The French Revolution and home economics: Fired up and speaking out

The French Revolution (c. 1789–1799) made us aware that hungry, desperate people are capable of starting wars. Conditions similar to those that lead to the French Revolution exist in our world today. The Romantic Movement (c. 1770–1850) was a philosophical, ideological and cultural movement that had—and still has—an impact on Home Economics. For example, the Romantics celebrated as heroes those ordinary people who are creative, feeling beings with intuition, and who have deep connections with their communities and natural environments. This presentation will appreciate home economists as ‘romantic’ at heart. The past shows us that home economics ideology holds some keys to a more peaceful future.