I have read lengthy discussions over the term “granny hobbies”. Some folks feel it reeks of ageism and blame younger folks of claiming to breathe new life into obsolete hobbies. Others see no issue with the terminology and joyously embrace the resurgence of interest in skills that, a while back, seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
My perspective is based of course on my own life experiences. I was blessed to have a grandmother who patiently taught me knitting and tatting when I was a pre-teen. I now own and operate a knitting studio where I teach knitting and weaving and sell related supplies.
I have been in business for 22 years. In the first decade, I definitely had concerns. The vast majority of my customers were nearing retirement age or were retired. I worried that I wasn’t seeing any younger folks picking up the craft. Times have definitely changed – and I remember a specific pivot point. About 10 years ago, the Tourism Association of PEI ran a contest where the winner would receive a $250.00 shopping spree at a PEI Arts and Heritage Trail shop of their choice. Rhyan Swantee, a delightful young knitter from Nova Scotia, chose my shop and was so excited with her armload of goodies! It made my heart sing to see a young person so involved in knitting Now, at our weekly knit nights, it’s wonderful to welcome all ages and all genders to the table.
My perspective is based of course on my own life experiences. I was blessed to have a grandmother who patiently taught me knitting and tatting when I was a pre-teen. I now own and operate a knitting studio where I teach knitting and weaving and sell related supplies.
I have been in business for 22 years. In the first decade, I definitely had concerns. The vast majority of my customers were nearing retirement age or were retired. I worried that I wasn’t seeing any younger folks picking up the craft. Times have definitely changed – and I remember a specific pivot point. About 10 years ago, the Tourism Association of PEI ran a contest where the winner would receive a $250.00 shopping spree at a PEI Arts and Heritage Trail shop of their choice. Rhyan Swantee, a delightful young knitter from Nova Scotia, chose my shop and was so excited with her armload of goodies! It made my heart sing to see a young person so involved in knitting Now, at our weekly knit nights, it’s wonderful to welcome all ages and all genders to the table.
The term “granny hobbies” encompasses a wide variety of interests – from the fibre arts to baking, canning, gardening and so on. Pretty much anything where you step away from being online and, yes, possibly feel like you are enjoying something that your grandmother may have done. These hobbies are proven to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, stimulate your brain, ease stress.
So – given that I am past traditional retirement age, do I consider the phrase “granny hobby” to be indicative of ageism? Most of the time, no. I think that we have likely all encountered a snide remark or two. A young spinner friend meets up with her fellow spinners in a park. They were approached by an older fellow who said “I thought only old ladies did that.” Well, they were all quite miffed to say the least. But on the whole, I choose to look at the term “granny hobby” as something that honours my grandmother. By passing on her skills, I am ensuring in a small way that her spirit lives on. I only wish that, when she was still with us, I had taken the time to benefit from her many other areas of expertise including baking, canning and gardening. Perhaps, instead of looking at the phrase “granny hobbies” as demeaning, we are in fact honouring and respecting our elders who came before us. Let’s set aside ageism and the generational labels that come with it and simply appreciate what each individual person, regardless of age, can share with us if we are willing to listen.
So – given that I am past traditional retirement age, do I consider the phrase “granny hobby” to be indicative of ageism? Most of the time, no. I think that we have likely all encountered a snide remark or two. A young spinner friend meets up with her fellow spinners in a park. They were approached by an older fellow who said “I thought only old ladies did that.” Well, they were all quite miffed to say the least. But on the whole, I choose to look at the term “granny hobby” as something that honours my grandmother. By passing on her skills, I am ensuring in a small way that her spirit lives on. I only wish that, when she was still with us, I had taken the time to benefit from her many other areas of expertise including baking, canning and gardening. Perhaps, instead of looking at the phrase “granny hobbies” as demeaning, we are in fact honouring and respecting our elders who came before us. Let’s set aside ageism and the generational labels that come with it and simply appreciate what each individual person, regardless of age, can share with us if we are willing to listen.
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