Everyone should pull their own weight, do their fair share of housework, and should know how to perform essential life skills. However, in some parts of the world, household chores are still seen as something that only women do, leaving some men unwilling or even unable to do them when needed.
A school in Vigo, Spain, called Colegio Montecastelo, is fighting for gender equality with a program that teaches boys and young men essential life skills, including cleaning, cooking, and even sewing. There’s never been a better time to learn Home Economics 101.
Some people thought this initiative was spot-on. Meanwhile, others thought that it actually enforced gender roles because it labeled certain activities as ‘manly’ or ‘womanly’ instead of seeing them as universally useful skills. Still others thought that these skills hould be taught at home, not at school. Let us know what you think of this initiative, dear Pandas, and share if you had similar programs at your schools.
Male students at a school in Spain are taking part in Home Economics lessons
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
They learn essential life skills: from ironing to cooking and more
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
The goal of the program is to fight for gender equality and to make boys more independent and able to help out at home
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
One of the things that the students learn is arranging flowers
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
Sewing, a must-have skill in life, is also part of the program
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
Image credits: Colegio Montecastelo
Those teaching the students include volunteers from the school administration, but some of the students’ dads are also pitching in.
Bored Panda spoke about the importance of sharing chores at home and being a team that supports one another with relationship expert Dan Bacon, founder of The Modern Man. Dan highlighted that it’s not unmanly to help out at home.
“If your gut instinct tells you that you should be chipping in more to help out with chores around the house, then do it. Do it from a place of love because you love the other person and don’t want them to be under additional stress during this time,” Dan explained about the importance of everyone pitching in with chores, especially during the pandemic when some people are still working from home.
“Additionally, if a woman notices that her man is helping out more than normal, she should use a loving approach and compliment him on it, rather than just taking his efforts for granted,” he said. “The reality is, that neither a man nor a woman has to do anything at all in a relationship. It’s all a choice.”
Relationship expert Dan said that when your actions come from a place of love, support, and respect, the relationship strengthens over time and you feel happier together. So chores should never be done with resentment and anger; instead, they should be part of how you support your partner and show them respect.
Let us know which chores you love and hate to do the most, dear Pandas. Personally, washing dishes is like meditation to me, but I absolutely loathe vacuuming and dusting.
Some people thought that these skills should be taught at home (not at school), while others said that these life skills have nothing to do with gender
This should be taught in schools no matter the gender (it's not taught in Greece, I don't know about other countries). Also, First Aid, Compassion, Anger Management, Common Sense.
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dude what else do you want teachers to teach how to use the bathroom😂, school is meant for school work,it's one thing to teach boys to do stuff to fight gender equality and one to teach literlly every single life skill to children.
Dude, school is for learning and getting educated; how is learning a life skill in school not learning? I was taught how to balance a checkbook when I was six in school. You can bet your fat ass that a lot of teachers would rather be teaching kids skills they'll use everyday rather than listening to kids read. My sister is a teacher and hates that kids don't know how to survive on their own with basic skills. Would you rather a single parent who works three jobs to provide a stable home for her family depend on a child who knows how to read or one who likes to read and can also cook for himself and sew a button on if needed. Seriously.
Scott Brynildsen +
There are children starting school or preschool at the ages of 4 and 5 that haven't been toilet trained. They arrive in nappies and yes the teachers have to potty train them too. #stupid_parents_UK
Hm....40 years ago, I learnedat school how to knit (and I am male)
I attended American public school in the 1980's. All students were required to take cooking, sewing, wood shop, and metal shop. I enjoyed them all and learned valuable skills.
I'm a tad older than you--Home Ec was mandatory for girls, who were not allowed to take 'male' subjects, while the boys had the option of Shop or study hall. ('60's)
Ditto! Went to school in the 80's, and even the girls took woodworking and metal shop as an elective. We had what was called Home Ec. classes, and I also learned at home, too. (My brothers taught me about cars and basic house repairs.)
lakitha tolbert easy
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I remember shop. Had I not been in honors classes, I'd probably be a cabinet maker now. -Rev Dr M, retired professor
Im a guy, and I want to learn to knit. My grandma's both did it, my mom no. so will have to teach myself.
Youtube can be quite helpful for this.
I'm shocked that this is a topic. I thought other European countries would teach this to both sexes.
At least Germany and Finland do. Even though I cannot speak for all German states, since federalism lets each one decide on their own.
Germany doesn't do this. Maybe in some states, but every state has a different education system.
I learned it and I am from Germany. If certain Staates teach it, it's teached in Germany right? So the Tiari was right or are those Staates not German anymore all of a sudden?
Teaching this in the UK (to all) would make first years student dormitories less of a hellscape than they are now.
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They do. Didn't you bother reading the article? BOTH of them have to learn these things.
This should be taught in schools no matter the gender (it's not taught in Greece, I don't know about other countries). Also, First Aid, Compassion, Anger Management, Common Sense.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
dude what else do you want teachers to teach how to use the bathroom😂, school is meant for school work,it's one thing to teach boys to do stuff to fight gender equality and one to teach literlly every single life skill to children.
Dude, school is for learning and getting educated; how is learning a life skill in school not learning? I was taught how to balance a checkbook when I was six in school. You can bet your fat ass that a lot of teachers would rather be teaching kids skills they'll use everyday rather than listening to kids read. My sister is a teacher and hates that kids don't know how to survive on their own with basic skills. Would you rather a single parent who works three jobs to provide a stable home for her family depend on a child who knows how to read or one who likes to read and can also cook for himself and sew a button on if needed. Seriously.
Scott Brynildsen +
There are children starting school or preschool at the ages of 4 and 5 that haven't been toilet trained. They arrive in nappies and yes the teachers have to potty train them too. #stupid_parents_UK
Hm....40 years ago, I learnedat school how to knit (and I am male)
I attended American public school in the 1980's. All students were required to take cooking, sewing, wood shop, and metal shop. I enjoyed them all and learned valuable skills.
I'm a tad older than you--Home Ec was mandatory for girls, who were not allowed to take 'male' subjects, while the boys had the option of Shop or study hall. ('60's)
Ditto! Went to school in the 80's, and even the girls took woodworking and metal shop as an elective. We had what was called Home Ec. classes, and I also learned at home, too. (My brothers taught me about cars and basic house repairs.)
lakitha tolbert easy
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I remember shop. Had I not been in honors classes, I'd probably be a cabinet maker now. -Rev Dr M, retired professor
Im a guy, and I want to learn to knit. My grandma's both did it, my mom no. so will have to teach myself.
Youtube can be quite helpful for this.
I'm shocked that this is a topic. I thought other European countries would teach this to both sexes.
At least Germany and Finland do. Even though I cannot speak for all German states, since federalism lets each one decide on their own.
Germany doesn't do this. Maybe in some states, but every state has a different education system.
I learned it and I am from Germany. If certain Staates teach it, it's teached in Germany right? So the Tiari was right or are those Staates not German anymore all of a sudden?
Teaching this in the UK (to all) would make first years student dormitories less of a hellscape than they are now.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
They do. Didn't you bother reading the article? BOTH of them have to learn these things.