Sooooo happy about the “hobbies do not have to be productive”. I HATE it when people ask what my hobbies are because honestly, consuming media en watching movies and series with some snacks are my favourite things ever, but it feels so uninteresting to say. Glad there’s more people out there feeling the same 🫶🏻
Had to laugh as a male...I'm obviously not manly enough. My hobbies are sitting on the sofa consuming chips and Netflix. Reading a book, making imaginative/experimental dinners and writing. I feel endless guilty not leaving the house.
It's so hard trying to categorize hobbies that have become "recent" due to the internet like fandom or online media consumption without feeling like you need to explain yourself! this edish is sooo good thank you!!
Whenever I think about hobbies and what I do to unwind or what I can do because what I'm currently doing doesn't actually make me happy (scrolling on my phone when I should be reading instead) I can only think about how money is always the bar of entry. I don't want to have to buy 50 starter kits to be able to start doing things, because I want to spend that money on other things. It makes me not want to engage in these hobbies.
Related interesting social phenomenon is the difference between crafts where the profession is dominated by men but hobby is a woman thing (the difference is usually that making money makes it manly).
For example, cooking at home is a womans thing. But being a chef? Most people would picture a man.
My hobby is also media consumption: email newsletters, newspapers, getting back into magazines via cheap subscriptions, books, social media. Not enough hours in the day! I love it and it exhausts me at the same time.
I recently wrote on my Substack about the decline in kids learning musical instruments, which was indicative of a decline in respect for the slow improvement of skills. I wonder if this decline hits women harder because there's less cultural admiration for the minutely obsessive woman who focuses on a single, often weird, endeavour. For women, there's more value placed on doing everything effortlessly.
I have always been a huge reader, and I am interested in learning how to crochet, but I was also really into playing softball (until I quit after freshman year of high school due to a shitty coach- realllyyyyyy long story), and I had a bow when I was younger and was super into archery. I have been looking into getting a new, adult bow recently because I want to pick it back up. 🩷 I never really thought of the fact that women's hobbies leant more towards being a housewife while men's were usually outdoors (exceptions recognized), but I think that's a really interesting way to look at it. I was raised on a farm in the country, so we all usually had hobbies in and out of the home, so I guess it just never occured to me that looking back historically, it would make sense that it evolved it's way into our modern day more or less.
I also forgot to add that my hobbies ALSO include fandom, specifically anything and everything surrounding 1D, Taylor Swift, 5SOS, and a handful of my favorite shows 😂
I find the public and private spheres sooooo fascinating!! Especially how they have historically been divided between men and women. While men can move between the spheres, they spend most of their time in public spaces doing work that is considered more "valuable". Meanwhile, women are confined to the privacy of the home doing the domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning, and raising children - work that is vital but never compensated with wages. It is not valued so highly for precisely this reason - unpaid work will not contribute to a capitalist economy.
Oops, I'm not sure when this became an essay, but basically thank you for writing this! 🫶
I can't stop thinking about consumption, and this framing — both through the "girlhood" lens and the brilliant @culturestudy — help contextualize a bit.
I'm curious — when you say "consuming media," what specific aspects are you referring to? Sometimes I say I like falling down rabbit holes online, but there is something that makes me feel shameful or meek about admitting that to most!
ok @culturestudy is the GOAT!! And I mean ALL OF IT - reading essays, books, articles, learning about the world and being in FANDOMS. It's soooo hard to explain to people that don't get that tingly feeling when you're fall down a rabbit hole and suddenly feel so STRONG with new power, but do NOT feel shameful about it angel!!!
Definitely agree with the points about reinforcing our own stereotypes through some of these "girl" activities. I love embracing girlie things, but sometimes it feels like people want to be hyper-relatable or make themselves a little more one-dimensional than they really are because the content might become more popular. I haven't read the article you mentioned, but the part you pointed out the parts about traditionally male vs female hobbies makes so much sense. We should definitely be introspecting about these sorts of things.
