ROLE OF GENDER IN THE HOME IN AMERICA (1850-1999)
INTR0
This paper aims at analysing the changing role of women in the home in America from the 1850s to late 1900s, looking into how traditional gender roles have been challenged in the time period and how much change has taken place. Generally speaking, this thesis will be broken down into four major sections that include: Firstly, the role of women in American homes before 1900s, secondly, what the early feminist did to effect change in the home, thirdly, how the role of women in the home changed over the decade (19002000), and then a final analysis of the main points and answering the question ‘has the role of women in America changed over the past 150 years? And if so by how much, what are the changes?’. For the most part of this writing, the major question driving the research is, ‘How has the role of women in the home in America changed from the mid 19th century to the 21st century?’ What were the steps/ waves of feminism that led to this? And how has this changed now? ‘Throughout most of history women generally have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than men. Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women’s most significant professions. In the 20th century, however, women in most nations won the right to vote and increased their educational and job opportunities. Perhaps most important, they fought for and to a large degree accomplished a re-evaluation of traditional views of their role in society.’
Family in a home and not a house is one major point to note from the Feminist Theory.
1869
THE AMERICAN WOMANS HOME In their book The American Woman’s Home, Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe suggested a house plan which would serve a large family and economize time, labor and expense. The floor plan is 43 feet long and 25 feet wide, and the height of the ceiling is 10 feet. There are two piazzas in the front which can be turned into greenhouses in winter.[5] In the entrance there are closet, arched recess and stair landing. How to embellish these units with flowers, statuettes or pictures is also described in the book.
SUFFRAGE, 1920 In 1920, women finally got the right to vote and this was a stepping stone to a better quality of life as now women’s issued were voiced.
DOLORES HAYDEN Dolores Hayden was one of the early influences of the feminist theory of design as she advocated for this in the books and articles she wrote. One of her first works that advocated for rethinking the domestic space is ‘A Grand Domestic Revolution’ from 1880.
1880
SECOND WAVE FEMINISM, 196070 Second wave of feminism started around this time. The second wave of feminists sought to fight the re-occurance of domesticity of women after the world war.
1999
1900
FIGHT FOR SUFFRAGE 1910-20 This was the time when women formed groups in America to fight for equal rights as men and most importatntly the right to vote. Before the 1900s, women had no voice in politics and this was the time for change.
Another point not to be overlooked was the industrial age in America that led to the creation of many jobs that women joined. The period before the second world war so a number of women leaving the ‘traditional gender role’ and enrolling in industry jobs. Moreover, the number of women in the labour force has gradually risen from 18% women in 1900 to about 45.2% in 1990. Moreover, technology development meant that not only did work in the home became easier for women, but also many career opportunities arose in the industrial sector.
At the turn of the 20
century however, changes started to take place as some women started to fight for equal rights as men and abolish the ‘traditional gender roles’ that the past generation had experienced. More light was cast upon women in the 1920s when they finally got the right to vote for the first time. Coupled with the right to the vote, the first wave of feminists were born and they challenged the earlier depictions of society as they advocated to push women out of the house to get into education as well as get good careers while taking care of the family. Another point not to be overlooked was the industrial age in America that led to the creation of many jobs that women joined. The period before the second world war so a number of women leaving the ‘traditional gender role’ and enrolling in industry jobs. Moreover, the number of women in the labour force has gradually risen from 18% women in 1900 to about 45.2% in 1990. Moreover, technology development meant that not only did work in the home became easier for women, but also many career opportunities arose in the industrial sector. th
KEY REFERENCES Dolores Hayden, The Grand Domestic Revolution: A History of Feminist Designs for American Homes, Neighborhoods, and Cities, MIT Press, 1981.p3 Rendell, Jane. “Tendencies and Trajectories: Feminist Approaches in Architecture”, in: Crysler, C. Creig, Stephen Cairns and Hilde Heynen. The SAGE Handbook of Architectural Theory, London: SAGE, 2012, pp. 85-97. “The Changing Woman” (Navajo Origin Myth). Feminist Theory: A Reader. 2nd Ed. Edited by Kolmar, Wendy and Bartowski, Frances. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. 64 Friedman, Alice T., “Family Matters: The Schroder House, by Gerrit Rietveld and Truus Schröder,” Yale University Press, 2006. p. 81 -Friedman, Alice T., Women and the Making of the Modern House: A Social and Architectural History. Yale University Press, 2006, p. 96.
Name: Erabu Joel Wallace Course: BA(Hons) Architecture Level: 6 Institution: University of Brighton Tutor : K at y B einar t