Domesticity and the Family

‘Domesticity’ and ‘the family’ have historically been highly gendered realms and, in more recent years, have been the subject of debate surrounding female liberation and gender equality. Various documents within Gender: Identity and Social Change record this evolution.

Printed books and advice literature sourced from the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America capture some of the earliest social Illustration of woman cooking while caring for infant, © Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in Americaexpectations of gender roles within the family (see, Manners makyth man" by the author of How to be happy though married; Advice to wives on the management of themselves[…]; The Family Book; or, Instructions Concerning all the Relations of Life; The Mother at Home; or The Principles of Maternal Duty; Our Homes, their Cares and Duties, Joys and Sorrows). Similarly, periodicals from the Mary Evans Picture Library include engravings of domestic duties and articles with titles such as “Woman’s Home”, “Kitchen & Cookery” and “Woman’s Pets” in keeping with socially appropriated gender roles of the period (see, The Everywoman’s Encyclopaedia like Vol.2).

A wide array of correspondence, diaries and photographs in the resource reveal the realities and everyday experiences of women within the home. [The diary of Callista Billings] for instance records daily visits to family and her routine domestic chores, as do the Vera Scantlebury Brown Papers, and letters of Mary Ann Hooker (see, Hooker collection, 1788-1890), and Nora Edwards (See Nora C. Edwards Papers). The McKinney family photograph album snapshots and Photographs of Henrietta Muir Edwards capture the familial duties of women within their families: caring for children, tending their gardens and hosting social occasions.

Similarly, the Diaries of Hannah Cullwick describe in detail the domestic chores and familial responsibilities of  working class women in England (see, Diaries of Hannah Cullwick, 1855). Postcards of women depicted doing household duties, and Illustrations of women engaged in art and domestic work gathered in the Sally Fox Collection complement such documents, depicting women in England and abroad engaged in routine domestic duties. If women were still in any doubt of their family responsibilities, they could always consult an Eve’s Glossary, whilst texts such as Beautiful Houses; a study in House-Building[…], The Complete Home: An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Life and Affairs, Cover and inside article of The Ladies' Home Journal which provides guidance on household management and decoration.

Illustrations and artwork depicting domestic work,© Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in AmericaBy the late-nineteenth century the rise of feminist thought encouraged the interrogation of gendered notions of family governance and stereotypes. For instance, Jane Norman Smith's notes on article: "Men are bad housekeepers" by Ruth Pratt examines concepts such as equal opportunity and promotes women’s involvement in areas such as politics beyond the constraints of the home. Similarly, Letters from original readers of the Feminine Mystique and Freidan's replies, Part 5 relay many women’s frustrations at being forced to fulfil social expectations of femininity, and especially, a marital subservience to their husbands.

Papers detailing family legal affairs are also included across a range of collections in the resource, shedding light on relationships between gender and familial legislation. Several documents record inheritance allowances (see, Edwards Family Estate accounts, and Alfred George Frederic Riley estate), business affairs (see, Kay Brownlee Papers), and reports from Family Courts (see, Annual reports of the Toronto Family Courts and Legislation and report relative to Mother's Allowances).

With breakdowns to the nuclear family unit becoming more common in the twentieth century various government and voluntary organisations became invested in improving family welfare and health, but also protecting at-risk family members (see, [Child care] and [Domestic Violence Self Help Group Poster]). Publications of Planned Parenthood for instance promote sex education, sexual assault support, and encourage family planning (see, Planned Parenthood newsletters, leaflet and other material and similarly, Alberta Department of Health Report on Birth Control). Guidance on Marriage and divorce,  father’s rights, alimony regulations, and custody battle are other common subjects of advice literature featured in this resource (see, Xy: Men, Sex, Politics; Newsletter: Men's Awareness Network and Single Dad's Lifestyle).