Rethinking Home Economics: Women and the History of a Profession / Edition 1

by Sarah J. Stage, Virginia B. Vincenti

Overview

Until recently, historians tended to dismiss home economics as little more than a conspiracy to keep women in the kitchen. This landmark volume initiates collaboration among home economists, family and consumer science professionals, and women's historians. What knits the essays together is a willingness to revisit the subject of home economics with neither indictment nor apology. The volume includes significant new work that places home economics in the twentieth century within the context of the development of women's professions.

Rethinking Home Economics documents the evolution of a profession from the home economics movement launched by Ellen Richards in the early twentieth century to the modern field renamed Family and Consumer Sciences in 1994. The essays in this volume show the range of activities pursued under the rubric of home economics, from dietetics and parenting, teaching and cooperative extension work, to test kitchen and product development. Exploration of the ways in which gender, race, and class influenced women's options in colleges and universities, hospitals, business, and industry, as well as government has provided a greater understanding of the obstacles women encountered and the strategies they used to gain legitimacy as the field developed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801481758
Publisher:	Cornell University Press
Publication date:	07/02/1997
Series:	Culture; 4
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.94(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Virginia B. Vincenti is Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Wyoming and Past President of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Sarah Stage is Professor and Chair of Women's Studies at Arizona State University, West.

What People are Saying About This

Kathryn Kish Sklar

This book has a lot to offer scholars in women's history, consumer history, and social science history. The memoirs from home economists enliven the work and speak to the historical moment in which it is being published. It will become the definitive work on a set of important historical topics.

Elizabeth Goldsmith

Rigorous historical analysis combined with reminiscences make this a fascinating chronicle of home economics history. It is an important book adding to our understanding of the discipline.

Editorial Reviews

A good treatment of home economics.

Workforce Education Forum

A good treatment of home economics.

-- "Workforce Education Forum"

An excellent collection of essays.... From a variety of angles, this volume illuminates the history of science and culture, education, women, and politics in the U.S.

-- "Choice"

From the Publisher

An excellent collection of essays.... From a variety of angles, this volume illuminates the history of science and culture, education, women, and politics in the U.S.

Choice

"Rigorous historical analysis combined with reminiscences make this a fascinating chronicle of home economics history. It is an important book adding to our understanding of the discipline."

Elizabeth Goldsmith

"This book has a lot to offer scholars in women's history, consumer history, and social science history. The memoirs from home economists enliven the work and speak to the historical moment in which it is being published. It will become the definitive work on a set of important historical topics."

Kathryn Kish Sklar