What are your thoughts on a college program designed to make women better homemakers?

Question

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has a Bachelors of Arts in Humanties program that is aimed at making women better homemakers. Terri Stoval, the Dean of Womens Studies at the college said the program is "one of the most challenging, one of the most well-rounded and complete educations a woman can receive."

The curriculum consists of General Homemaking, Biblical Model for the Home and Family, The Value of a Child, seven credit hours in meal preparation and nutrition, 7 credit hours in the design and sewing of clothing, 23 credit hours of in biblical studies, two years of Latin & Greek and some philosophy as the core of the degree.

Some critics of the program have claimed this is merely another way that women are being forced back into biblical gender roles. Stovall answered critics by saying that the program is needed because of "the low standard of family and home life in contemporary culture."

Please share your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

Were it required of all females attending the seminary, I would be furious. As it is not, my strongest objection is that the program is specifically designated "women only." The classes could be very useful for men and women of college age. Making it "women only" is what makes it an insult.

Men should demand that it be open to both genders.

I don't consider the days when women were chained to their homes as the "good old days." Keeping a home and rearing children are very important tasks, but I do not want my daughter and granddaughters to ever think that's all they are good for.

Answer 2

I see both sides- on the one hand, an individual's parents should have taught them most of these basics- meal prep and nutrition, basic house-cleaning. Why would one need to take a college course on those things??

On the other hand, it also validates a woman's choice to be a homemaker.


My thoughts on the program.....

I feel that everyone who intends to participate in sex should take the course about the value of a child! Children happen because of sex, and those who participate in sex should be reminded on a regular basis that children can and do come because of it.

But at the same time it seems there's a disproportionate amount of time spent in biblical studies, and I'm not entirely sure how Latin, Greek, and philosophy make one a better homemaker. As another answer stated, Spanish would be more useful- able to talk to other parents, etc.

I think some time spent learning about child development, even "lab time" acutally spent with children of all ages (infant to teen) would make a great addition to this program. I liked Miranda J's suggestion about infant care and pregnancy education!

I agree with those who have suggested the addition of financial classes into this program. Many times, a family's finances are managed by one of the partners, and the other is completely oblivious... and ends up either expecting too much or causing problems.

I saw one answer that suggested relationship classes. Being a homemaker is about being the domestic support for the breadwinner, the general assumption being that the two that fill those roles are married and living under the same roof. Anyone who's been married or had roommates will tell you that life is SOOOOO much easier when you get along with those you live with!!!

Yes, I think that anyone who wishes should be able to enroll in this program or even just be able to take certain classes in this program. (I'm sure there are many women who would love for their husbands to understand what is involved....)



I think I personally would enjoy this program, and I think it could provide very useful knowledge and skills for many people.... and what people think about this program is entirely their choice.

Answer 3

The idea is good but the specifics are lost.

Some of the knowledge could be taught in gender independent classes for credit towards an AS degree. They could offer a business career degree tied to the "homemaking" subjects.

How about: Nutritional assistant? CPR instruction teacher? Social worker? QMRP (create care plans for the disabled)?
Hell, if they balanced the education plan right it could even be an AA degree in philosophy, English Lit, PolyPsy, Comparative Religion, etc. It is just a matter of class schedule and making certain classes count towards the GE portion of the degree.

Answer 4

We have a McDonalds near our neighborhood that has a nicer dining area than many of the houses around it. There's an irony in that, to me. They can afford to buy the nice tiles and wall decor that the surrounding families can't afford because those families are supporting the McDonalds. It becomes the community dining room. Unfortunately, it doesn't ultimately serve the community - only the McDonalds.

It's cheaper and more nutritious to eat at home than to eat out, but we have a generation of people who didn't learn how to take basic care of a home or of their families.

I don't know that I would sign up for this as a _major_, but I think the family is a valuable unit. I've worked with children who have been removed from their homes because their parents didn't understand how to feed them, care for them, or provide a stable environment for them.

I think true feminism allows that women who do "nothing with their lives" other than raising their children and nurturing their families are still of equal value and worth as women who pursue careers. Raising children and keeping a home was never an inferior calling done by inferior persons.

I personally believe that women are capable of having a career and running a home, but I support women who devote themselves wholly to raising their kids, if that's what they want to do. I've found that those women rarely ever _just_ do that (even those who think they of themselves as "just homemakers" or "just moms") - they tend to be the ones who will care for their neighbors and extended families when someone is ill or grieving. The are community caregivers: self-taught counselors and mediators, unpaid child and elder caretakers, unofficial "meals-on-wheels."

Communities need more of them.

Answer 5

I'd actually benefit from the meal preparation classes....seeing as I'm the type that catches the kitchen on fire.

Honestly, I think that is absolutely ridiculous. I have no problem with women choosing to stay home, but offering a "degree" in it is setting us back ages.

Plus...that time spent on that program could have been used to get a real degree that a stay-at-home mom can have as back up incase the stay-at-home thing doesn't work out. That program makes women way too dependent. Yuck.

Answer 6

Although I might not be particularly enthusiastic about the "Biblical Model for the Home and Family" component of the course, I have no objection at all to the stated purpose of the course. There might well be women (and perhaps men) who'd like to be better homemakers, and an organized approach to learning those skills would be of benefit to those people.

Answer 7

It wouldn't be for me, I'm a horrible homemaker/housewife, I'd rather be at work that have to clean house. On the other hand, it would have been nice for someone to teach me how to cook and sew on buttons since my mom didn't and would have saved many nights of getting fast food since my experiments were not edible. So basically, I'd say if someone wants to take this class, go for it, if not, that's okay too. Back in the old days they had home economics class in high school, and I remember a few boys joined. We learned to cook and sew, at least those of us who didn't flunk it learned those things.

Answer 8

wow, talk about going back to the cave man days. If they are so concerned about promoting the low standard of family and home life, why aren't we sending men to this college too? because men are supposed to achieve great heights and women are supposed to tie their self worth and accomplishments to raising a husband and children? I am suprised people haven't lashed out mroe agaiinst such a ridiculous sexist idea. Whoever came up with that should be in civil rights court fighting for a chance to escape a jail sentence. These are exactly my thoughts on that

Answer 9

There is no real answer for this b/c it depends on the people involved. In general though it is easier to have traditional roles if you want a family, b/c no matter how your roles are defined only a woman get have a baby and it is a bit more difficult to have the breadwinner out of commission for awhile. That being said it is by no means an issue that can't be worked out.

Answer 10

I don't think you need a college degree for that stuff, but there is no doubt these kind of skills are lacking in today's society. I think this is probably a reaction with good intentions that went a little too far. The women's movement swung the pendulum too far to the left, and this school is swinging it too far back to the right. It needs to be somewhere in between.

One of the many problems with the femenist movement is that they have taken away the idea of the dignity that is the stay at home mother.