Newcomb Reviews New Book on the History of Home Economics

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.