It's possible that part of that list and your reaction is the consumer/commercial engine that drives a chunk of things on s'media like tiktok. Lists like that feel 'produced' which sucks because enjoining those things is valid. The anthropologist in me asks where the drive to consuming for pleasure stems from and even if we think we've independently chosen to do or partake is it really independent or have we been inculcated (totally a word now if it wasn't before) and groomed to embrace those hobbies /activities? I also enjoy many of the things on that list so no finger pointing from me. Consuming media is totally a hobby of mine, thank you. I've been saying I collect the Internet since 2002 or so. And i have the collection of random lolz, memes and images to go with that 😂
yes yes yes, i feel like as women/girls we should absolutely interrogate why we're still reinforcing the limitations on our free time. The world is too big, too cute to revolve our free time around consumerism. I believe in hobbies that are useless and exist to add to a pleasurable day.
Also, yes please, I am going to listen to the podcast because 12-year-olds in Sephora is a thing I never thought out loud lool
I’m easily one to say that consuming media has been like my full time job (or that’s at least how much time I spend doing it everyday) To say it’s a hobby makes me sad. Should consuming media be considered a hobby or an addiction? I don’t see it as a hobby and I see it as a serious issue I need to face up to. Should I see it as a hobby? Or is that trying to sugarcoat what’s really going on here?
I was JUST thinking this so thank you for putting it so succinctly. It's not like there is an end result to my scrolling, and I know I could be doing much more productive things like making art and finally getting around to the projects I keep telling myself I want to do. And also - my addiction has furthered this idea that unless I record it and tell people I've done it, does it even matter?
I wrote my first subs stack about this very issue that's hard to get rid of. I think life is about everything that you don't tell people. Those little or major moments where you are just living! Everything these days is just so forgetful, which is why I can understand telling others about moments in our lives. So, at least someone will acknowledge we did something. Maybe would writing in a journal help? With the knowledge that maybe someone in the future will read it and recognize what you've done with your life, or revel and sigh happily at the fact that maybe no one will.
"if you enjoy something, that’s a good enough use of your time" how can I get this tattooed on my brain????
omg i was like 'who wrote that????' hahahah
a combo i picked up thanks to my college roommate and friend is "butt booty naked"
INTO IT
Sooooo happy about the “hobbies do not have to be productive”. I HATE it when people ask what my hobbies are because honestly, consuming media en watching movies and series with some snacks are my favourite things ever, but it feels so uninteresting to say. Glad there’s more people out there feeling the same 🫶🏻
sisters!!!
Had to laugh as a male...I'm obviously not manly enough. My hobbies are sitting on the sofa consuming chips and Netflix. Reading a book, making imaginative/experimental dinners and writing. I feel endless guilty not leaving the house.
It's so hard trying to categorize hobbies that have become "recent" due to the internet like fandom or online media consumption without feeling like you need to explain yourself! this edish is sooo good thank you!!
right!!!!! love u
Whenever I think about hobbies and what I do to unwind or what I can do because what I'm currently doing doesn't actually make me happy (scrolling on my phone when I should be reading instead) I can only think about how money is always the bar of entry. I don't want to have to buy 50 starter kits to be able to start doing things, because I want to spend that money on other things. It makes me not want to engage in these hobbies.
Related interesting social phenomenon is the difference between crafts where the profession is dominated by men but hobby is a woman thing (the difference is usually that making money makes it manly).
For example, cooking at home is a womans thing. But being a chef? Most people would picture a man.
OMG! OK THIS IS SO INTERESTING
Sewing is a good one! I can think of "tailor", but seamstresses are def woman. Although historically it was less a hobby and just a womans job :/
My hobby is also media consumption: email newsletters, newspapers, getting back into magazines via cheap subscriptions, books, social media. Not enough hours in the day! I love it and it exhausts me at the same time.
NO PAM, SAME
I recently wrote on my Substack about the decline in kids learning musical instruments, which was indicative of a decline in respect for the slow improvement of skills. I wonder if this decline hits women harder because there's less cultural admiration for the minutely obsessive woman who focuses on a single, often weird, endeavour. For women, there's more value placed on doing everything effortlessly.
