In recent years I’ve witnessed a growing interest in home based living. With advances in remote work and technology, some are once again finding value in reconnecting with the home environment and its promise of greater flexibility and self-sufficiency. Will this trend reshape how we interact with our living spaces on a larger scale?
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A Return to Home Based Living
Pre-Industrial Revolution…
Before the Industrial Revolution, life centered around the home. Most people lived in rural areas and their livelihoods came from subsistence farming or various crafts such as the production of tools, textiles, furniture, etc.
Most goods and services were obtained within the community, often by means of bartering. Mobility was limited so the average person relied on the local economy for his needs.
The family served as a production unit, relying on the efforts of all, including children, to take care of the home and participate in whatever means the family relied upon for their living. Children were taught the skills necessary to become functioning parts of the family business.
It wasn’t uncommon for craftsmen and tradesmen to ply their trades from their homes or a small adjacent workshop.
Homes were also social hubs where families gathered for not only for daily meals but for celebrations, entertainment and various types of social gatherings.
Industrial Revolution…
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the 18th century and then spread to other parts of the world. Thus began the transition away from home as the societal base of living and working.
Once the industrial revolution happened, however, things changed. Men left the household to work for wages, which were then used to purchase the goods and services that they no longer were home to provide. Indeed, the men were the first to lose their domestic skills as their successive generations forgot how to butcher the family hog, how to sew leather, how to chop firewood. (Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes pg. 14)
World War II and changes for women…
Men had already largely left the home sphere for work but World War changed women’s lives dramatically. They entered the workforce and the military, taking jobs left vacant by men and participating in support roles. Even within the home, strict gender roles were often left behind as women had to take on additional duties more often done by men, such as handling household finances.
Post WWII and the Baby Boom…
After the war, men returned home and women were encouraged to resume traditional roles. Many relinquished or were forced to give up their jobs to returning veterans.
Some happily returned to domestic life and contributed to the baby boom era of 1946 to 1964. Others had come to appreciate the greater independence they had enjoyed during the war years and were loathe to give that up.
Feminism, the “mommy wars”, and changing socioeconomics…
In the decades since the baby boom era, home life has been impacted by a number of forces. The 1963 publication of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan ushered in a wave of feminism, challenging the prevailing notion that the only role for women was in the home.
As more and more women began to question the assumption that their entire source of fulfillment should be found in home and family, many began to seek out jobs, obtain higher education and express an interest in current events and politics.
Change is never easy, however. Men were suddenly confronted with changing expectations from the women in their lives. As women entered the work force, household chores often became a source of conflict.
Women weren’t on the same page about it, either. Women’s magazines were full of stories of conflict between “stay-at-home moms” and “career women”. Each “side” appeared to be convinced that their way was the best and there was much judgment toward women making a different choice.
Over time, regardless of whether or not women work outside the home, as a society we’ve drifted further and further away from the concept of home as the central hub for family. We’ve changed from a creator to a consumer culture. Not only do we no longer make a living from a family farm or workshop of some type, but for many, traditional skills such as sewing, mending, simple home repairs and even home cooking have all but disappeared.
It’s become all too easy to drive through or order most anything we want or need. In addition, social media influencers convince us that our lives would not be complete without the latest trend. As we add more and more items to our must-have list, we need more and more money. And even if we manage to resist the constant sales pitches, even the basics such as housing, transportation and food take up a larger percentage of our income. For many households, two incomes are practically essential for our modern way of life. And with both adults working full-time and often more, there is little time or energy leftover. Home becomes largely a place to sleep between shifts.
But what if we could change some of that? What if our lives could once again become home-centered?
Effects of the COVID pandemic on home life…
Many actually experienced a brief period of time in which home became central to our lives once again. Early in 2020 the COVID pandemic shut-down non-essential businesses and schools in many places. People worked from home and children were homeschooled. With nowhere to go, home became our sanctuary. Many took up hobbies. Gardens were planted. Social media accounts were awash in photos of freshly baked loaves of sourdough bread.
For a little while we had a glimpse of what a home-centered life might look like, assuming a fair amount of privilege, I might add.
The “Trad Wife” trend…
Speaking of privilege, have you run across any of the “trad wife” accounts on social media? The movement promotes a return to traditional gender roles with men as primary breadwinners and wives embracing homemaking and domesticity. Like many movements, trad wives are not a monolith. However there does seem to be a religious overtone for many, including the promotion of submission to one’s husband.
I don’t intend to delve too deeply into this trend in this post but you can read a bit more about it here:
The Rise and the Fall of the Trad Wife
Is Tradwife the New Retro Housewife?
What does the future hold?…
So the question remains…what does the future hold for the possibility of a home-based life? Is it realistic? Is it even possible for more than a small minority?
Part of it depends upon your definition of “home based”. I don’t foresee large swaths of society buying 10 acres or more in the country and producing the bulk of their family’s food. But what about starting small? Can you bake your own bread? Grow some herbs in a window box? Learn some vintage homemaking skills such as sewing, mending, canning or cooking from scratch?
One thing the pandemic taught us is that many jobs can be done from home. Without lengthy commutes there is more time leftover for homemaking. And for those who work from home it’s possible to work in a few tasks during breaks.
While homeschooling isn’t right for all families, it is an option for some which allows for more time together as a family.
I don’t know what the typical home life will look like in the years to come but I love knowing there are options. I hope we will see more people turn away from excess consumerism and at least consider what life would look like if home were to become more central to their lives.
What do you think? Is a home based life appealing to you? If so, what would that look like for YOUR family? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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For an interesting take on this topic I recommend this book:
Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity From a Consumer Culture
(I am trying to move away from Amazon in my personal life, as well as the promotion of it here on the blog. If you are interested in reading this book, please consider purchasing it from the author, a used book store or borrowing from your local library.)
The author’s website:
Shannon Hayes ~ Sap Bush Hollow Farm
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