The kitchen is not my kitchen

Abstract

“The Kitchen is Not My Kitchen” is a free verse poem written by Clara Jurgenliemk, who identifies as a cisgender female with white European heritage. It portrays the traditional gender oppression that kitchens represent, then subverts it to reflect today’s improved gender roles in Canada. While feminism is still largely needed in Canada and across the world, “The Kitchen is Not My Kitchen” is an appreciation for the progress that has been made as well as a resistance against traditional gender structure, illustrating women’s right to reclaim the kitchen with empowerment. “The Kitchen is Not My Kitchen” takes the kitchen from a place of obligation to a place of forgiveness and joy.