Tuesday 27 January 2009

pinking shears

I am really bothered by sexism. Perhaps it is because I studied English and Linguistics at uni that I truly believe that language makes our world. And that is why statements like this really piss me off:

Every seamstress? And what are 'seamsters' of the world supposed to use? Blueing shears? I'm thinking of renaming them in general my beigeing shears to get the right neutral tone.

A dear friend of mine was set up on a blind date with a guy, in part because the mutual friend thought that something that they had in common was that they both sewed (or that's how I understood the story). A romance, a marriage and a beautiful baby boy later I expect that the man in question's advice to his son on how to meet girls will be, 'learn to sew!'

Less sexism in the handcrafts world perhaps?

4 comments:

Angela said...

Hi Amelia!

Well said! Seamsters are just as equal to any seamstress!!

I've been meaning to write to say 'Thank You' for my very cute owl! I LOVE IT : )

Thank you!!
Angela xx

Maureen Reynolds said...

From Wikipedia -Name

The cut produced by pinking shears may have given its name to (or be derived from) the plant name pink, a flowering plant in the genus Dianthus (commonly called a carnation). The colour pink may have been named after these flowers, although the origins of the name are not definitively known. As the carnation has scalloped, or "pinked", edges to its petals, pinking shears can be thought to produce an edge similar to the flower.

Glad to have a chance to stop in again and say hello from cross country.

Di said...

:))) You know, he actually gave me a pair for my birthday a couple of years ago!

Anonymous said...

I tried to cut my own hair with pinking shears when I was about 12. I thought it might be an interesting effect but can definitely say that I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to look like an escaped mental patient.