Are You an Ent or an Entwife?

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

A good point I think. Men are just as picky about gardening as women. But on the other hand; historically it has often been the woman's job to prepare meals and gather the supplies for such activities--and for this a garden was created. So it is not so much the female inclination to cultivate, it's more of a desire to be able to feed one's family. And of course this chore was reserved for women, or at least the non-meat part of it.

Never knew that! I always thought gardens were created for simple beauty! Oh well, you learn something new every day.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

Never knew that! I always thought gardens were created for simple beauty! Oh well, you learn something new every day.

Well, some gardens are just for beauty's sake. Others are used for growing fruits and berries. I have seen many of those that also have a vegetable patch attached to them.


However, I always thought that the stereotype was that men were the ones that cared about providing food for the family. They went to get money, they worked on the fields... Though gardens are more "womanly/ladylike" than fields.... I don't know. Often you even have conflcting stereotypes.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Though gardens are more "womanly/ladylike" than fields.... I don't know. Often you even have conflcting stereotypes.

Haha, I never thought of gardens and fields as pertaining to or having a particular gender Why do you say gardens are ladylike?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

Haha, I never thought of gardens and fields as pertaining to or having a particular gender Why do you say gardens are ladylike?

I don't know. It's kinda like, while men work far off in the fields women weed the vegetable patch. Men also tended gardens, sure, but usually if the man had other work the garden/patch fell on the woman's shoulders.

Or at least that's how I see it.

In different places in ME it would be different. In the Shire there's enough food so that men tend to the gardens. In Gondor - men are needed to fight, so it's the women's job. In places like Rivendell we don't even know where the food comes from.

It all depends.

I might view it a certain way because I have a very confused / mixed-cultured understanding of all this. Someone else, who read slightly different books or spoke to different people, might see it as the opposite.

[Galadriel]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I don't know. It's kinda like, while men work far off in the fields women weed the vegetable patch. Men also tended gardens, sure, but usually if the man had other work the garden/patch fell on the woman's shoulders.

Ahh. If I had to view a garden as ladylike, I would do so because of all the pretty flowers

In places like Rivendell we don't even know where the food comes from.

*Peers* You're right! I never thought of that before. They can't be living on fruits and cheese!

I might view it a certain way because I have a very confused / mixed-cultured understanding of all this. Someone else, who read slightly different books or spoke to different people, might see it as the opposite.

Indeed, I know quite a few places where farming is both a woman's and a man's job and where gardening is completely a man's job

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

Ahh. If I had to view a garden as ladylike, I would do so because of all the pretty flowers

I was talking more about the fruit-producing gardens, but this works too.

Originally Posted by Galadriel

Indeed, I know quite a few places where farming is both a woman's and a man's job and where gardening is completely a man's job

The difference of cultures...

Though still, it's hard for me to imagine a rural area with women ploughing the fields while the men di up turnips in the back yard.

(Of course during harsh times like war women would work in the fields - because the men were in the army. But in times of peace.........)