Just a Housewife The Rise and Fall of Domesticity in America

Author/creator Matthews, Glenna Author
Format Electronic
EditionReprint
Publication InfoNew York : Oxford University Press, Incorporated
Description304 p. 08.000 x 05.380 in.
Supplemental ContentFull text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete
Supplemental ContentFull text available from Ebook Central - Public Library Complete
Subjects

Summary Annotation Housewives constitute a large section of the population, yet they have received very little attention, let alone respect. Glenna Matthews, who herself spent many years as "just a housewife" before becoming a scholar of American history, sets out to redress this imbalance. While the male world of work has always received the most respect, Matthews maintains that widespread reverence for the home prevailed in the nineteenth century. The early stages of industrialization made possible a strong tradition of cooking, baking, and sewing that gave women greatsatisfaction and a place in the world. Viewed as the center of republican virtue, the home also played an important religious role. Examining novels, letters, popular magazines, and cookbooks, Matthews seeks to depict what women had and what they have lost in modern times. She argues that theculture of professionalism in the late nineteenth century and the culture of consumption that came to fruition in the 1920s combined to kill off the "cult of domesticity." This important, challenging book sheds new light on a central aspect of human experience: the essential task of providing asociety's nurture and daily maintenance.
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Genre/formElectronic books.
LCCN 86033318
ISBN9780195059250
ISBN0195059255 (Trade Paper) On Demand
Standard identifier# 9780195059250
Stock number00020142

Availability

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Electronic Resources ✔ Available