That’s what I saw in my grandma’s house. She loved cooking dinner for her husband and family. She invited us over at least monthly for splendid feasts. The house was always sparkling and warm, filled with flowers and exquisite china and charming trinkets. Dignified lady and banker that she was, my grandmother saw nothing wrong with rolling up her sleeves and spending a whole day cooking in the kitchen. It was her realm of service and love, and she was never happier than when she was hosting a whole crowd of people.

Many feminists believe that women can only succeed in overcoming the subjugations and oppressions of times past by becoming “patriarchs” themselves—by asserting their dominance over men, by abandoning the home, by shirking the kitchen and all domesticity. Yet in so doing, many leave behind a realm of familial and cultural activity that is not only crucial—it’s actually quite enjoyable.

Not every woman loves the kitchen. Not every woman has to. But it’s saddening to see women desert a sphere of life they might actually enjoy, out of a false sense of feminist uprising. There are few realms as important to human flourishing, familial solidity, economic stability, and environmental sustainability as the home. It touches on every point of a happy, healthy life. In addition, the home often enables us to express our artistic, creative selves in a way few desk jobs allow.