Pink & Blue Jobs

I recently sat on a panel at a conference aimed at modern independent women, who have have extraordinary entrepreneurial abilities. Many of them on a mission to create or expand their empires. I spoke about what it meant to me on a personal level to be a feminist. In a room full of women lifting women, celebrating the hopes dreams aspirations and accomplishments of those sat around us, I realized that my opinion was inadvertently controversial.

You see in my house I have what I call blue jobs and pink jobs. Perhaps not the most politically correct turn of phrase but nevertheless. Blue jobs are usually chores or responsibilities that would fall under the more stereotypical male gender roles and pink jobs the more female roles.

I'm going to point out at this point that I live and have always lived in a female dominated environment where the only male in the house is usually the pet dog or cat. When you live the single life and you want something doing (a blue job) Like a door taken of its hinges, a carpet fitted or tiles put down in a bathroom you are renovating. Chances are you have to learn yourself and get 'er done. Incidentally there is nothing you can't achieve with a screwdriver and a YouTube tutorial.

To cut a long story short my pink/blue job theory became very divisive in the room. I was terrified that my 'Feminist Card' maybe revoked. To me though there is a difference between doing it and wanting to do it! I am all for and indeed live the 'Sisters doing it for themselves life' You will catch my outside in my pajamas at 3am in high winds unscrewing a loose 8ft fence panel. It may take me a while by the torch light of my iphone and a screwdriver out of a selection box from Ikea, but I get there. Similarly had you been sat around my dining room table last week, you would have watched me jerryriging my MacBook Charger with the help of a YouTuber electrician in Arkansas.

I am more than capable of looking after myself and through sheer determination and a little trial and error there are not many blue jobs I can't do. In an ideal world though, i'd rather not.

While gender roles have become more fluid over the years thanks to the feminist movement. We have also developed a stigma and an air of judgment around those women who choose to 'helped'. The optimal word there being CHOOSE!

For me being a feminist isn't about playing the eternal game of "Anything you can do. I can do better!" with any man I come across.

I am secure enough in myself to understand that it may just be faster easier and a lot less bandwidth, to get a man to put the oversized heavy AF mirror up over my bathroom sink. This doesn't mean that I celebrate a misogynistic point of view. Nor does it mean I am against equality.

I do believe though that we should live in a world where women judge each other less. A world where feminism is about each individual embracing the right to be secure and confident on their own path. When women can CHOOSE to ask for help. When women strive for true gender equality, not gender competition.

As always i'm interested to hear your comments, feel free to post them below!

Stay Fabulous!