History of Families and Family Resource Management

By einderrieden@cub.uca.edu

  • Start of Families

    Start of Families
    The origins of the family are unclear. Some have suggested that there is evidence that families have existed for thousands/millions of years.

  • Forming Families

    Forming Families
    Gibbs and Campbell reported that religious and social groups experimented with different forms of familial social bonds in America. Polygyny, having multiple wives existed. Larger households meant an increase in children and wealth.

  • Before the Industrial Revolution

    Before the Industrial Revolution
    Families were often larger before the Industrial Revolution in order to have enough workers to do all the tasks. Farming and taking care of housework were the tasks at work.

  • Industrial Revolution

    Industrial Revolution
    Family dynamics are altered by the Industrial Revolution. There is a division of labor because males usually work outside the home and women run the family.

  • Ellen Swallow Richards

    Ellen Swallow Richards
    Ellen Swallow Richards was the first female admitted student at MIT and a pioneering environmental chemist. Richards stressed the use of science in household management in the late 1800s. Home Economics - later known as Family and Consumer Sciences - is credited to her as its originator. Because of her family science continues multidisciplinary research and scholarships in all aspects, including resource management!

  • The Development of Home Economics

    The Development of Home Economics
    With an emphasis on enhancing resource management, budgeting, nutrition, and family efficiency, home economics is being taught in schools on a large scale.

  • Great Depression

    Great Depression
    Families had to prioritize resource management because they were experiencing widespread financial difficulties. The ability to budget, ration, and be resourceful became essential to a family's survival.

  • Feminist Perspective

    Feminist Perspective
    A change in the duties of the house began to emerge around the 1960s, correlating with the Civil Rights Movement and the sharp rise in the number of women working. The rise of feminism raises questions about the unpaid work of homemaking and starts to question traditional family norms.

  • Social Exchange Theory

    Social Exchange Theory
    Inspired in the late 1700s by the economic theories of Adam Smith. Humans are driven to act and behave in ways that are consistent with their core values. Family members' distinct motivations influence the actions they decide to do. Frequently employed to research family power structures. Exchange theory was one of the most popular frameworks in family studies by the end of the 1970s.

  • Families Today

    Families Today
    There are many different types of family arrangements, such as mixed families, same-sex couples, and single-parent homes. Financial planning, sustainability, and technology take center stage in family resource management.

  • Sources

    Sources