to think if you were asked to label a knife and fork as either male and female.

[greenshaker]

You would label the man as a knife

And woman as the fork.

Haven't read all of this but as the knife and spoon came first I imagine the fork as the wife as she was made from the rib of man and came afterwards. Don't know what the spoon was then?

The fork came about 16th C I think and originally had only two tines and was meant to hold the meat down so the knife could cut it. Yuk the fork being subserviant to the man and helping him with his work. eeow.

I agree with you OP. I don't know why though but after thinking seriously about it I came to similar conclusions on the knife being more violent, which I then tried to backtrack to myself on that thought.

I asked DP and he refused to answer. When pressed he insisted it was a trick question When pressed further he stated that the fork is confused and the knife is pre-op I blame Mumsnet, he won't just answer these all important life conundrums seriously any more

I also thought that the fork is more symbolic as a woman as women are perceived to have more roles in life, hence the prongs.

I asked DP and he replied "the knife would be the male because males are simple and like to stab things....with their penis."

:o

Knife male, fork female. It just is!

Ok table and chairs then. I'd say the table is male and the chair female. Thoughts?

I tend to think of a chair as male because its something you put your arse on (arses = uncouth, nasty male things).

Ryle - only in missionary position...

You will probably think this strange, but I would see table and chairs as a sort of asexual collection.

The chair goes under the more dominant partner. Not necessarily male or female. Woof!

I cant see genders for tables and chairs strangely.

Salt and pepper thingys though. Salt is male, pepper female.

knives are clearly male, forks clearly female...

Salt and pepper thingys though. Salt is male, pepper female

You are soooo right.

According to DH salt has to be female "because you lick it..."

Y'know, it's really starting to feel like a Friday night around here with some of the current threads.

I can't see genders for salt and pepper at all.

Table and chairs....hmmm...if pushed I'd say the table was the female, mainly because I see the table as the biggest thing in the arrangement, the hub of the family, the stability and consistency around which all other things (chairs) move. So I suppose I am saying that the table is the mother figure.

Fork - female (la fourchette)
Knife - male (le couteau)