Status
Publication
Description
Deluged by persuasive advertisements and meticulous (though often misguided) advice experts, women from the 1940s to the 1970s were coaxed to "think pink" when they thought of what it meant to be a woman. Attaining feminine perfection meant conforming to a mythical standard, one that would come wrapped in an adorable pink package, if those cunning marketers were to be believed. With wise humor and a savvy eye for curious, absurd, and at times wildly funny period artifacts, Lynn Peril gathers here the memorabilia of the era --from kitschy board games and lunch boxes to outdated advice books and health pamphlets--and reminds us how media messages have long endeavored to shape women's behavior and self-image, with varying degrees of success.Vividly illustrated with photographs of vintage paraphernalia, this entertaining social history revisits the nostalgic past, but only to offer a refreshing message to women who lived through those years as well as those who are coming of age now.… (more)
Similar in this library
User reviews
Lynn Peril walks us through the evolution of femininity using various points of popular culture from the 1920s through the mid 1980s. Her wit and sense of humor with have you cracking up and feeling sad and pathetic by turns. Makes you wonder if we really are past the bad ole pre-feminism days.
You'll hunger for more of the mind blowing ads and images. I like how Peril grounds the information by including personal anecdotes so the book doesn't read like a dry text book.
This book will hold interest for folks into a lot of topics including sociology, gender and American pop culture.