Household Economies

Technological changes have had large-scale impacts on households in many societies. The Industrial Revolution, which began in eighteenth century Britain, resulted in significant shifts in the organization of the family structure and household labor. As families depended less on agricultural work performed at or near the home by both women and men and more on income earned in urban, industrial settings, a gendered private-public labor distinction arose. This model, which may be seen across many cultures is currently being revolutionized in others.

Nanotechnology may bring changes to how families are organized. Service-related jobs may decline in number as these jobs come to be performed by ‘smart-machines’ made possible by nanotechnology. In addition, given medical diagnostic and treatment devices that lead to longevity, multi-generational households may become a viable option, in which household labor such as childcare comes to be shared by older generations. Finally, nanotechnology is being incorporated in laborsaving devices and products, such as self-cleaning windows and toilets and wrinkle- and stain-free clothing. In the past, technological developments of this sort, such as microwave ovens and washing machines did not lessen household labor but instead, created higher standards of domestic perfection that required additional work by women. Thus, it is important to consider all users when new technologies are being adopted.

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