MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

“Refresh and renew” and “Make your own rules.” These are just a few of the cover highlights from recent issues of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The publication, which began in 1923, has long provided its readers with the information they need to better their home lives – from decorating tips to creative ideas for entertaining. The space of the kitchen - in both the magazine and online site - features prominently. Readers are encouraged to redesign their current space by upgrading their appliances and improving upon their storage needs. Ultimately, they are urged to re-imagine their kitchens, creating what Houzz.com describes as a “super kitchen,” a place which serves as “a living room, family room and office, with finishes, layouts and décor that challenge us to define where the kitchen ends and the rest of the home begins.”

Interestingly enough, the kitchen has not always played such a predominant role in Better Homes and Gardens. In fact, in the 1960s, the magazine placed much more importance on the living spaces of the home, particularly the family room – a stark difference from the kitchen’s hyper-presence in contemporary issues of the magazine. This shift in representation raises interesting questions about the historical role of the kitchen in the American home. Specifically, in what ways did women’s changing roles in society shape the re-imaginings of this space? In this paper, I will examine 1960s issues of Better Homes and Gardens alongside contemporary issues of the magazine, contrasting their representations of the kitchen. Specifically, I will discuss how the private space of the kitchen – a space traditionally occupied by women – has evolved alongside women’s roles, and I will explore the way in which these spatial and historical changes have affected women’s relationships with the food they prepare and eat.