Gender politics of eating a roast chicken!!

136 replies

ColdOopNorth · 10/09/2020 08:32

Apologies in advance if this is the wrong place to ask and it seems rather trivial but.... I come from a traditional Northern family and I am in my 50's. I have always , from early childhood, believed that it is 'normal' when carving a roast bird to give the men the legs and the women get the breast! This was 'the rule' growing up, my husband took this as normal too and I never ever questioned why until my non-British friends came for lunch and thought it was the most weird, bizarre thing ever and are still talking about it weeks after. Is this a thing for anyone else and any idea why? I suspect it is to do with men being allowed to pick up the leg and gnaw on it whilst us 'ladies' are far too refined - just goes to show how deeply ingrained some of these stereotypes are eh

OP posts:

highame · 10/09/2020 08:50

I'm from Yorkshire and I'm sure I've heard of this.

I think people who call this sort of stuff bizarre and odd are very rude, thanks wow for some information

ProfYaffle · 10/09/2020 08:46

I'm late 40's and northern. I don't remember that from my childhood but, now I've thought about it, I don't remember eating roast chicken at all as a child which is a bit odd. My Mum used to buy chicken legs just for the dog

I thought the hackneyed old joke about roast chicken was 'are you a breast man or a leg man?' which would imply men could choose either?

Floralbean · 10/09/2020 08:41

I've never heard of this either, growing up we seemed to prefer different bits which worked out well! The best bit is the meat kinda under the leg leading onto the underside.

wowfudge · 10/09/2020 08:41

I'm not far off your age, Northern and have never known this to be a thing other than reading about the experiences of others. Everyone has always been given some light and some darker meat unless they've asked for only one type.

I know from an older relative with a long career in catering that chicken would have been a luxury not so long ago and had a more pronounced flavour too. I imagine the division you are familiar with was more to do with giving the better meat to the men. Possibly this was to do with working physically demanding jobs.

Cheaper production coupled with health concerns have lead to chicken being ubiquitous and the breast meat being viewed as the prime part of the bird for its lower fat content. Palates have changed too and bland meat is what appeals to many these days.

InfiniteSheldon · 10/09/2020 08:39

How bizarre I've never heard of this. We shred and share as we both like the drumstucks I'm a fan of penis portions, though I know it's Mn suicide before you flame and I don't care. My dh is 13 1/2 stone I need smaller portions or I'll weigh that which at 4 inches shorter than him isn't ideal health wise. Maybe the leg meat is richer in protein so this habit has grown from there - clutching at straws.

BlazeMonsterMachine · 10/09/2020 08:37

Ummmm... No offence, but it's weird. The legs are dark meat and the breast is light. Different flavours and textures.

So it's the opposite in our house as I prefer dark and husband prefers light!!

TheBeesKnee · 10/09/2020 08:37

I have never heard of this it is very bizarre indeed. What do you do with the wings?

slipperywhensparticus · 10/09/2020 08:37

Actually we used to do this growing up then when we got older my big sister had the other leg me and my mom had the breasts

HasaDigaEebowai · 10/09/2020 08:36

It certainly isn't a British thing. Its a you thing.

borntobequiet · 10/09/2020 08:34

Actually I thought this was going to be about sexing chickens.

borntobequiet · 10/09/2020 08:34

Breasts are more womanly, innit. And dainty.
My cat gets most of the breast when I roast a chicken.

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