Kendall Jenner Trolled For Cooking Skills; Why Do We Expect Women To Be Adept Cooks?

Recently, a video of Kendall Jenner went viral in which the celebrity was finding it difficult to chop cucumbers. Within no time, the comment section was flooded with trolls making fun of Jenner’s bad cooking skills. This is not the first time that a female celebrity has been criticised for her cooking skills. Years ago Kim Kardashian also faced trolls when she cooked for her ex-partner Kanye West.

It is unfortunate that every time a woman fails at being the normative good cook, she is subjected to endless criticism for not being good enough. But if a man showcases his cooking skill, he is celebrated for just holding the wok in his hand. No one cares whether his cooking skills are good or not.

Why is this obsession with women being good cooks? Why can’t we accept women who cook just for survival? And why don’t we expect men too to be good cooks or at least know the basics of cooking?

For women in our society, cooking is not a survival skill. It is a medium to be accepted as a good woman. Sayings like “Pati ke dil ka raasta pet se jaata hai”, overhyped ideas of "maa ke haath ka khana" and customs like “Pehli rasoi” make good cooking skills imperative for a woman to gain space, respect and love in society or family. No matter how good a woman is at her career, education or talents, a properly cooked and delicious dal gets to define her abilities.

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However, men are not expected to know about cooking or any other household work. Their abilities are measured in terms of their achievements and zeroes in their salaries. Even if some men are taught basic cooking skills, they are not expected to be exceptionally good at it.

How often have you seen a male celebrity being trolled for his bad cooking skill? Rarely because society is more than satisfied by the fact that the man entered into the kitchen, let alone cook something for his family.

Why is it important for a woman to be a good cook? Is cooking not a life skill as opposed to it being a gender skill? Why doesn’t society look beyond what is cooking in a woman’s kitchen? Why can’t we appreciate women for just taking the effort to cook for the entire family? Why is the appreciation regarding basic cooking reserved for men alone? Is it fair that men have many ways to prove their worth but women have just one cooking?

It is high time that we stop measuring women’s worth by their presence in the kitchen. Cooking is undoubtedly an important skill to survive. But being exceptionally good at it is a choice that depends on the interest of the person, not the gender. A woman shouldn’t be forced to learn the magic of making"> good food if she is happy with whatever she is able to cook. Similarly, if a man can prepare delicious food, he should not be shamed for being feminine. To make dal is important for both men and women. But to make it deliciously is a choice.

The views expressed are the author's own.