three boys at high tea
Post on 29-Jun-2015
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Three boys at High Tea
Charles Norris
A short history of tea
•Began in England, 1650s•Attracted aristocracy• Genders separated
• Servants served tea
•Association with elegance
•Began with marriage of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza
Shared tea, genders join the practice
*High tea had been primarily for females
*Poet Edmund Waller wrote poetry for Queen Catherine in the early 1600’s
*Birthday poem at a high tea helped open doors for male suitors
*Popularization of this practice sparked some inclusion of both genders
Women shaped houses
*1674-women connect with each other at high teas in homes/men talk at coffee houses
•Women saw men’s practice as less refined, oddly mirrored women’s practice at same time
•* Women confined by this in homes, men free to roam and explore
•* Flash forward 200 years, census bureau records women and girls as keeping house-an occupation (1851-1881)
•* Yard stick shows women’s freedom, choices/role changes ‘’allowed’’ evolution growth wise was little to none exponentially
Stir nothing but tea*High tea fits in to history’s ideals of acceptable women’s leisure-being portrayed as the weaker and passive gender
*Quiet indoor activity mostly In line with cultural expectations of the feminine gender
*Indoor, safe from the elements
*!700’s brought scrutiny to men attending high teas *Men generally stuck to coffee housesAlmost exclusively, those that showed interest in teas were scrutinized by peers*Emergence of tea gardens brings neutrality to the aristocratic practice
Women robots short circuit•Where and what to drink/places to convene for women limited in the 1700’s/1800’s
•*Women looked at as vulnerable and weak/ subject to injury
•* Bonds/sisterhood was formed through subordination women were subjected to
•*Tea said to be a morale booster during WW 2
•*Unhealthy balance/lack of leisure women kept causes fatigue needing medical attention
Historical changes*Thomas Twining makes revolutionary move toward women" welcome to my tea Shoppe”
*1717,he is one of 300 yrs. of tea Twining's
*Current high teas include Orange County’s Royal T establishment- brown de-gendered space where female servers don french maid outfits
*Taking tea implies self care-time to do it Tea rituals hint sophistication Roots in working class main meal/ farmers in U.K.
A new Era-women’s impact is felt
*Women like Susan B.Anthony symbolizes the the breakage of women’s chains, as prominent civil rights leader
*Women like Eleonora Sears made impact/ waves by wearing shortened hair and pants
*Public and political lives of men contrast the spheres of intra and inter-familial relations women lived
*Late 1800’s-women limited by body image-similar to today's struggles-previous eras were discouraged to feel their feelings in this respect
Female tea dealers*Women tea dealers/pioneers
*Spirit of women in this capacity a symbol of conquering male dominated world
*1725 Mary Tuke first female tea dealer
•Definition of who attended and where tea wise was women’s-even what to talk about
•*Tuke broke the ground for those to follow• Living a feminist model sent shockwaves for generations
Setting the scene•Shirts were ironed, arrival to tea for three
•* French Bakery welcomes two old friends and a husband on a crisp January morning
•*Fancily decorated house in Lafayette-not unlike a gingerbread house
•*Greeted by a friendly woman-new experience abounding
Toast of three males
*Families spoken to relay story high teas abroad with all genders in attendance
*Valentines the day that brings men yearly at this bakery
*San Francisco high teas attended by bi-gendered patrons, heavily female centric inclusive leisure past time
Roles,roots,and decor•High tea attendance not a challenge to me-before coming out of the closet may have been more so
*Femininity exposed previously for me was uncomfortable, enjoyable this time/non- issue
•Company at tea comfortable•None bothered by what was traditionally a female centered practice
•*Quiet pink rooms,teeny chairs, small food portions not intimidating•*We were undaunted by the social roles and roots imposed here by setting& practice
Are you in the right place?Server at the French Bakery high tea place relayed that she thought I was a husband making a reservation for wife
*Pedicures for me include being asked if I am there to pick up my girlfriend by shop employees
*Hoped our presence did not encroach on privacy/world of high tea climate that day
•Was this the equivalent of a female interviewer entering a male locker room?
•* Gendered spaces hold an unspoken way about them-as if to say certain people belong/one might look silly if not the preferred gender
Tea time is gender neutral•Our first high tea, not our last
•*Tea time as a great way to cultivate friendships/socialize in civilized setting
•*Plans to have mixed/same gender teas, gender has no bearing on guests attending)
•*Tea with husband on special occasions/anniversary etc.
•*So much history steeped in this practice, early sisterhood, domestic contexts, and culturally defined leisure practices
Connection is gender blind
*High tea an attractive practice in the future
*Parents, best friends of both genders&trans-gendered, husband -all good candidates for high tea
*Dignified and civilized, tea offered a peek in to historicalpastimes and gender roles
* A socially attractive leisure choice ,indulgent and pampering while stimulating to the intellect
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