Who Cooks? American Cookbooks and Changes in Gender Roles
American cookbooks—their authors, their implied audience, the social structure implicit in their recipes and meal plans—tell the story of the changes in the role of women and social structure in 20th century America. The cookbook is much more than a “how-to” manual; it documents the expectations for “good food” and for a “good cook.” Looking at the century’s most popular cookbooks brings to light its changing values. This program invites the audience to think about the links between who cooks our food and how our society is structured.
Penelope Bingham holds degrees from Wellesley College and the University of Chicago and has been an avid collector and appraiser of cookbooks for many years. Her personal collection of cookbooks now exceeds well over 2,000 volumes, and she has given numerous programs on American culture and cookbooks to libraries and professional organizations around Illinois.
Penelope Bingham is fully booked for the Road Scholars program through 11/1/11. You may apply for another Road Scholar or contact Penelope and try to arrange a program independent of IHC involvement.
