The Science of Housework

Reviews / Votes

"Ann Oakley has uncovered the fascinating story of efforts to establish domestic science as a legitimate academic subject, once again bringing to bear her trademark perceptiveness, commitment, rigour and humour." Graham Crow, University of Edinburgh "In this impressive, very readable account, Oakley reveals the important reality that domestic science was first developed from the 1880s, mainly by women discovering how cleaning the home of germ-laden dust and cooking nutritious food profoundly improved health and survival. They created a new scientific career for women, until it was dismissed by male academics in the 1950s and all forgotten." Patricia M. Thane, Birkbeck, University of London