can do some seriously ugly design calculations and then throw on some steel-toed boots and a hard hat to make sure the construction team is doing what I need them to. That doesn’t change the fact that my interest in design started (and continues) with jewelry making, or that my passion for sustainable engineering comes from the same mindset I put towards upcycling thrifted pieces. It’s the girly hobbies that I’ve had since I was young that have pushed me towards a male-dominated field.
Regardless of how any woman chooses to spend her life, it is so important that we don’t diminish the work done by women in any setting, whether at the office, in the field or at home. Multiple economic analysts estimate that a stay-at-home mom contributes enormous financial contributions to a household, deserving of a salary well into six-figures. And for women who work 9-5 and hold down a household? Don’t even get me started. The world would crumble to pieces faster than the stocks fell in 2008 if we decided that every educated woman and man should give up cooking and cleaning.
Feminism isn’t about doing the same thing as men: it’s about doing whatever you please regardless of gender. Have big career aspirations and can’t be bothered by a relationship right now? Go for it. Feel like your time is better spent caring for your family? It probably is. Striving to balance being a corporate girl boss by day and crocheting by night? I’m proud of you, too. The final message? Do what you want, and don’t listen to what other people have to say about it.