MEN TOO CAN KNIT FOR A LIVING While most males may perceive knitting as a feminine job, Mr Kelebogile Kesebonye of Molebatsi ward in Tonota has a different opinion. He has become such a perfect hand knitter. The 42-year-old Mr Kesebonye argued in an interview with BOPA that jobs should not gender labeled; rather it is all about what one can do to earn a living. He said it was something he picked up while watching and sometimes helping his 36-year-old wife, Dineo, in her knitting; “My wife does a lot of knitting and sewing, so I acquired some of the skills from her,” he said, adding that when he used to help Dineo he did not know that he would eventually become a competent knitter himself. He said he got more intrigued with knitting than sewing because the latter seemed a bit more complicated than the former. “Initially I just wanted to master the art of knitting,” he said, adding that he started off crocheting small things like bottle holders and table mats, among other things to help the family business. With time, he learnt how to knit more complicated items like gloves and jerseys, and though he admitted that at the time he lacked the patience needed in knitting, today he has developed a passion for it. “To me this is also a way of showing love to my wife because men usually expect their wives to support their husbands in what we do. I want to believe that if we offer the same kind of support we would get the respect we yearn for,” he said. He further said, with the rising problem of gender based violence, one way to reduce it is to love women by showing them support in what they do. Mr Kesebonye said he has since observed that when a woman does what she loves for a living, she becomes happy and the support of her counterpart glorifies the whole relationship. “A happy woman makes a happy home,” he said. He said although he does not plan to be knitting his whole life, in the meantime he is delighted to be supporting his wife. Furthermore, he is prepared to do that until the business is stable. Their products include jerseys, hand gloves, and belts, among other things. At the moment, they just use traditional sewing needles with the anticipation that the business will grow to a point where they would buy modern machines. (BOPA)
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:31:57 +0000
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