Please read this post from Kitty Calash: “Men, Women, and Work.”
Years back, I determined “I do not cook.” This started out thanks to summers of doing a residential scout camp all summer where I cooked outside each and every week. I had enough of campfire cooking.
This stance of “I do not cook” has evolved into the observation Kitty shares: All too often women are tied to a campfire at military events.
For me, that is many levels of unappealing
I acknowledge some women love to cook, enjoy cooking, choose to cook. Cheers to you! Some of you do your research and impressions exceptionally.
Then there expected or assumed situations that ‘wife’, ‘girlfriend’, ‘mom’ is going to cook and care for me in camp.
Um. No thank you.
When little sister started developing an interest in historical interpretation, I repeatedly cringed at mom’s suggestion, um, read “push”, to cook. To me cooking is….. having to tow around heavy pots and pans…. having to box and store dishes…. having to deal with digging a fire pit…. having to deal with a fire…. having to deal with food… being stuck in camp….
Ugh. No thank you.
I am so very, very thankful for historical settings that invite a variety of domestic, social and business based interpretations. I am so very, very thankful for period publications, such as Moore’s Rural New Yorker, that show women venting about their distaste for the kitchen and those who hire in instead.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
Thanks for your post. Hopefully I fall into the category of researching and having a decent impression. I do enjoy the cooking and recipe research. But I do see many women who do not enjoy it, but feel it’s the only thing they can do.
Yes, I would consider you in that catagory. Your enjoyment does come through too.
Thank you for sharing your musings! May I ask what you currently do at military events?
I do social 19th century events (dances, living history timelines, outings) but no/minimal military. The only military events I really attend are WWII, because women did so many things and there is such a wide range of impressions. I’d love to see more of this in other periods!
I now avoid military events. In village settings, I do a millinery impression (demo not sales). In home settings, I do sewing gatherings with an aide or mite society angle if need be. Open air, as in no buildings, military events are not something I can attend.