Journal of Consumer Studies and Home Economics zyxw (1983) zyxw 7, 161-175. A WORLD SURVEY OF HOME ECONOMICS EDUCATION IN A CO-EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM HARUMI KIMURA University, Japan Department of Home Economics, Fukui zy A world questionnaire survey has been undertaken to obtain some information on the present position of home economics in co-educational curriculum development. Responses were received from nineteen countries from all over the world. Home economics education occurs within formal education in every country, and in most countries the extent of home economics education for boys has been increasing, compared with the UNESCO survey carried out 10 years ago. Co- educational home economics has been regarded as important both by government and the public by 84% of all respondents, though there are many difficulties in the implementation and in the practice of co-education, e.g. social prejudice and decisions about curriculum content. Purpose of the study and procedures In December 1980, a letter and questionnaire were sent to the governmental bodies responsible for home economics education in twenty-six countries and to the national professional associations or organizations concerned with the develop- ment of home economics education in forty-seven countries.* In the letter accom- panying the questionnaire, respondents were informed that the objective of the survey was to obtain some information on the present position of home economics in co-educational curriculum development. The letter stated also that Home Economics is the terminology used in this study, but there may be other names such as Domestic Science, Homemaking, Nutrition, Home and Family Life, or other names covering this area of general education. The returns The original date requested for the return of completed questionnaires was 28 February 1981, which proved to be impracticable and the author waited until *Questionnaires were sent both to the governmental body and the professional body in twenty countries to secure information from at least one. Correspondence: Harumi Kimura, Oepartmcnt of Home bconomics, School of Education, Fukui University, Bunkyo 3-9-1, Fukui 910, Japan. 0309-3891/83/0600-0161 $02.00 zyxwvu 0 1983 Blackwell Scientific Publications 161