May I post your recipe or photo on my website? How should I credit you?

I do love press, and I ask that you use the following simple guidelines. I use Food Blog Alliance guidelines:

You should not reprint a published recipe word-for-word, which can be construed as a violation of copyright infringement….

1. If you’re modifying someone else’s recipe, it should be called “adapted from“.

2. If you change a recipe substantially, you may be able to call it your own. But if it’s somewhat similar to a publisher recipe, you should say it’s “inspired by“, which means that you used else’s recipe for inspiration, but changed it substantially.

Or, if you have changed nothing, you may also link my recipe on your site instead of reposting. Adding a link to a recipe as part of a list (round-up, What I Made This Week, etc.) is definitely okay.

If you would like to reproduce an article for your publication or a recipe for a professional publication (print cookbook, newspaper, professional food blog), please contact me at illmakeitmyself @ gmail.com.

All photos from my blog must be credited to me and include a link to the recipe/article.

I like your blog and want to link to it. Will you add mine to your blogroll?

I am generally okay with other bloggers linking to or reviewing my blog. I am happy to look at your blog, but I don’t believe in linking back just to for sake of it.  The same goes for social media. I am more likely to link to your food blog if the recipes are generally healthy and Japan-adaptable, if you blog about food culture, and, the kicker, if you don’t promote stereotypes, particularly those regarding gender.

What is non-heteronormativity and how does it relate to food?

Heteronormativity: “The term “heteronormative” is used to describe a culture or belief system which assumes that heterosexuality is the norm. Heteronormativity can take a number of forms, and it is often very subtle and pervasive. One of the most obvious impacts of heteronormativity is the marginalization of people who do not fit within heterosexual norms.”

For example, the phrases “guy-friendly,” “meat-and-potatoes kind of guy,” “women love chocolate, amirite?” and the general propagation of hegemonic stereotypes about gender and food contribute to the marginalization of those of us who do not fit into  culturally acceptable roles and those of us who reject them.

But food blogs aren’t supposed to about promoting equality! Why can’t you just enjoy other people’s recipes, gosh?!

My MA may be in Japan Studies, but my emphasis within that was gender studies, and some of the attitudes I see about gender and food are baffling, whether it’s the broship of the chefs or books marketed to men for “man meals.” I’m sick of the ideas that men don’t or can’t or shouldn’t like vegetables or tofu; that meat must be linked to masculinity; that cooking and serving tea is “women’s work”; that men are too dumb to cook; that “busy moms” do all the food work in a family; that women don’t like proper beer; and that healthy/lower calorie foods have to be masculinized. Frankly, it’s ridiculous, and I won’t tolerate it. Don’t haul gender expressions and assumptions that biological sex must necessarily inform food choices into trying to get your friends or loved ones to try lentils or meatless chili or steak. Take a stand against the heteronormative policing of food!

That said, if anyone is interested in creating a non-heteronormative food bloggers guild, let me know. I’ll even have a graphic designed.

Can you use chopsticks?

ええ、上手だと言われますよ。