‘She haffi can cook’

A few years ago, entertainer Mr Lexx stated a requirement of many Jamaican men in his song Cook, demanding that his woman must be a pro in the kitchen before being eligible for wife status.

But today, with things and times changing, and technology allowing for items like dumplings, green bananas and yam to be available pre-peeled and pre-kneaded on supermarket shelves, are men’s expectations bending with the times? Is it still a requirement that she be able to cook, in an environmet where women are becoming less domesticated and more career-driven?

Orlando 35:

It really isn’t that important if she can cook or how often she cooks. Because even if she can’t cook, I can teach her, but I don’t expect her to be around a hot stove every day. As long as food is in the house I won’t starve.

Clive 41:

All the women I have been with have all cooked for me, so I’m expecting my future woman to do the same. She can’t expect me to eat out when she is at home.

Devon 26:

If she can cook it will be an asset but it isn’t a necessity. I can cook, so it really isn’t an issue for me.

Stephen 33:

Well, I don’t know how to cook, so any woman who comes into my life has to understand that she will be doing all the cooking. I will help her do other things around the house, but she has to be able to cook and cook really good too.

Trevor 49:

Yes, she has to be able to cook. I grew up in a household where my mother and my sisters did all the cooking, so I really can’t expect any less from my woman. If she can’t cook, then what is the point of being with her? A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Carl 29:

If she can’t cook, how are we going to eat? I can’t cook! Right now I’m single and many times on my way home I just grab fast food. It’s not what I want. I would prefer to come home to a cooked meal from my woman.