A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE AMERICAN HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION'S RESPONSE TO FAMILY-RELATED SOCIETAL CONCERNS FROM 1959 TO 1984

This study examined the central concept of the Home Economics professional--the family--in relation to society's perceptions of the family from 1959 to 1984. Data for this research were obtained from the titles of articles in Reader's Digest and the Journal of Home Economics.; The process of qualitative research consisted of three concurrent activities: data reduction, display and analysis. The data were reduced by color coding 16 words and their synonyms related to the concept family; removing all titles that were ambiguous or not related to the concept family; and placing a single word beside each title which represented the theme of the title. Data display was a summary of the data reduction methods. The data were analyzed by five year periods, beginning with a brief historical description of events occurring within that period. Analysis consisted of answering five questions related to society's and the profession's perceptions and concerns for the family and the profession's response to society's concerns.; Societal perceptions of the family have changed over the 25 year period from a stable viewpoint, to one of confusion and conflicting opinions, and finally to an acceptance of change. The profession's perceptions of the family over the same period were originally focused on the nuclear family, later a need for change and redefinition was seen, followed by a period when the future of the family was unknown. Since 1979 the profession's concept of the family has been positive, realistic and dynamic--focusing on a diversity of family forms.; Societal concerns for the family from 1959 to 1984 included: child abuse, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, the working wife/mother, and human sexuality. The profession's concerns during this period included: the elderly, international Home Economics, low income families, women's roles, teenage pregnancy, and the profession itself.; In conclusion, the Home Economics profession responded most closely to perceived societal concerns for the family during the years 1964 to 1973 and 1979 to 1984. It appears that from 1959 to 1963 the focus was global and from 1974 to 1978 the focus was inward upon the concerns of the profession.