As an archaeologist specializing in ancient textiles, I thank you for highlighting this essential and nearly invisible aspect of all civilization everywhere! Interesting side note: pottery is also likely to have been made almost exclusively by women in ancient times. Think about everything ceramics made possible, and you find another way in which women's work has been undervalued or simply claimed by men.
I love your writing. Thank you for sharing your research and doing it with nuggets of pointed humor that makes assimilating these painful truths possible without entirely losing my mind into fury.
And let me just say this: in every job I ever had, the women were not only more responsible and dedicated, but BETTER at doing the job. From my first job at age 16 at KFC to my work in data processing (now called “IT”) EVERY female was a better performer and manager. And as married adults, we all went home to our “second job” of running a household, while our men watched television or read books.
As an archaeologist specializing in ancient textiles, I thank you for highlighting this essential and nearly invisible aspect of all civilization everywhere! Interesting side note: pottery is also likely to have been made almost exclusively by women in ancient times. Think about everything ceramics made possible, and you find another way in which women's work has been undervalued or simply claimed by men.
I love your writing. Thank you for sharing your research and doing it with nuggets of pointed humor that makes assimilating these painful truths possible without entirely losing my mind into fury.
Wow, what a great essay!
And let me just say this: in every job I ever had, the women were not only more responsible and dedicated, but BETTER at doing the job. From my first job at age 16 at KFC to my work in data processing (now called “IT”) EVERY female was a better performer and manager. And as married adults, we all went home to our “second job” of running a household, while our men watched television or read books.
Men have been in charge forever and look where that has gotten us!