Interesting! I spent most of my teenage years as a poor, rural townie on the Great Plains, where sewing was a way of life. Sometimes my mother and sister made their own dresses for formal events – somewhat because we couldn't afford expensive clothes but also because it was a traditional craft people enjoyed. Sharing patterns, hunting out fabrics together, learning new techniques – these were all highly social activities... for women and girls.

My brother and I never learned to sew. I will say, however, that when our jeans needed patching or buttons needed sewing back on, our mother insisted we do it ourselves. As for dress slacks, she did teach us how to use the sewing machine to hem the pant length.

I was a bit surprised later in life to learn that in military culture, a bit of sewing was not looked down upon as being unmasculine. Skills required to take care of one's uniform were taught and encouraged.

In Marine Corps Basic Training, I was issued a sewing kit and taught how to sew on buttons and other basic clothing repair.

When I told people that, they looked a little astonished that something so "feminine" would take place in such a traditionally macho masculine environment.

Isn't it funny how basic tasks can be gendered to the point that we find them inappropriate?