ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

The Secret History of Home Economics

Home economics is something that people used to teach in school a long time ago to help girls learn how to take care of their home and family. But did you know that before that, it was a secret club for women to learn about things that they weren't allowed to learn about?

Back in the olden days, women were not allowed to go to school or learn about things like science or business. But some women wanted to learn these things anyway, so they started a club that they called "home economics" - because it sounded like something that wouldn't be too scary for the men who didn't want women to learn.

In these secret clubs, women learned all sorts of things that were important for taking care of a home and family - like cooking, sewing, and housekeeping. But they also learned about things like nutrition, child development, and even how to start and run a business. These were things that women were not supposed to be interested in, but the secret home economics clubs allowed them to learn and grow in spite of the rules.

Eventually, home economics became something that was taught in schools and open to everyone, regardless of gender. But it's important to remember the secret history of home economics and the brave women who defied the rules in order to learn and improve their lives.