The Housekeeper and the Food Problem (1917)

AUTHOR: Gilman, Charlotte Perkins
 
PUBLICATION: "The Housekeeper and the Food Problem." Annals of the American Academy  Vol. 74 (Nov. 1917): 123-140.
 
KEYWORDS: animals, domesticity, efficiency, food, gender, labor, women
 
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SUMMARY (Deborah Madsen):

Although "The Housekeeper and the Food Problem" does not directly address veganism, Gilman's focus on efficient, rationalized, and collective systems of domestic work and consumption in the home aligns with the principles of dietary sustainability. Gilman argues that the traditional feminized role of the housekeeper creates a paradoxical “food problem.” The labor required to procure, prepare, and preserve large quantities of food for individual households is inefficiently organized as women's work that is separated from the economy and professions. She proposes  the integration of scientific management principles into food production: communal kitchens, standardized meal planning, and the mechanization of food preparation. Further, Gilman links the “food problem” to broader social reformsrelated to gender equality and social progress.

 

Last updated on April 16th, 2026
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How to cite this page:
Madsen, Deborah. 2025. "The Housekeeper and the Food Problem [summary]." Vegan Literary Studies: An American Textual History, 1776-1900. Edited by Deborah Madsen. University of Geneva. <Date accessed.> <https://www.unige.ch/vls/bibliography/author-bibliography/gilman-charlotte-perkins-1860-1935/housekeeper-and-food-problem-1917>.