The Science of Housework
The Home and Public Health, 1880-1940
1st Edition
Published on 25. July 2024
266 pages
978-1-4473-6964-6 (ISBN)
Description
In an era of pandemic infection, the importance of hygiene at home and in public spaces has never been greater. This book recaptures the buried history of the household science movement, including domestic science teaching, public health, higher education for women and the scientific content and aims of domestic science courses. It explores how it was viewed in the context of new public health concerns and as a driver to opening higher education to women, raising questions about the legacy and modern relevance of the household science movement.
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 LondonMore details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Bristol
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bristol University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
41 s/w Abbildungen, 1 s/w Tabelle
1 Tables, black and white; 41 Illustrations, black and white
ISBN-13
978-1-4473-6964-6 (9781447369646)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.51952/9781447369646
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2024
1st Edition
Policy Press
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Available for download
Book
07/2024
1st Edition
Policy Press
€35.00
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Book
07/2024
1st Edition
Policy Press
€129.50
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Person
Ann Oakley is Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the UCL Social Research Institute. A social researcher for 60 years, and author of many academic publications, she is also well known for her biography, autobiography and fiction. Her books include The Sociology of Housework, From Here to Maternity and The Men's Room which was serialised by the BBC in 1991, and most recently Forgotten Wives (Policy Press, 2021).
Content
Prologue: My life in housework
1. Introduction: From the sociology to the science of housework
2. Gender and germs: housework today
3. Teaching girls about housework
4. Sweeping science into the home
5. This man- made world
6. Lectures for ladies
7. Alice through the cooking class
8. Transatlantic experiments
9. Sources of power
10. White subjects: domestic science in the colonies and other places
11. Legacies and meanings
Appendix: List of characters
1. Introduction: From the sociology to the science of housework
2. Gender and germs: housework today
3. Teaching girls about housework
4. Sweeping science into the home
5. This man- made world
6. Lectures for ladies
7. Alice through the cooking class
8. Transatlantic experiments
9. Sources of power
10. White subjects: domestic science in the colonies and other places
11. Legacies and meanings
Appendix: List of characters
