Current Connection 3.1

     In a recent webpage article entitled "Women Chefs Take Control" readers learn through personal interviews of female chefs of the recent rise in success of female chefs and female restaurant owners. In the past female chefs did not have as much credibility as male chefs and male restaurant owners, but as time has passed more and more women are becoming famous and highly respected in the culinary industry.
   
     In past times women were not taken as serious as male chefs. Although now we see many respected woman chefs, running successful high class restaurants, this was not always so easy for women becoming culinary chefs. Nora Pouillon, a women interviewed for this article, states to readers "In the late '70s it was really difficult for a women to be a chef- we were not taken very seriously." She goes on to explain that it was near impossible for a woman to get a job as "the top executive in any of DC's premier kitchens." Sure women may have been able to get jobs in small diners or fast food joints, but as far as becoming the head chef of a high class, expensive restaurant, women were not considered a successful option for businesses.
   
     Not only was the task difficult for women to obtain a job as a professional culinary chef, many restaurant owners would not even consider hiring a women. Ann Cashion may be used as a prime example of how difficult becoming a respected professional chef was for women even in the 80s. She states to readers in her interview for this article that when she attempted to acquire a job assessment for a Washington restaurant, the immediate response she received from the head chef was "Forget about it. They don't hire women." Many restaurants did not even consider a women as an option for hiring. Women are just as well capable as men to be chefs, but through the 70s to the 90s, male restaurant owners just did not want to accept that.

     As the times have changed more and more women are taking on the culinary industry and proving their success as chefs. Rachel Harriman has a positive outlook on this situation stating "Forget about gender roles and stereotypes and just be the best you can be." Rachel, a prime example of how hard work and dedication pays off, also leaves readers with this statement "The one great thing about DC is that whether you're male or female, today there definitely is a great chef network here." Furthermore as the times have changed, the culinary industry to has changed, allowing more and more women to prove their skills and dedication to the culinary industry.

     Nowadays we see everywhere the success of female culinary chefs. Whether we see them having a successful television show on the Food Network channel or we see them working in a top notch restaurant; the success of female chefs can be seen all around us as proof that dedication and hard work pays off even to the toughest of critics.

     Finally, we see how women are having a positive effect on the culinary industry. We have seen examples above of how women have worked hard to make a name in the culinary industry and how their work has paid off. Being a chef, a job that loved by men and women alike, now allows every person equal opportunities for jobs as chefs. Employers no longer look at gender first, they assess an employee based solely on their performance.