A Lady's Life in 1920s America, Part 3: A Thursday at Home
Oct 17, 2023
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Explore the daily routines and experiences of housewives in 1920s America, including the decline in demand for servants. Learn about the influence of advertisers on women's emotions and the challenges faced by mothers. Discover the safety concerns for children and the changing expectations of mothers in the 1920s.
The 1920s saw a shift in the role of women in domestic labor, with women leaving domestic service jobs for better opportunities in factories.
Advertisements in the 1920s exploited women's emotions and raised the bar for perfection in domestic labor, despite advancements in technology.
Deep dives
Evolution of Domestic Labor
In the 1920s, the role of women in domestic labor underwent a significant shift. With a shortage of domestic servants and the rise of home economics, women were expected to take on household chores and childcare duties. Many women left domestic service jobs for more desirable opportunities in factories. The shift in society's view of domestic labor led to the professionalization of housekeeping, with home economists portraying it as a noble profession performed out of love for the family.
Rising Standards and Appliance Advertising
Advertisements in the 1920s pushed to sell household appliances, presenting them as time-saving solutions to make housework easier. Vacuum cleaners and electric washing machines became popular additions to households. However, despite the advancements in technology, women still spent the same number of hours on domestic chores as before due to rising standards and expectations. Advertisers preyed on women's emotions, using guilt, embarrassment, and fear to sell their products. The bar for perfection was raised, and women were expected to maintain cheerful appearances while juggling multiple responsibilities.
Rise of Home Economics
Home economics gained popularity in the 1920s, advocating for the professionalization of housekeeping. Home economists portrayed housework as an intellectually challenging field, encouraging middle-class white women to pursue education and training in homemaking. The curriculum expanded to include nutrition, child psychology, budgeting, and personal hygiene. Society believed that women could excel in domestic labor without the need for paid domestic servants, leading to a decline in professional domestic service roles.
Demanding Role of the 1920s Housewife
The 1920s housewife faced numerous demands, including cleaning, laundry, childcare, meal planning, and managing household finances. Middle-class women immersed themselves in mothering and pursued perfection in all aspects of homemaking. They followed expert advice from child psychologists and government publications on child-rearing, adhering to strict guidelines on hygiene, nutrition, and safety. Isolation and lack of adult interaction were common, as women were expected to handle the household alone while men went to work. Despite technological advancements, women's workload remained high due to increased expectations and limited assistance.
Last time, we headed to the office as 1920s working women; now let's give the stay-at-home wife life a spin. Grab your brand new vaccuum and your fave home economics book: let's go traveling.
You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might like it.
You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.
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