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Original poster

Why is everyone gushing over Tom Daley knitting?

138 replies

EastWestWhosBest · 02/08/2021 14:36

Man does a thing considered to be female and everyone is losing their minds over how ‘cute’ it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
EastWestWhosBest · 02/08/2021 15:01

@Mollyollydolly

Oh this. Why when a woman knits it's boring and old fashioned. A man knits it's so cute and quirky. Not his fault but it does my head in.
I agree. Not his fault at all. It’s all the gushing.
OP posts:
Mollyollydolly · 02/08/2021 14:54

Oh this. Why when a woman knits it's boring and old fashioned. A man knits it's so cute and quirky. Not his fault but it does my head in.

IvyTwines2 · 02/08/2021 14:54

He's 27 now, a fully grown adult - the media reaction is becoming a bit Eoin McLove in Father Ted.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 02/08/2021 14:50

@FloralBunting

Don't get it.

Knitting and needlework was considered a man's skill for centuries, iirc. Very important for sailors, I think. Not a crafter myself, so not certain.

Maybe it's something that signals his innate baby-purchasing credentials.

Both of these things were primarily done by women in a domestic setting (though often as outwork) but have been done by men in various specific circumstances, such as sailors knitting or professional tailors and embroiderers. Neither knitting nor needlework has ever been seen as primarily male if that’s what you meant by a man’s skill?
Original poster
EastWestWhosBest · 02/08/2021 14:47

@Einszwei

I disagree. I think if Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky did the same, there would also be the same sort of media interest.
I think there would be media interest but I don’t think there would be so many ‘omg how cute is that I love him’ posts.
OP posts:
RhonaRed · 02/08/2021 14:44

Oh god I agree.

Dyrne · 02/08/2021 14:44

Not a fan of the gushing over “cute-ness”; but I also don’t think it’s a bad thing when otherwise stereotypically masculine men are publicly shown to do “feminine” coded things. Hopefully it goes a bit further to chip away at the ridiculous gender stereotypes.

Wrongsideofhistorymyarse · 02/08/2021 14:42

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BeansMeansBeans · 02/08/2021 14:41

Because, as we all know, there's nothing less cool than doing something 'elderly white women' do. A trifecta of uncool

FloralBunting · 02/08/2021 14:40

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ScreamingMeMe · 02/08/2021 14:40

It's so condescending isn't it? Angry

Einszwei · 02/08/2021 14:40

I disagree. I think if Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky did the same, there would also be the same sort of media interest.

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