Had an inspiration this morning while doing the dishes, with the usual grumpy resentment about there always being dishes to do in order to clear the deck in the kitchen, although I'm not the one who generates them, and thinking about the third chunk of Righteous Anger I had just submitted to the NorSpec workshop last night, major typos and wrong-words, warts and all.

That third section is about Kene's visit to Fountain Court, and includes a bit where one of Beryl Nesak's retainers helps out by waiting on table.

Rinsing a cereal bowl, I imagined a gesture periodically performed by Nesak men, in which they ritually remind themselves that woman's work is of equal value, and the women voluntarily perform it to leave them free to do the work they prefer. In the ritual they will acknowledge that it is not demeaning to do domestic chores, demonstrate their willingness by washing one dish or sweeping one floor, and thank their wife, mother or sister before handing over the broom or the tea towel.

The reality of Nesak life is unequal with regard to gender roles and, ultimately, power, but I am discovering in Beryl that Nesak women have enough spunk to catch them out in hypocrisy if they get too superior and effectively say, "Fine then, you do the dishes and I'll fight the Vrellish for you".

PS in justice to loved ones, I will add that Jennifer has just come upstairs and spontaneously offered to do all the dishes she can get done before we go out to meet Sarah at Books & Co at 10 am. (She's been taping the first book of Animorphs.) David is working today at the Playhouse. Dishes in the sink, however, are still dishes in the sink and there are always better things to do, for everyone. Grr, grump, and ringing of hands.

posted by Lynda at 09:01   comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 1 comments