people centered sciences

The Secret History of Home Economics and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)

 

 

Description for FCS 2021 Conference:

This break-out session will use history and future planning to find and sustain balance in the midst of current change. Whether our work and position title are more along the lines of traditional Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programming that covers all three healthies or particular to one of the healthies or specific to community nutrition (which all fall under the broad umbrella of FCS), this session will touch upon themes among all three healthies. The need to understand, relate and promote FCS is important to all of us for this field of work. We are fortunate to learn from history as well as be able to make action plans for a successful future.

This session will use the newly published book (2021) The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live by Danielle Dreilinger as a source to look at where we’ve been and where we are going. Although the presenters recommend the book as a good read, participants to this session do not have to read the book beforehand. The co-presenters will offer a short history of Home Economics through Family and Consumer Sciences in the United States, highlight some of the great successes, conflicts and changes from the mid1800s through current time.

Dreilinger lists five recommendations in the conclusion of her book. Participants will review the recommendations and share how we can promote this valuable profession.

Participants will:

  • Discover inspiring (often untold) stories from the past professionals
    in our field of work
  • Learn from the past as we create present and future healthy lifework balance
  • Use Dreilinger’s five recommendations in the conclusion to inspire a 5-step action plan
  • Be inspired to add their current professional story to the contemporary narrative of FCS

Co-presenters: 

Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU FCS Educator, Lucas County powers-barker.1@osu.edu

Melissa J. Rupp, OSU FCS Educator, Fulton County rupp.26@osu.edu

Brief Timeline FCS in Extension

References from the presentation: