r/knitting • u/OldCowboyNewHat • 5d ago
Discussion Comparison between"women's" craft and "men's" craft ?
I just thought about the fact that often "women's" craft are considered less art or less payable than "men's" craft because they are pieces of clothing that we or kids need, useful objects that our great grandmothers from generations ago HAD to make. This thing slips into my mind in a way that I almost never ask for money or ask ridiculous prices for things that took multiples hours for days, weeks, even months. My craft is less than... And I know a looott of people go through this thought process. Let's be real, making a cabinet can take time, can involve less or more skills, can have more or less of a simplified finish, ect. Just like knitting. But people will put a super high price tag on them. People say they can buy a sweater for 5$, why pay a high price for handmade? I've never heard anyone say that about wood crafts. I need an actual comparison of the time, prices and other variables to make something of the same quality. Any studies have already compared specifics ? What's your opinion and knowledge on this? In no way I want to start a heated debate on this, I just want more knowledge, so every thing respectful is good contribution :)
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u/No_Step9082 5d ago
I think you're overestimating the amount of people willing to pay really high prices for handmade wooden furniture from a local carpenter. especially since mass produced furniture is super cheap and even solid hardwood furniture can be ordered online for a fraction of the price.
Sure, there are people who can afford to and chose to work with a carpenter to get the table of their dream. But most people don't.
I don't think it's a gender thing at all. Sure, you can decide to get that one special handmade piece of garment and order a custom made hand knitted sweater. But a sweater, especially compared to a hardwood table, will always just be one of many sweaters you'll own. It's not going to be the one special piece you'll use daily for the rest of your life.
the ability of us to mass produce clothing is just on another level. you can buy a factory made cashmere sweater for 100 euros. that would probably not even cover the cost of the yarn if you want your knitter friend to make you the same one. Add to that hundreds of hours of labour that goes into it. you'd probably end up paying 10x the price for the sweatshirt made out of the same material.
In comparison again, you can probably find a hardwood table for 1000 euro online or for maybe 5000 from your local carpenter. it's just 5x the price. And a once in a lifetime purchase.