Abstract
This paper draws upon the knowledge accumulated in the field of sociology of education or gender studies, and takes a theoretical approach to make clear the historical genealogy that home economics education has followed. First, I analyze the dispute about housewives during and Japan's high-growth period and the related social factors which influenced home economics teachers. Second, I discuss the movement in the journal of home economics education that would teach only girls home economics at high school. Finally, I examine the reform process of home economics theory at home economics sectional meetings within NIKKYOSO. In that reform process, the main theme of home economics shifted from life skills to "theory" adopting "the theory on labor force reproduction". I will examine some reports about the educational practices which used the theory" quoting "the theory on labor force reproduction". From the discussions at home economics sectional meetings I will set out the process by which the subject frame of home economics came to be denied. At the same time I want to inspect the processes under which the grounds for existence of home economics will again go on being debated.
