Why is everyone gushing over Tom Daley knitting?

[EastWestWhosBest]

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

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

Have I got a guardian article for you...

amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/10/it-was-seen-as-an-elderly-white-lady-thing-to-do-meet-the-new-generation-of-male-knitters

It's so condescending isn't it?

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

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.

Oh god I agree.

@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.

@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?

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

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.

@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.

@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.

Presumably it's because Tom is cute. And he also seems like a very nice person.

I think it’s great! I wish more men would do stuff like this, it’s challenging toxic masculinity and traditional gender rolls. And I’m not even a Tom Daly fan, good on him.

I dunno. I'm a knitter. Lots of the knitters and yarn-related accounts I follow on Instagram are loving this, because it raises the profile of the craft.

Knitting has been popular with younger women (and some men) for quite a while now. The modern online knitting community is a mixture of quirky/alternative and chic these days, with lots of younger women, increasing racial diversity and some men. Definitely not just white, elderly ladies.

I honestly think that any athlete who knitted a 'medal cosy' would get a positive response. It's not as though all the female athletes are sharing their knitting patterns and being ignored.

@IvyTwines2

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

They should bake a cake for him.

If a young sports woman was sitting. Knitting i would find it "cute," too

I honestly think that any athlete who knitted a 'medal cosy' would get a positive response. It's not as though all the female athletes are sharing their knitting patterns and being ignored.

Absolutely. Maybe not the mainstream media, but knitting Instagrammers often excitedly post pictures of celebs past and present knitting or wearing obviously home-knitted items. Audrey Hepburn and Julia Roberts often feature. I seem to remember one of Russell Crowe! It's not just an 'Ooh a man doing a thing that's supposed to be for old ladies' thing.

Arricle here about celebs who knit www.topcrochetpatterns.com/blog/30-celebs-you-never-knew-knitted

TheCountess, thanks for adding some detail. Like I say, I am not currently a crafter. I didn't say primarily a man's skill though. Just meant that it wasn't a thing that only women did.

I'm pleased TD won his medal, he worked hard for it and earned it, as did his team mate. I'm sure knitters are delighted he's raised the profile of their 'elderly white lady' hobby. Be awful for them if everyone associated knitting with old women.

Yeah I'm not sure I can think someone's cute who is all for transwomen in sports but knows exactly what a woman is when he needs two women to donate an egg and carry his baby for 9 months.

Wasn't there a female skier who was knitting during breaks in play in the Winter Olympics last time? I'm fairly sure it got a fair bit of coverage - at least the same amount as I've seen of Tom Daley.