Boys Taking Classes In Household Chores Including Sewing, Ironing, And Cooking At Spanish School

Dec 28, 2019

The world is continually changing and adapting to a fast-paced climate which is full of technological advances, new and amazing discoveries, and an online environment which connects people all over the world. Schools attempt to compete by preparing students with coursework that will set them up them for college, and ultimately life.

But one school in Spain has seen that, while those skills will make students competitive in the job market, too many students don't have a basic knowledge of life skills that they will also need. Not too long ago, homemaking skills like sewing and cooking were primarily attended by females who held the rank of 'homemakers'. Now, one school has broken down the gender role stereotypes and is offering homemaking classes to boys as well.

Rather than pigeonhole girls into homemaking classes and boys into shop class, the homemaking classes are being offered to boys as well. Girls and boys alike are realizing that these are important skills regardless of what career choices they make.

From 1968 to 1993, according to the New York Times, the percentage of boys who attend home economics classes jumped from 4.2 percent to 41.6 percent. This is evidence that the once antiquated notion that men belong outside and women belong inside tending to the household chores and raising the children is quickly changing.

The Montecastelo School in Spain is one of those schools that is promoting the end of gender role stereotypes. The school proudly exhibits the slogan "Equality is learned with actions." They are displaying that belief by changing the dynamics of their coursework.

The basic life skills classes teach sewing, cooking, and ironing along with carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and electrician coursework which began in 2018. Wimp reports that school coordinator, Gabriel Bravo, said that it's important for boys and girls to know how to do these things when they become adults and have families for a more successful life overall.

Students are loving the new classes which they thought were a joke at first. But when they actually started to learn the skills necessary to perform these tasks, they humbly realized just how much work maintaining a home is and how much hard work their own parents were doing.

The economics teacher, Andres Lunas, said that the goal was not just to teach the skills but to also raise awareness for students on the subject of gender equality, reports Konbini. He added that the school wanted to teach young men that housework is not just a woman's job but a responsibility of everyone in the household. And they wanted students to realize that a two-person household might not happen right out of school and that all students should be self-sufficient in all aspects of household maintenance whether there was a life partner or not. Ultimately, teaching young men and women the basics of household maintenance would make them responsible adults overall, not just in the workplace.

Many people are applauding the actions of the school and voicing interest in having all schools follow suit. Let us know what you think in the comments section.