Make it yourself
Subtitle: home sewing, gender, and culture, 1890-1930
By: Sarah A. Gordon.
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 2008
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 164
ISBN-13: 9780231142441; 9780231512251
Subjects: Sewing -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Sewing -- United States -- History -- 20th century; Home economics -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Home economics -- United States -- History -- 20th century; Sex role -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Sex role -- United States -- History -- 19th century; United States -- Social life and customs
Description: "Through home sewing, Sarah A. Gordon examines domestic labor, marketing practices, changing standards of feminity and understanding of class, gender, and race from 1890 to 1930. As ready -made garments became increasingly available due to industrialization, many women, out of necessity or choice, continued to make their own clothing ... The shifting meanings of sewing formed a contested space in which businesses promoted sewing machines as tools for maintaining domestic harmony, women interpreted patterns to suit -or flout- definitions of appropriate appearances, and girls were taught to sew in ways that reflected beliefs about class, race, and region."
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.