Why are most of the famous chefs men?

[isasir]

Historically, women were the ones that did most of, if not all of the cooking in the household, yet most of the famous chefs are male. Why is this?

 

[Literati]

Gender bias.

[edit]

Actually I have no idea. Maybe we should start with the question, are men better chefs?

 

[KoolDrew]

I have no idea.

 

[z0mb13]

because men are better chefs?

<--- dons flamesuit

 

[HardcoreRobot]

generally speaking men can do most things better

 

[isasir]

But I'd like to think with something like cooking women would have the "advantage". Men can't be better at EVERYTHING, can they?

 

[Adica]

Because sterotypically throughout history woman were the cooks, so the men that do cook are cooking because they love to do it, not because society asked them to. Thus, when you love to do something more than likely you are good at it.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

edit-sp*

 

[Savij]

Because women had to stay at home and the men went out and got jobs where they cooked for large groups.

 

[Isla]

Originally posted by: Adica
Because sterotypically throughout history woman were the cooks, so the men that do cook are cooking because they love to do it, not because society asked them to. Thus, when you love to do something more than likely you are good at it.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

edit-sp*

That could be a factor.

My father is a much better cook than my mother, but it has a lot to do with 2 things: One, my mother is a retired math and science teacher and everything she does tends to be 'experimental'. Two, my mother cares about stuff like 'health' and has incorporated such ingredients as 'wheat germ' into her diet... whereas Dad cares about 'tastes good' rather than 'good for you'.

I am a very good cook (at least according to friends and family) but since I also work outside of the home, I don't spend that much time on it. If it was my career, I'd probably be pretty successful at it.

 

[AdamSnow]

I would have to agree with Adica.

 

[kwjake]

My dad used to be a chef

 

[Mucho]

Because the kings throught history employed men as chefs.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: Adica
Because sterotypically throughout history woman were the cooks, so the men that do cook are cooking because they love to do it, not because society asked them to. Thus, when you love to do something more than likely you are good at it.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

edit-sp*

Certainly there are women who choose to cook because they love to do it, right?

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: Adica
Because sterotypically throughout history woman were the cooks, so the men that do cook are cooking because they love to do it, not because society asked them to. Thus, when you love to do something more than likely you are good at it.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

edit-sp*

By this logic, does that mean that the best IT Managers are women, or perhaps, the best posters on AT are women? (OK, maybe the last one IS true...)

 

[Adica]

Originally posted by: isasir

Originally posted by: Adica
Because sterotypically throughout history woman were the cooks, so the men that do cook are cooking because they love to do it, not because society asked them to. Thus, when you love to do something more than likely you are good at it.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

edit-sp*

By this logic, does that mean that the best IT Managers are women, or perhaps, the best posters on AT are women? (OK, maybe the last one IS true...)

Yes, that is my theory. BTW I am a woman.

 

[Rastus]

Being a chef is a job, and traditionally women stayed at home and men went to work. Having a woman work outside of the house is a reletively new thing.

 

[richardycc]

because it takes a real man to get the job done right!

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Rastus
Being a chef is a job, and traditionally women stayed at home and men went to work. Having a woman work outside of the house is a reletively new thing.

It's been a new thing for 40 years?

 

[SVT Cobra]

because you wouldnt see a woman doing her own cooking show in the 30's and 20's...now that it has just started to change you have to wit a bit...btw martha stewart anyone???


also if you say that men can do a better job than woman in cooking fine say that, but as much as i hate to admit it since i am a man., woman can if trained properly shoot better than women (they have better balance and stability and nerves) and can withstand more pain...

 

[vi edit]

Because it's half skill and half marketing/buisness.

Historically, men are much better at business "stuff" than women. Sure there is some actual skill involved in it, but really what it comes down to is how well you can sell and market yourself. Men simply sweep up in that area (porn/adult industry excluded).

 

[Cerb]

First, there hasn't been time for women to get in.
Second, men tend to like creating things, and tinkering with them, more. Note the things part.
Third, men don't look as silly in the funny hats

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Because women can already cook, men cooking is new!

 

[Looney]

Probably a combination of both just women's personalities and gender discrimination.

Men may just be more flamboyant or showy when it comes to displaying their talents than women are, so they're more likely to be noticed and become 'famous'. And a lot of becoming executive chef is in who you know as well.

For discrimination... it's probably not direct discrimination, and the people that do it, are probably not doing it intentionally. For instance, when people view a man and woman doing equally well in a job, they're more liklely to feel the man achieving well because of natural talent or ability.... but for the woman, they're more likely to view that she's achieving well because she's a hard worker. Now, both of these have the same results (cooking well in this case)... but if one is doing well because they're working hard... then if they're not working hard, they'll fail... or their 'limit' of achieving would be finite. So somebody who is doing well because of natural talent or ability is seen as better and prefered.

And what makes this even more profound, is that the more attractive the man, the more likely people are to view the man's achievement as natural ability... and the more attractive the woman, the more that her achievements are based on her looks or hardwork, and NOT talent. And in becoming famous (as well as most things in life), being attractive is a definite plus.

This is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to discrimination and stereotypes.