wikipedia | Euthenics /juːˈθɛnɪks/ is the study of the improvement of human functioning and well-being by improvement of living conditions.[1] Affecting the "improvement" through altering external factors such as education and the controllable environment, including the prevention and removal of contagious disease and parasites, environmentalism, education regarding employment, home economics, sanitation, and housing.[2]
Rose Field notes of the definition in a May 23, 1926 New York Times article, "the simplest being efficient living."[3] A right to environment.[4]
The Flynn effect
has been often cited as an example of Euthenics. Another example is the
steady increase in body size in industrialized countries since the
beginning of the 20th century.
Euthenics is not normally interpreted to have anything to do with
changing the composition of the human gene pool by definition, although
everything that affects society has some effect on who reproduces and
who does not.
According to Vassar's chronology entry for March 17, 1924, "the
faculty recognized euthenics as a satisfactory field for sequential
study (major). A Division of Euthenics was authorized to offer a multidisciplinary program
[radical at the time] focusing the techniques and disciplines of the
arts, sciences and social sciences on the life experiences and
relationships of women. Students in euthenics could take courses in
horticulture, food chemistry, sociology and statistics, education, child
study, economics, economic geography, physiology, hygiene, public
health, psychology and domestic architecture and furniture. With the new
division came the first major in child study at an American liberal
arts college."[10]
For example, a typical major in child study in euthenics includes
introductory psychology, laboratory psychology, applied psychology,
child study and social psychology in the Department of Psychology; the
three courses offered in the Department of Child Study; beginning
economics, programs of social reorganization and the family in
Economics; and in the Department of Physiology, human physiology, child
hygiene, principles of public health.[11]
The Vassar Summer Institute of Euthenics
accepted its first students in June 1926. Created to supplement the
controversial euthenics major which began February 21, 1925, it was also
located in the new Minnie Cumnock Blodgett Hall of Euthenics (York & Sawyer,
architects; ground broke October 25, 1925). Some Vassar faculty members
(perhaps emotionally upset with being displaced on campus to make way,
or otherwise politically motivated) contentiously "believed the entire
concept of euthenics was vague and counter-productive to women's
progress."[12]
Having overcome a lukewarm reception, Vassar College officially opened its Minnie Cumnock Blodgett Hall of Euthenics in 1929.[9]
Dr. Ruth Wheeler (Physiology and Nutrition - VC '99) took over as
director of euthenics studies in 1924. Wheeler remained director until Mary Shattuck Fisher Langmuir (VC '20) succeeded her in 1944, until 1951.[12]
The college continued for the 1934-35 academic year its successful
cooperative housing experiment in three residence halls. Intended to
help students meet their college costs by working in their residences.
For example, in Main, students earned $40 a year by doing relatively
light work such as cleaning their rooms.[13]
