Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1992

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Home Economics Education

Major Professor

Lynn M. Blinn

Committee Members

Jackie McInnis, Bridgette Smith

Abstract

Economic survivability of the unemployed textile workers in the South continues to be a problem. Rural areas continue to face lack of employment opportunities, lower per capita income and slower population growth than urban areas. Factors which can be important to the economic stability and livelihood for these families are the creation of new jobs, relocation, training to update their skills, and the challenge to be innovative. This research attempted to determine if there was a perceived consumer need for clothing home-based businesses in Tennessee.

Data were collected from 398 women in twenty-three Tennessee counties. A comparison of rural versus urban residents was explored to aid Extension Clothing Specialists in targeting programs and needs for Extension clientele.

It was concluded that residents of urban communities were more likely than residents of rural communities to support home-based sewing businesses. Also, individuals who currently purchase clothes from home-sewing businesses and mail/yard sales saw a greater personal need and a greater county need for home-sewers.

Respondents perceived home-sewn items to be more expensive than similar store bought items. However, respondents revealed that they themselves would use home sewers if they were available and so would residents of their counties.

This study also examined personal perceived use and personal perceived county success of non sewing related home-based businesses such as child care, food service/catering, bed and breakfast inns, crafts, and home cleaning. It was concluded that retired/homemakers were less likely to utilize these services than employed women, especially child care and home-cleaning. The retired/homemakers group visualized a county success less frequently for those non sewing home-based businesses than did the employed women. Also, younger women (20-39) were more likely to use child care and home-cleaning home-based businesses.

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