Women's hobbies

Oh yes, a lot of craft is dismissed as 'girly' even though it's useful. Wierdly, even when it makes money for the family as it sometimes can, it still seems to be trivialised (though to be fair the money-making aspect doesn't always work; I've known enough people who spend a lot on the equipment needed for making stuff - and on pitch rents at craft fairs - and make sod all back, but then this applies to men as well.)

I hadn't thought of the bath-time/pampering thing being our hobby/leisure time before - that is SO true!! I like this way this place makes me see things in a new light all the time.

Argh! Yes! The book thing pisses me off - even good, thoughtful writers like Marianne Keyes get dismissed as 'chicklit' where as there is nothing like the same contempt and dismissal of crime/thrillers which are often badly written derivative tripe.

MY DM told me, not long after I'd had DC1 that 'there's only room/time for one person within a marriage to have a hobby' by which, of course, she meant DH.

I also hate the way 'female' hobbies that are skilled and productive are mocked and lookee down on because they are 'girlie' - I knit, I sew (I make clothes) but this was regarded as a waste of time by someone who plays World of Warcraft FFS. At least I making things that will be used again and again.

I also do yoga and used to play rugby and fence. The rugby got lots of comments about 'women getting hurt' 'cos no men ever get hurt playing rugby . I would cheerfully take up both those sports again but don't have the time. DH also had a time consuming hobby but has had to scale it back massively.
We could both carry on but that would involve one or the other of us being out every evening and no time together. In the eyes of someone like DM I'm probably a bit mean/selfish not to 'let' DH go off doing his hobbies/sports at the expense of mine but heyho, I can live with that.

Very true and subtle.

Women's hobbies are touted as being actual things that everyone should be doing:-

Washing - (passed off as pampering), although it's hard to find the time when your DH is working 12 hours a day and then going to his hobbies in the evenings.

Cooking - except it's not enough to just cook; we're meant to pour over books for inspiration, to attend night classes to learn how to cook better, to bake cupcakes for all occasions.

Shopping - for food, for washing products, for clothes to make us look lovely.

These are the accepted hobbies for women, and it'd be super if we can remember our place and fit them in during daytime hours.

The gym, sports clubs, etc are still seen as 'men's' domains, even though I've seen plenty of women in gyms who could run rings round some men!

Ot even better than a bath, eat a Super Special yogurt! Now that's the ultimate height of female leisure time, apparently. That or online bingo, never something outside the house anyway.

I know what you mean about women being expected not to need leisure activities. We are actually sold the idea that having a fucking bath is a leisure activity ('pampering').