Day 196 of 365 - The Shaping of the Modern Family
Being a Baby Boomer, born in the 1950's, I had assumed that most of the 'modern' home improvements, efficiencies and processed foods were developed in the years since then. Some programs which I watched recently taught me otherwise.
Back In Time For Dinner is a TV series which originated on the BBC. There is also a Canadian version. The premise of the show is to have a family live in the decor and lifestyle of a decade, as well as to prepare meals of the era in a typical kitchen of the time.
There are several versions. What I watched was, Further Back In Time For Dinner, from the BBC, which covered the time from 1900 to 1950 decade by decade. Then I also watched the Canadian version which covered from 1940 to 2000.
What was most informative about the BBC episodes was, to see the drastic changes in lifestyle from one decade to the next, significantly influenced by the impact of the First and Second World Wars. The Edwardian era of the early 1900's was a decadent time. The British Empire was thriving and various foodstuffs and goods were imported from all over the world via merchant ships. Even middle class families lived elaborately and had a 'maid of all works' who cooked multi-course meals in a very simple kitchen, working from dawn to nightfall.
The impact of the First World War changed all that, as merchant ships were bombed in huge numbers. Food was rationed. Cooks left their posts to work in manufacturing for the war and the ladies of the household had to take on the food preparation and housework. The first development of the modern housewife role had begun. Also at that time, canned and packaged foods were produced in large volumes, as one way to send food safely to the soldiers at the front, but also as the beginning of convenience foods for the home.
After the war, the economy thrived in the 1920's and 30's. It was a time of progress, optimism and partying. New appliances and improved services to the home with refrigeration, electricity, indoor plumbing and more modern stoves made the housewife's job a little easier.
The 1940's was dominated by the Second World War. Though there were food shortages and rationing in both Britain and Canada, Canadians did not suffer the atrocities of bombing of their homeland. The first national food guides were created in both countries along with recipes for the frugal housewife to prepare healthy meals for her family. Even more convenience foods appeared on the market but were in short supply for the average family.
There was indeed a huge boom in manufacturing and technology after the war ended. The decades from the 50's onward brought many more household gadgets and appliances for the home, as well as a huge variety of processed food. The woman of the house was still mainly responsible for cooking and housekeeping until the 1970's. It was then, with the ushering in of the women's movement that many women went into the workforce. Couples began negotiating household tasks, eating convenience foods became more typical and families eating together became less commonplace.
The shaping of the modern family began out of necessity in relation to the war years and became entrenched in the post Baby Boom years with the growth of economies, manufacturing and consumerism. Now, rather than following a particular cultural tradition of social norms, each household decides what works for them. Families sitting down together for dinner may only be a special occasion or holiday event in most households now.
It was also interesting to notice how trends in food, clothing and home decor were influenced by marketing and the advances in media and technology, particularly television and the internet. As I watched the shows illustrating the decades in which I became an adult and raised a family I could see that so many of the choices we had made for our own home were the typical trends of the day, being promoted by advertising. It's funny to look back on it now with that different perspective. Consumerism ruled the day and continues to do so. It takes a strong will and perseverance to resist the influence and live a simple life. Perhaps someday, still in my lifetime, the pendulum will swing back to a more moderate way of living, keeping the best of both worlds.
Back In Time For Dinner is a TV series which originated on the BBC. There is also a Canadian version. The premise of the show is to have a family live in the decor and lifestyle of a decade, as well as to prepare meals of the era in a typical kitchen of the time.
There are several versions. What I watched was, Further Back In Time For Dinner, from the BBC, which covered the time from 1900 to 1950 decade by decade. Then I also watched the Canadian version which covered from 1940 to 2000.
What was most informative about the BBC episodes was, to see the drastic changes in lifestyle from one decade to the next, significantly influenced by the impact of the First and Second World Wars. The Edwardian era of the early 1900's was a decadent time. The British Empire was thriving and various foodstuffs and goods were imported from all over the world via merchant ships. Even middle class families lived elaborately and had a 'maid of all works' who cooked multi-course meals in a very simple kitchen, working from dawn to nightfall.
The impact of the First World War changed all that, as merchant ships were bombed in huge numbers. Food was rationed. Cooks left their posts to work in manufacturing for the war and the ladies of the household had to take on the food preparation and housework. The first development of the modern housewife role had begun. Also at that time, canned and packaged foods were produced in large volumes, as one way to send food safely to the soldiers at the front, but also as the beginning of convenience foods for the home.
After the war, the economy thrived in the 1920's and 30's. It was a time of progress, optimism and partying. New appliances and improved services to the home with refrigeration, electricity, indoor plumbing and more modern stoves made the housewife's job a little easier.
The 1940's was dominated by the Second World War. Though there were food shortages and rationing in both Britain and Canada, Canadians did not suffer the atrocities of bombing of their homeland. The first national food guides were created in both countries along with recipes for the frugal housewife to prepare healthy meals for her family. Even more convenience foods appeared on the market but were in short supply for the average family.
There was indeed a huge boom in manufacturing and technology after the war ended. The decades from the 50's onward brought many more household gadgets and appliances for the home, as well as a huge variety of processed food. The woman of the house was still mainly responsible for cooking and housekeeping until the 1970's. It was then, with the ushering in of the women's movement that many women went into the workforce. Couples began negotiating household tasks, eating convenience foods became more typical and families eating together became less commonplace.
The shaping of the modern family began out of necessity in relation to the war years and became entrenched in the post Baby Boom years with the growth of economies, manufacturing and consumerism. Now, rather than following a particular cultural tradition of social norms, each household decides what works for them. Families sitting down together for dinner may only be a special occasion or holiday event in most households now.
It was also interesting to notice how trends in food, clothing and home decor were influenced by marketing and the advances in media and technology, particularly television and the internet. As I watched the shows illustrating the decades in which I became an adult and raised a family I could see that so many of the choices we had made for our own home were the typical trends of the day, being promoted by advertising. It's funny to look back on it now with that different perspective. Consumerism ruled the day and continues to do so. It takes a strong will and perseverance to resist the influence and live a simple life. Perhaps someday, still in my lifetime, the pendulum will swing back to a more moderate way of living, keeping the best of both worlds.
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