Here\u2019s a hint \u2026 \u201coikos\u201d means \u201chouse\u201d in Greek.<\/p>\n
Houseology?!<\/p>\n
Again, I know what you\u2019re thinking. That I\u2019ve gone off my rocker. Not so \u2026<\/p>\n
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Oikology<\/a> (n): the study or science of housekeeping.<\/p>\n Yep, that\u2019s right, girls. It\u2019s a science.<\/p>\n Wait a sec \u2026 a science?<\/p>\n Well, let\u2019s see. Wikipedia says that a science is \u201ca systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions.\u201d<\/p>\n Yep. It\u2019s a science, alright.<\/p>\n Of course, no one had to tell us<\/em> that, did they?! How anyone could imagine it to be anything less is a mystery to me. Still, who came up with this?<\/p>\n According to an article from the New York Times<\/em> in July of 1895, we have Mrs. Ellen T. Richards, Mrs. M.B. Tobey, and Miss Marion Talbot to thank for \u201cthrowing a searchlight upon the conditions of daily living\u201d and giving us this fine little word.<\/p>\n They were definitely farmgirls.<\/p>\n Ellen, Marion, and M.B., practical 19th century gals that they were, wrote and taught other women about sanitation and hygiene, diet, entertaining, the downside of dust, and bacteriology.<\/p>\n Bacterio-what?! Gee, they sure liked their ologies back then.<\/p>\n Speaking of \u201cback then\u201d \u2026 I think we all know what the Times<\/em> writer meant when he wrote that it was \u201ceminently proper that women should direct their energies toward these subjects.\u201d (Did that guy put the \u201coy!\u201d in oikology, or what!?)<\/p>\n What seems eminently evident to me is that wherever women direct their energies, important things get done. Like taking care of our homes, our health, our families, and ourselves.<\/p>\n Call it oikology \u2026 or just call it living the good life<\/em>.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here\u2019s an old word we need to put a farmgirl spin on: oikology I know what you\u2019re thinking. No, it\u2019s not the science of pigs\u2014that would be oinkology! Here\u2019s a hint \u2026 \u201coikos\u201d means \u201chouse\u201d in Greek. Houseology?! Again, I … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.raisingjane.org\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/gleaming_word-oikology-washing-with-soap.jpg\" "\\"gleaming_word-oikology-washing-with-soap\\"")
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