This cookbook was published in 1924 in Canada. Hence, to understand more about why this cookbook was written in the way it was, it is important to explore and discuss the important events and changes that were happening in Canada in the 1920s.

The 1920s in Canada were nicknamed the “Roaring Twenties”. The main reason for such a nickname was the way that society was changing after the end of the First World War. After the war ended in 1918, people were getting back to their “normal” lives, and many were looking for new ways to enjoy life. All aspects of life were rapidly evolving and changing. New inventions were developed, and people were willing to try new things. Some notable changes that happened around this era were the invention of automobiles, the first telephones, radio, and electric appliances. Also, aviation was becoming more popular and the first airlines were established.

Another reason for the nickname was the ways in which the economy prospered during that time. After the devastation brought upon by the war, the country was forced to rebuild itself. The war influenced the development of countless inventions to help people survive through the war, and when it ended civilians were able to make use of those inventions for many purposes in their daily lives. The use of electricity allowed for many changes to take place in the industrial sector, improving the production of goods and making it more efficient. Also, after the return of soldiers from the war, there was increased consumer need, and therefore increased production of goods, which was in turn improving the Canadian economy.

In addition, the entertainment industry also underwent many changes, as after the war people were more carefree and sought ways to bring more enjoyment into their lives. These included the establishment of cinemas, creation of first motion pictures, and sports stadiums. Like never before in Western history, people became increasingly interested in celebrities, fashion, movie stars, dancing, and various other forms of entertainment.

A significant change that happened in the lives of women in 1920s was that in some parts of Canada they were allowed to vote, for the first time in the history of the Western world. Women also entered the workforce at a higher rate than they did in the past. As a result, other aspects of women’s lives also underwent changes. For example, women started to dress differently; the hemlines of dresses and skirts rose, the shape of clothes was not as tight as a result of not using corsets, and in general the clothes became less feminine. The changes in women’s fashion reflected the changes occurring in their lives, representing an increased freedom. However, regardless of all these changes, it was still expected for women to be the primary homemakers. Women often quit jobs after getting married, as they were expected to take care of the house and children. Women that worked outside of the house did not get paid nearly as much as men did for the same type of job. Hence, it seems that even though there was improvement in women’s rights and in attempts to make them more equal to men, there was still a lot more work that needed to be done for a woman to reach a similar status.

Based on the above discussion about the 1920s in Canada, a guess can be made regarding why Canada’s Most Famous Dessert Jell-O cookbook may have been written in the way it was. Even though in the first few years after its launch Jell-O failed to become popular, after it was properly advertised during the 1910s and 1920s, the product’s popularity dramatically increased. This may relate to the trend that people in 1920s were willing to try new things, as discussed previously, and the Jell-O was not an exception. Therefore, the Jell-O product was an innovation in the 1910-1920s, to some extent, for which people were excited at that time just like they were excited about other innovations. It could be said that the Genesee Company chose the right time to advertise their product, when people actually had the time, energy, and desire to try it, hence bringing the popularity to the Jell-O product.

Based on what was discussed about women’s lives during 1920s, it becomes understandable why the Canada’s Most Famous Dessert Jell-O was directed at the Canadian housewives. Even though women were becoming more involved outside of the house, the majority still stayed home and were primary homemakers. Regardless, the book does reflect the importance of entertainment which was sought by people of that era. For example, the cookbook’s writers mention how important it is to make the recipe look appealing, and gives tips on how to garnish a dish in order to make it look nice to entertain guests. It seems that the cookbook’s writers placed more importance on the way the dish was supposed to look like, rather than its taste qualities, which once again reflects the 1920s way of life.