Should women in power knit?

Photo from the Women's Weekly magazine

“In terms of knitting for Kate's baby – I knit for babies, in part, because they are smaller projects," Ms Gillard said. "I've got not that much time in my life. You can get them done and there's a sense of satisfaction in having completed it." . . . Critics said the magazine story was a blatant "stunt" and accused Ms Gillard of lacking gravitas and re-enforcing clichéd stereotypes about women. (source: Telegraph, 26th June 2013)


I have been amazed at the negative and somewhat nasty comments in regards to a very recent photo shot of Australia’s current former (and first female) Prime Minister - knitting. The photo appears in this months copy of the Australian Women's Weekly, a popular women's magazine and it has cause quite a kerfuffle. No matter what you think of Julia Gillard, I do like the fact that a woman in such a powerful position does ordinary activities like knitting and isn't afraid of sharing her passion with others.  She is not embarrassed about her love of knitting, she is a proud knitter and is well known for her knitting.  Good on her!!


I want to see more photos of the Prime Minister standing behind a wooden desk looking ass-kicking, razor smart and uber-powerful – because incidentally that’s exactly the kind of woman she is.
(Source: Mamamia)

Some of the other comments have been along these themes:

* This picture is taking women back to the dark ages when they did handicraft, can't have that!

* Others see it as something only our mothers did and certainly not done by a woman in power

* Feminist don't knit, do they, never?

* Stereotypes women into traditional roles?

* Only older women knit

This is just plain silly - why can't a woman in a powerful position in society undertake "ordinary" female activities without being criticised.  Do we criticse men in powerful positions who like to garden as it might "stereotype" them into traditional male roles, no, of course not. So why attack   women for enjoying undertaken traditional female activities such as knitting in their spare time.

What would be an acceptable female hobby that feminist would agree to?  It appears that knitting isn't one of them.

Just my two-cents worth on this topic!!

Source: 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10140288/Julia-Gillard-in-absurd-Royal-Baby-knitting-photo-shoot.html

http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/julia-gillard-knitting/