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The History of Family and Consumer Sciences
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The Beginning: Ellen Swallows-Richards
Ellen was a chemist and educator. She was the first woman to be admitted to MIT and she is the reason for the opening of a Women's Laboratory at MIT. She suggested the use of science to solve issues of family well-being, especially using empirical research. For this she is credited as the founder of Home Economics. -
HEA is formed
Home Economics association is established -
Science can help at home?
People of the time begin to realized that home management can be supported through research and science. -
Agricultural Extension Service
The Smith-Lever act creates the AES to educate rural families on Home Economics and Agriculture advancements. Such as food preservation, budgeting, and farming techniques. -
1920s
People begin navigating budgets while discovering new home gadgets. We see a rise in everyday consumers. -
1930s- The Great Depression
During the Great Depression there was an increase in need of resources and how to manage them. People where focusing more and more on home economy and budgeting. This also was when the government began interfering in the home for the first time, by providing food assistance and employment programs. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt endorsed schooling programs and proclaimed the importance of Home Economics. -
WW2 and Changing Family Units
During WW2 many fathers and brothers went off to war leaving the women and children at home. This resulted in many women picking up men's labor jobs hence dual income families arrive. We see women balancing childcare, budgeting, work, and home. Challenging gender-roles becomes a mass thought. -
1950s- American Dream
As men settle back in from the war gender roles are in full swing. Men are making enough to support a family and women spend their time managing the budget and children. Consumerism is on the rise and this budgeting in changing. -
1960s
After a comfortable sweep to stability following the war many new social issues came to rise. This put an eye on the new emerging demographic of working mothers, focusing on home and career. -
The Vocational Education Act
This act brought accessible work training and education to Americans. This was to benifit workers and students who are behind, handicapped, or at risk of dropping out. -
Head Start Program
This was the first government regulated childcare facility offering it to those who qualified. For free. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Influenced the thought of gender equality. This was a a reason for the study of family units. -
My Sources
https://www.aafcs.org/wafcs/about-affiliate/affiliate-about#:~:text=In%201909%2C%20Ellen%20H.,Economics%20Association%20(now%20AAFCS). https://digital-exhibits.libraries.mit.edu/s/under-the-lens/page/Womans-Lab#:~:text=On%20May%2010%2C%201876%2C%20the,of%20the%20Woman's%20Laboratory%2C%201876.
https://facsoftoday.uga.edu/story/10-milestones-in-facs-history
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED019402