Do all women deny themselves for their families, or is it just mothers?

There is no way I would go without and let my husband have it all like in Omrmirians example of the hot dog. I would half it with him but wouldnt have none. I dont like going without so wouldnt put myself in a situation where I ended up with none or not much. I dont think it is selfish, I just like eating!

I don't do this, don't know anyone else who does but then when I was growing up it was just me and my Mum so no gender issues there.

If I'm cooking and cock something up I'll give myself the dodgy portion but that's because I want to preserve my image as a good cook

MIL gives women smaller portions than men (she can't quite get over the fact that I consider a portion of beans on toast to be 2 whole slices of bread), she will run herself ragged in the kitchen and have the most uncomfortable chair but she doesn't go short of food.

I shock people all the time by not letting DH always take the biggest portion...I will argue till' the cows come home over cake and ice cream!

I was brought up in a house where the men got the biggest serving....I think its because in working class history, men did very physical and dangerous work...mining, steelworking etc and probably needed more.

Women are tougher...and can srvive in crisis easier.

But since DH doesn't work down a mine..bugger him..the pie is MINE!

I should have said that my DD is 3. when she is older she might not be quite so lucky!

Very interesting thread though.

I do this, if I break an one of the eggs, I will have it, is that the sort of thing you mean? Thought everyone did that.

When I say 'allowed', it was my father's attitude just as much as my mother's, btw. They both considered any woman who verged over the underweight to be an uncontrolled and hideous pig.

My mother certainly gave my father more food than us - he was the only one of us (I have a sister, who became anorexic) allowed to eat guilt-free.

I'm afraid I personally do not illustrate SarfEasticated theories of the mammal female, wrt the nicest bits of food.

My grandmother born 1914, always gave the men of the family larger portions. I guess she was brought up that they were the breadwinners/had physical jobs so needed the calories ? makes sense I guess.
I give my DH larger portion because he is hungrier than me, and my DD the best choicest titbits because she is my genetic offspring and I want her to survive. All mammal females do this I'm sure.

I don't know, my dp will always say I should have the last of whatever, he will always offer it to me.

My nan always gave larger portions to the men & boys, because "they need their food" and smaller portions to the women. She does have a quite old-fashioned view of women's place in society though. I think she was quite spoilt (in a nice way!) as a child as she was by far the youngest of her brothers & sisters.

My Mum never did the unequal portions thing, and I was brought up to share food equally, as was my brother.

Could it be that when the woman has prepared the food, she feels guilty if she hasn't made enough (for whatever reason) so she makes sure everyone else has enough first?

My grandma always gave my dad and granddad the most food, even when granddad clearly couldn't manage it, which was galling.

Doesn't happen in our house

I notice that my friends and acquaintances who lacked for love and affection in their childhood, or lacked materially, are more selfish as adults than those who were showered with love

See, I'd disagree with that. I was starved of love & affection & I am not selfish.

You are a WONDERFUL person, ISNT!!

I'm trying not to get myself a new (though cheap) handbag in the sales as an extra pressie...one of the pluses of getting your own cheapo gift is you can justify a sales splurge! How shallow am I?

Conchords ROCK!

Oh and that dress will look great on you, I can sense it

Next year give him a list! Buying your own christmas present isn't the right thing at all!

Excellent choice though (Flight of the Conchords fan )

Because DH, lovely though he is, is (in his own words) "completely hopeless" at these things, i.e if it weren't for me his family and our kids would get cuddles for Xmas and nothing more! So I am spending£4.99 on a Flight of the Conchords audio book for myself because I think they are fab. And now I've seen that my fave dress is on HALF PRICE SALE I'm going to use the last of my maternity benefit money to treat myself to that.

How come you bought your own christmas present snowy?

I always give my family the best things first, though DH is lovely and will challenge this when he spots it. I definitely do not have a martyr complex. I do it out of love and am happy to do so.

However I also enjoy treats and so, having bought my own (and everyone else's) Xmas gifts, spending by far the least money on my gift, am currently scouring the online sales for a new dress! So if anyone thinks I'm a martyr I'll be a bloody stylish one!

My mum drives me crazy with her 'no, no, you have it'. And clearly she often wants it, but doesn't want to say so, as she doesn't believe anyone when they say they don't want something, because obviously they're lying like she does.

Orm that was my gran all over!

She gave the males massive portions, the females much less, and herself hardly anything at all, when there was no reason for it. It used to drive my mum bonkers

what is the average size this week moondog?