I have always been a huge reader, and I am interested in learning how to crochet, but I was also really into playing softball (until I quit after freshman year of high school due to a shitty coach- realllyyyyyy long story), and I had a bow when I was younger and was super into archery. I have been looking into getting a new, adult bow recently because I want to pick it back up. 🩷 I never really thought of the fact that women's hobbies leant more towards being a housewife while men's were usually outdoors (exceptions recognized), but I think that's a really interesting way to look at it. I was raised on a farm in the country, so we all usually had hobbies in and out of the home, so I guess it just never occured to me that looking back historically, it would make sense that it evolved it's way into our modern day more or less.
I also forgot to add that my hobbies ALSO include fandom, specifically anything and everything surrounding 1D, Taylor Swift, 5SOS, and a handful of my favorite shows 😂
I find the public and private spheres sooooo fascinating!! Especially how they have historically been divided between men and women. While men can move between the spheres, they spend most of their time in public spaces doing work that is considered more "valuable". Meanwhile, women are confined to the privacy of the home doing the domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning, and raising children - work that is vital but never compensated with wages. It is not valued so highly for precisely this reason - unpaid work will not contribute to a capitalist economy.
Oops, I'm not sure when this became an essay, but basically thank you for writing this! 🫶
I can't stop thinking about consumption, and this framing — both through the "girlhood" lens and the brilliant @culturestudy — help contextualize a bit.
I'm curious — when you say "consuming media," what specific aspects are you referring to? Sometimes I say I like falling down rabbit holes online, but there is something that makes me feel shameful or meek about admitting that to most!
ok @culturestudy is the GOAT!! And I mean ALL OF IT - reading essays, books, articles, learning about the world and being in FANDOMS. It's soooo hard to explain to people that don't get that tingly feeling when you're fall down a rabbit hole and suddenly feel so STRONG with new power, but do NOT feel shameful about it angel!!!
Definitely agree with the points about reinforcing our own stereotypes through some of these "girl" activities. I love embracing girlie things, but sometimes it feels like people want to be hyper-relatable or make themselves a little more one-dimensional than they really are because the content might become more popular. I haven't read the article you mentioned, but the part you pointed out the parts about traditionally male vs female hobbies makes so much sense. We should definitely be introspecting about these sorts of things.
It's possible that part of that list and your reaction is the consumer/commercial engine that drives a chunk of things on s'media like tiktok. Lists like that feel 'produced' which sucks because enjoining those things is valid. The anthropologist in me asks where the drive to consuming for pleasure stems from and even if we think we've independently chosen to do or partake is it really independent or have we been inculcated (totally a word now if it wasn't before) and groomed to embrace those hobbies /activities? I also enjoy many of the things on that list so no finger pointing from me. Consuming media is totally a hobby of mine, thank you. I've been saying I collect the Internet since 2002 or so. And i have the collection of random lolz, memes and images to go with that 😂
yes yes yes, i feel like as women/girls we should absolutely interrogate why we're still reinforcing the limitations on our free time. The world is too big, too cute to revolve our free time around consumerism. I believe in hobbies that are useless and exist to add to a pleasurable day.
Also, yes please, I am going to listen to the podcast because 12-year-olds in Sephora is a thing I never thought out loud lool
I’m easily one to say that consuming media has been like my full time job (or that’s at least how much time I spend doing it everyday) To say it’s a hobby makes me sad. Should consuming media be considered a hobby or an addiction? I don’t see it as a hobby and I see it as a serious issue I need to face up to. Should I see it as a hobby? Or is that trying to sugarcoat what’s really going on here?
I was JUST thinking this so thank you for putting it so succinctly. It's not like there is an end result to my scrolling, and I know I could be doing much more productive things like making art and finally getting around to the projects I keep telling myself I want to do. And also - my addiction has furthered this idea that unless I record it and tell people I've done it, does it even matter?
I wrote my first subs stack about this very issue that's hard to get rid of. I think life is about everything that you don't tell people. Those little or major moments where you are just living! Everything these days is just so forgetful, which is why I can understand telling others about moments in our lives. So, at least someone will acknowledge we did something. Maybe would writing in a journal help? With the knowledge that maybe someone in the future will read it and recognize what you've done with your life, or revel and sigh happily at the fact that maybe no one will.