The Process of Institutionalization of Home Economics in Japan

Focusing on the Characteristics of Academic Development

Abstract

　 The aim of this study is to examine the process of the institutionalization of Home Economics in Japan from a sociological perspective to clarify the characteristics of its academic development. To that end, the following three themes were established:

　 1. Realities of Home Economics students who went to Europe and America in the Meiji and Taisho eras and who became the driving force in the establishment of Home Economics in Japan.

　 2. Background of the foundation of faculties of Home Economics after World War 2.

　 3. Development of Home Economics centered on the Japan Society of Home Economics.

　 The study revealed that the institutional form of Home Economics is systemled, i.e., the system was created first, rather than being paradigm-led. Based on this, the characteristics of the development of Home Economics as follows can bestated.

　 1. The reason why Home Economics developed slower than other disciplines was due to the fact that we were unable to transplant the academic system from advanced foreign countries in the Meiji era. Therefore, 2., a specific professional group were unable to form until Home Economics was institutionalized by universities after World War 2. In addition, 3. To put it simply, it was other disciplines that had established the process of institutionalization in the Imperial University that were able to respond when Home Economics was preparing its education and research structure after the war. As such, 4. It could be said that Home Economics was able to prepare its academic system by transplanting similar disciplines via the Imperial University after the War.