Descriptions of Home Economists From Three Perspectives

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to consider the image of home economists by examining descriptions of home economists from three perspectives. Eighty‐four female members of a home economics organization completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory three times to describe themselves, to describe a home economist, and to describe a home economist as a non‐home economist might. Participants described themselves as masculine, described a home economist as undifferen tiated or mixed, and believed non‐home economists would describe a home economist as feminine. Age of participants was related to status ranking of the profession and sex role. Androgyny was not found to be characteristic of mem bers of the home economics profession from any of the three perspectives. Im plications of these findings are discussed along with suggestions for future re search.