Newcomb Reviews New Book on the History of Home Economics
June 02, 2021
By Stephanie Rizzo ’09
Anthropology professor Rachel Newcomb’s latest review for The Washington Post uncovers a surprising story.
Anthropology professor Rachel Newcomb’s recent review for The Washington Post is a fascinating look at how home economics shaped many aspects of culture, from science to politics.
Newcomb examines Danielle Dreilinger’s The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live, a book that reveals the surprising story behind a discipline many associate with post-war high schoolers looking to hone their homemaking skills. Instead, Newcomb dives into Dreilinger’s extensive history of the field, which provided a springboard for women—and notably women of color—to study science, economics, policy, and more.
Read the full text of Newcomb’s review on The Washington Post’s website.
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