== Christine Kleinegger ==

== Christine Kleinegger ==

Kleinegger’s basic thesis is that the rise of urbanization and technology displaced farm women from their normal duties. Did increases in food production allow urbanization or did urbanization force technology to increase production abilities? On page 174, Kleinegger writes, “Several factors led to the greater mechanization of dairying. The rapidly increasing population in urban centers created a demand for milk far greater than… farm areas could meet.” It is a matter of what caused which, but it is central to this discussion. ~~Kyle Allwine

'''Kleinegger’s basic thesis is that the rise of urbanization and technology displaced farm women from their normal duties. Did increases in food production allow urbanization or did urbanization force technology to increase production abilities?''' On page 174, Kleinegger writes, “Several factors led to the greater mechanization of dairying. The rapidly increasing population in urban centers created a demand for milk far greater than… farm areas could meet.” It is a matter of what caused which, but it is central to this discussion. ~~Kyle Allwine

The discussion of making the woman an equal business partner is interesting, because it is almost two decades after the 19th Constitutional Amendment. It shows that the women’s equality movement had permeated into rural America just like the modern appliances and utilities had. ~~Kyle Allwine

The discussion of making the woman an equal business partner is interesting, because it is almost two decades after the 19th Constitutional Amendment. It shows that the women’s equality movement had permeated into rural America just like the modern appliances and utilities had. ~~Kyle Allwine

Kleinegger discusses the magazine, Farmer’s Wife, and notes that it describes the, “woman’s new role as a consumer and her old role as the wife of a producer . . . ‘Out of the Barns and into the Kitchens’ can be understood not just as metaphor for changes that occurred in the nature of women’s work, but also as a literal description of a change . . . in the site of that work” (177).  She also refers to farmwives as “a rural ‘Superwoman’” (179), and quotes the Farmer’s Wife: “‘If you can make your husband think of you as his partner, the rest is easy’” (185).  Were women truly happy in their new roles?  Did these shifts cause problems in families?  Or did everyone adjust easily with the rise of new “labor saving” technology?  –Samantha W.

Kleinegger discusses the magazine, Farmer’s Wife, and notes that it describes the, “woman’s new role as a consumer and her old role as the wife of a producer . . . '''‘Out of the Barns and into the Kitchens’ can be understood not just as metaphor for changes that occurred in the nature of women’s work, but also as a literal description of a change . . . in the site of that work” (177).  She also refers to farmwives as “a rural ‘Superwoman’” (179), and quotes the Farmer’s Wife: “‘If you can make your husband think of you as his partner, the rest is easy’” (185).  Were women truly happy in their new roles?  Did these shifts cause problems in families?  Or did everyone adjust easily with the rise of new “labor saving” technology?''' –Samantha W.

A theme I noticed in this reading was the romanticization of earlier farm techniques, including butter making, much like with what we had seen with, for example, the introduction of time, or industrialization. Similarly, there was tension between the farm wife and her husband with what their relationship was, as we had seen with the frustrations between factory workers and management. An interesting point is the idea of the daughters leaving the farm if their fathers did not bring in the new technology.  I wonder, though, if we can really completely blame it on that.  It seems as if these are the times when young farm girls go to factories because the farm does not need so many laborers (food mechanization) and new factories in the cities need the cheap labor (as we had seen with, for example the textile industry). It might have not only been that their fathers didn’t give them running water or a kitchen sink, but that there were increased opportunities outside of the farm. --Sara Krechel

A''' theme I noticed in this reading was the romanticization of earlier farm techniques, including butter making, much like with what we had seen with, for example, the introduction of time, or industrialization.''' Similarly, there was tension between the farm wife and her husband with what their relationship was, as we had seen with the frustrations between factory workers and management.''' An interesting point is the idea of the daughters leaving the farm if their fathers did not bring in the new technology.  I wonder, though, if we can really completely blame it on that.  It seems as if these are the times when young farm girls go to factories because the farm does not need so many laborers (food mechanization) and new factories in the cities need the cheap labor (as we had seen with, for example the textile industry). It might have not only been that their fathers didn’t give them running water or a kitchen sink, but that there were increased opportunities outside of the farm.''' --Sara Krechel

Based on some of the letters written to the Farmer's Wife, it appears that the women were content with their new roles. However, I think that if they had been given technology to match what their husbands were using on the farm they would have been much more content. It does not appear that the women were resisting the transition too much, though with every change there is bound to be a certain degree of resistance. I think that the biggest issue the women had were that they no longer felt equal to their husbands. Also, I agree with Sara. I do not think that the lack of household technology necessarily drove the daughters off the farm. It may have been an excuse or the initial push, but they would not have left if there were no opportunities for them elsewhere. --Meagan B.

Based on some of the letters written to the Farmer's Wife, it appears that the women were content with their new roles. However, I think that if they had been given technology to match what their husbands were using on the farm they would have been much more content. It does not appear that the women were resisting the transition too much, though with every change there is bound to be a certain degree of resistance. '''I think that the biggest issue the women had were that they no longer felt equal to their husbands'''. Also, I agree with Sara. I do not think that the lack of household technology necessarily drove the daughters off the farm. It may have been an excuse or the initial push, but they would not have left if there were no opportunities for them elsewhere. --Meagan B.