From Treatise to Textbook: A History of Writing About Household Management

Abstract

The origins of contemporary writing about household management in the United States have been traced back to Catharine Beecher's A Treatise on Domestic Economy. The expansion of academic programs in home economics, the rise of research using the scientific method, and the changing economic and social conditions during the early 20th century contributed to the transition from treatises offering household advice based on Christian precepts and customary roles to more analytical approaches to household management and the publication of textbooks for college courses. Using qualitative research methods, this study traced the 75‐year history of home management/family resource management textbooks published in the United States. The themes found throughout this period show both subtle shifts and dramatic changes in seven areas of analysis: the rationale for studying home management, the theoretical conceptualization of management, what is managed, individual and family concepts within home management, internal/external emphasis on resource management, pedagogical style, and audience.

In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Investigation of the Factors Influencing Maternal Postpartum Functioning in the United States

“…Women have historically shouldered the lion’s share of responsibility for managing the domestic sphere, and accordingly, skill with planning and organizing time as it pertains to domestic tasks has long been a lauded skill for women [ 65 ]. The participants reiterated this, frequently citing “time management” and “planning” as necessary skills for successful management of their daily responsibilities ( n = 27, 90%).…”

A Review of Best Papers in Personal Finance: 2008–2020

“…Background of Home Management Nickols (2008) Their logistic regression findings supported a positive relationship between financial behavior and social learning opportunities. Johnson et al (2016), using OLS regression models, examined generational differences in the perception of college education as human and social capital.…”

“…Nickols (2008) reviewed 19 college textbooks on home management or family resource management. She categorized the content of the textbooks into seven areas, which are listed in Table 2.…”

“…The first paper that was recognized as the Best Paper in personal finance was published in 2008; it was written by Sharon Nickols, now Dean Emerita of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia (Nickols, 2008). Using qualitative research, her study traced the 75-year history of home management and family resource management textbooks published in the United States.…”

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“…As family and household composition, the economy, and cultural customs changed, so too did the concepts and theories of home management and the contents of textbooks for this subject matter (Nickols, ). The focus on home management evolved into family resource management with greater emphasis on conceptual thinking and problem‐solving, and less on standardized practices and development of skills.…”