Cooking and laundry are survival skills, not gender roles - Whitney Boakye-Mensah

Ghanaian event executive Whitney Boakye-Mensah has challenged traditional notions of raising boys, urging parents to equip their sons with practical life skills and emotional intelligence rather than outdated gender expectations.

Speaking at the second edition of *Convergence of Mothers*, a gathering organised by media personality MzGee, Boakye-Mensah shared her personal experiences of motherhood, describing how she is intentionally raising her two sons to become responsible, compassionate, and self-sufficient men.

“I am not just raising boys. I am raising kings. I am raising change-makers and prophets for the Kingdom of God,” she said.

According to Boakye-Mensah, one of the biggest misconceptions about boys is the belief that they should suppress their emotions.

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The Managing Partner of Innorvationseventswbm stressed the need for parents to create safe spaces for boys to express themselves without fear of being judged or seen as weak.

Boakye-Mensah further stated that boys should be taught practical skills that will serve them throughout life. She revealed that her sons are learning how to cook, bake, and take care of household chores.

“Cooking and baking are survival skills. They don’t have a gender written on them,” she noted. “You should be able to cook for yourself when there is nobody at home. You should be able to do your laundry when there is nobody at home.”

She also spoke candidly about the realities of raising boys, including navigating conversations around puberty, personal hygiene, and relationships. According to her, many parents shy away from these uncomfortable discussions, even though they are critical to a child’s development.

“You need to have those conversations,” she said, recalling how motherhood had forced her to learn about issues she never anticipated discussing as a parent.

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