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Pre-Industrial Era
- Families were primarily self-sustaining units. Economic production, care, and household tasks were done within the family unit.
- Resources like food, clothing, and shelter were managed by the family, with each member contributing to the overall well-being.
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19th Century: Industrial Revolution
- Shift to industrialized cities changed the structure of familes. Women were expected to be the main caretakers and keep the house up while men went out and worked.
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Ellen Swallow Richards
- First woman to atten MIT
- Considered one of the founders of Home Economics
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Home Economics Movement
Around 1910, the American Home Economics Association was created and moved home management to a more professionalized realm -
The Family as a Unit of Consumption
-The concept of family as a consumption unit became prominent with the advent of advertising and consumer goods.
-The role of the family shifted as the economic focus moved toward the consumption of goods rather than production. -
World War II and Changing Gender Roles
Women Enter the Workforce: During WWII, women took on roles traditionally held by men, working in factories and serving in various industries. The home was no longer the only place for women, and family resource management expanded to include work-life balance. -
The Nuclear Family Ideal
Post-War Family Roles: The ideal family in post-WWII America was characterized by a nuclear family structure: a working father, a stay-at-home mother, and children. Families were focused on consumerism, with women managing households, grocery shopping, cooking, and childcare. -
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The Rise of Feminism and Family Restructuring
Feminist Movement’s Impact on Family Dynamics: The feminist movement began to challenge traditional family roles, especially the roles of women in the home. More women entered the workforce, reshaping the family structure and creating new challenges in balancing work, home management, and childcare. -
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Technological Advances and Dual-Income Families
Technological Influence: New technologies, from household appliances to personal computers, revolutionized family life by saving time on household chores. However, these advances also led to greater time demands, especially for dual-income families. -
Present: Diverse Family Structures and Digital Resource Management
Modern Families and Digital Resources: Families today come in a variety of structures, from nuclear to blended families, single-parent households, and multi-generational families. Managing digital resources, such as time spent online, finances in the digital age, and balancing personal and professional life, has become a core component of family resource management.