ERIC Number: EJ1230921
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-1651
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Home Economics with a Historical Photograph
Alharbi, Mashael
Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, v111 n3 p63-65 Sep 2019
Photographs are often overlooked as a source of historical data, which is unfortunate. The old adage "a picture speaks a thousand words" holds true. Burke (2001) observed that photographs convey "forms of realities, which carry and contain individual readings or 'truths' and open up new spaces from which to pose different questions" (p. 192). Zelizer (1998, p. 6) argued that the strength of photographs as expressions of the truth come from their "mechanical aura and the credibility they convey." According to Burke (2001), photographs combine both familiarity and alienation, thereby enabling both critical and analytical stances. In this way, understanding photographs requires the use of visual analysis, which includes a description, reflection, and formal analysis (Berger, 1972). Photographs allow viewers to see a subject, place, or people and to understand them from the viewer's perspective (Berger, 1972). Between the 1960s and 1970s, the enrollment of boys in home economics programs reflected the then contemporary issues of gender and social rights (Smith & de Zwart, 2011). The photograph that this article draws upon shows that, in some school jurisdictions, home economics classes were not seen as a course or subject area for girls only. This photograph that was found in the 1970 British Columbia (BC) Archives represents a somewhat atypical image of the student population found in classrooms and libraries throughout the country at that time. It was taken in Kelowna High School in the province of BC.
Descriptors: Photography, Males, High School Students, Foreign Countries, Visual Aids, Sex Role, Sex Fairness, Archives, Home Economics
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. 400 North Columbus Street Suite 202, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 800-424-8080; Tel: 703-706-4600; Fax: 703-706-4663; e-mail: bookstore@aafcs.org; Web site: http://www.aafcs.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A