Based on the prior posts, I think that we can all assume that the responsibilities of the homemaker have been a concern for all generations at all times. The books I found, specifically written for women, clearly expanded upon the very detailed and instructive housewifery knowledge that was available in the 1800s and early 1900s. So this begs the question: when did the decline of housewifery really start?

I believe that its decline initially started around the time of the First World War. America joined in the fight against in the Germans in World War I in 1917 and the first cracks in the skills of housewifery started. I think, based on the increasing number of books available in the early 1900s, it is safe to assume that most women still obtained these housewifery skills and were taught either in school or by their mothers. but we can also assume that some rebelled against this role during the roaring 1920s, but still obtained the degree to leverage it outside of the home. Still, the predominant majority of women were most likely taught these critical skills consciously or unconsciously by example all through the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The minute cracks that first started to appear during World War I expanded, severely weakening the foundation with the advent of women in the workforce during World War II.

While many of the women were happy to return to their homes and family at the cessation of the war, many others became dissatisfied with what they saw as their role in society. Finally, towards the end of the 1950s and through the 1960s, there were many changes in societal structure, particularly for women.

Initial graduates with a Housewifery Diploma were able to work in public education, academia, government, and in certain industries because their degrees represented the integration of modern science and management with an improvement in the quality of life for Americans. College education was more available for women beyond housewifery and home economics. Other factors that played into the decline of housewifery included such things as mass-produced clothing, catalogs, department stores, and a transition to hard sciences over practical application. Unfortunately, housewifery appears to have developed a reputation based on the misconception that housewifery meant keeping a woman in her place – the kitchen; a complaint that is oftentimes still leveraged today.

The final nail in the coffin of housewifery, though, could really be nothing other than the feminist movement, launched by the book written by Betty Friedman in 1963, The Feminine Mystique. The book states in its first chapter:

“We can no longer ignore the voice within women that says: ‘I want something more than my husband and my children and my home’.”

Ms. Friedman actually advocated that woman should no longer view housewifery as a career, and that they should find fulfillment from something other than a husband, children, and home. This paradigm shift in positions is most clearly seen when Ms. Friedman’s quote from above is juxtaposed against Mrs. Balderson’s book, which stated:

“Housewifery is the business of the mistress of the family. If this definition were analyzed in detail, we should find the word ‘business’ meaning concern; ‘mistress’ the person versed in everything; and ‘family’ a group of individuals living under one roof. Thus, to enlarge the definition, it would read: Housewifery is the concern of the person versed in everything pertaining to a group of individuals living under one roof.”

It is my hope to help those women that are interested in finding fulfillment as homemakers in today’s society, by embracing the definition provided by Mrs. Balderson. I want to empower each and every one of you to be concerned and versed in everything that impacts your family. And everything means everything – not just cooking, not just cleaning. Housewifery is about taking care of our families physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in a healthy and balanced manner.

Come and join me in my little cozy corner of the internet if you want to learn more.