Biting the Dust: The Joys of Housework
by Margaret Horsfield
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Description
In this witty look at our obsession with cleaning, Margaret Horsfield confronts her own dirt demons and scours the social, historical, literary and psychological nooks and crannies of the world of household chores. Through historical research, countless interviews with people and an analysis of characters from novels and advertising, Horsfield presents such memorable personalities as the woman who sends her small daughter to walk around other people's houses in white tights to check for dirt show more and the mother who, upon her son's suicide, sheds not a tear but stays up all night frantically polishing her already gleaming hardwood floors. From demented television housewives to the redoubtable Mrs. Beeton, "Biting the Dust" runs the gamut of ideas and emotions. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A reporter willing to admit that she has some interest in housework? Fascinating. Biting the Dust is a saga of housecleaning including information from interviews and historical sources (there *was* a use for that stack of Woman's Day magazines grandma saved!).
No surprising or groundbreaking thesis, just an expxosition on the love/hate relationship women have with cleaning. Is it drudgery or relaxation? Do we not care or do we care too much? Horsfield tells stories on all sides of the spectrum.
No surprising or groundbreaking thesis, just an expxosition on the love/hate relationship women have with cleaning. Is it drudgery or relaxation? Do we not care or do we care too much? Horsfield tells stories on all sides of the spectrum.
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Published Reviews
Was und wieviel man putzt oder zu putzen hätte, ist nur im öffentlichen Raum geregelt. Gesundheitsämter wachen darüber. Im privaten Raum haben sich gewisse Standards eingestellt - die Werbung adelt die perfekte Hausfrau. Frühkindliche Konditionierungen gewährleisten die Weitergabe erworbener Fähigkeiten. Margaret Horsfield thematisiert den Einfluß der Mütter auf das Putzverhalten der show more Töchter; den Einfluß der Werbung auf das Verbraucherverhalten; den Wandel des Hausfrauenimages seit dem ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert, die Entwicklung der Hauswirtschaftslehre und der Haushaltsratgeber. Auch dem "Saubermann" ist ein Kapitel gewidmet. "A Horse for a Kingdom", wird dieser sich sagen, und für den Haushalt die Horsfield dazu. show less
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Author Information
7 Works 159 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Biting the Dust: The Joys of Housework
- Original publication date
- 1997
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 68
- Popularity
- 446,460
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.71)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
