Domestic Technology

Paper Summary:

The process of industrialization in the home monumentally changed the quality of life for most people living in First World countries. For many, this was a slow transition, each generation slightly more advanced than the preceding one. For others, a rapid industrialization took place in the home with the dawn of electricity which later brought numerous electrical appliances. This paper shows that these new domestic technologies transformed the quality of life, as it was then known and greatly affected the efficiency of the work performed by a housewife. However, these technologies also brought with them many social implications. The paper shows that instead of reducing household labor, the new domestic technologies actually increase the complexity and time women spend on housework.

From the Paper:

"Many social implications arise when one questions the notion of female labor in the home. In a male-dominated society, most domestic technologies are invented by men. However, "technology itself does not determine outcomes; the impact is determined by society's use of it."1 For instance, labor saving devices such as a washing-machine are usually considered to reduce the time spent on laundry. Instead, standards of cleanliness have escalated which impacts the amount of labor to be spent doing laundry. In addition, women throughout history have realized their inequality with their male counterparts. An evaluation of eighteenth century literature exemplifies the dissatisfaction of women with their role in society."

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