Housewives' Choice - Women as Consumers Between the Wars

Catherine Horwood looks at how the launch of Good Housekeeping in the UK 75 years ago heralded a new image of domestic activity.

In March 1922, America's leading domestic magazine was launched in Britain. Prophetically, publicity promoted Good Housekeeping as 'infinitely more than a magazine – a New Institution, destined to play an important part in the lives of thousands of women'. It was claimed that 'no magazine to compare with Good Housekeeping has ever been attempted in this country before'. Was this a fair claim? Did Good House- keeping indeed become a trend-setting 'institution' – or was it part of an inevitable growth industry as a sea of consumerism linked to household goods washed over women's lives?

To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.

Buy Online Access  Buy Print & Archive Subscription

If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.

Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.