Perspectives

 “Richards and her followers believed that the application of science to domestic issues could help save society from the social disintegration that was taking place at the turn of the century. Beginning in 1899, Ellen Richards helped organize a series of ten." In the late 1800s, Ellen Richards, the first woman to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, believed that creating Family Consumer Sciences would help bring people from different backgrounds together. The source I used is a secondary website from the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), providing a historical overview of the creator of Family Consumer Sciences (FCS). This source is the official FCS website and passed a credible sources test.

“Over time, home economics evolved into Family and Consumer Sciences, incorporating areas such as consumer science, nutrition, and career development to address the changing needs of society” (Lamb, 2011). This shows how FCS has grown a need for professional skills and more educational opportunities for women. The addition of subjects like nutrition and career development demonstrates the field's reaction to the evolving roles of women in society and their expanding opportunities in both the home and workforce. This secondary source journal article traces the development of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) from its roots in home economics. The source is credible because it is published in a peer-reviewed academic journal and written by recognized experts in the field.“Home economics was widely regarded as a profession designed primarily for women to fill roles in domestic life, which many viewed as less intellectually demanding than other fields of study” (Lamb, 2011)." The first reaction to home economics being a female-dominated field was mixed emotions, with many people seeing it as reinforcing traditional views of women as homemakers. Teaching domestic skills was valued but was not seen as intellectually challenging, limiting the field’s recognition. This reflects society's view on women’s roles and the challenges faced by pioneers like Ellen Swallow Richards, This is a secondary source journal article that explores the history and development of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). It helped me understand how societal views on gender and women's roles shaped the early views of FCS, The source is credible because it is published in a peer-reviewed academic journal and written by experts in the field.

"The home is the foundation of a good society and should be recognized as a scientific discipline” (Richards, 1900).

Richards' quote was seen as an important part of the society at the time. She believed that teaching women in these subjects would better both the families and the communities. Her ideas helped push FCS beyond the regular basic household tasks to include areas like nutrition and family studies, which grew as women gained more equality in the world. This is a primary source book by Ellen Swallow Richards, one of the founders of the home economics movement. It helped me understand how this field evolved to include scientific and educational approaches to home life. The source is credible because Richards was a respected MIT-trained scientist whose work laid the groundwork for the field of FCS.

Ellen Swallow Richards, 10/20/23, celebrating women's history month. This is Ellen Richards, she's the co-founder of home economics, as well as a huge activist within her community, she has taught many young women how to do daily difficult duties. Demas, Antonia. “Celebrating Women’s History Month.” Food Studies Institute, Antonia Demas https://foodstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Food-studies-Institute-logo-1.png, 20 Oct. 2023, foodstudies.org/celebrating-womens-history-month/.