Say no to aprons!
Why oh why can't Japanese women (usually over the age of 40) take off their aprons before they leave the house. They seem to be unable to part with the god-awful floral tabards, and insist on wearing them down to the shops , walking along the street, and on a trip to the post office...like the ladies I had to sit next to yesterday morning as I waited to send some money home to Blighty. Maybe they live close to the post office, maybe they live next door even...but still...why can't they flippin take off their dreadful aprons first??? It's just a simple bow that holds the apron in place...no complicated lock system, or corset-style lacing...it's just a bow or a knot...so for god's sake untie it, leave the tabard on the kitchen table, and walk out into public looking like a civilised, normal human being, rather than a sad, tragic old woman. Ok...that's all I have to say about that! Thank you!
posted by Lauren @ 4:49 am
1 Comments:
At 5:59 am,
J-girl said…
Over the past 2 years, I have spent much time pondering this very question. Here's the theory I came up with:
In Japan, everyone has uniforms. Uniforms function to show one's status and one's age. (This is very important because some middle-aged women here could pass for junior high students and vice-versa!)
When a housewife wears an apron out, it shows that she is married and probably a mother--both roles which generally hold social status among women in this culture. It also shows she is not trying to be flirty and is faithful to her husband.
In fact, married women are not even supposed to wear bright colors like red or hot pink anymore, unless they want to be talked about. Navy blue, brown, and other subdued colors are more acceptable.
An apron is the ultimate way of saying "I am a dedicated wife and loving mother." ...Or at least that was what I came up with.
By the way, I don't own an apron. I wonder if that has the people in my town talking...
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