Feminism: We've Come a LONG Way

While the social debate has shifted towards whether or not leggings are appropriate to wear in public (are leggings really any different from skinny jeans?), I think the subject of feminism deserves a refresher. Several months ago, I was going through some old women's magazines from the 1920s to the 1960s. It was a fascinating anthropological study, though my purpose was a more creative one. I make greeting cards from old books and magazines. The art is charming, the word "gay" is used innocently, and most importantly, I don't want this part of American culture to ever be forgotten. 

In my search for sentences I could take out of context and iconic "Dick and Jane"-type images, I noticed something profound. The role of women during this time was "Mother" and "Wife" and ONLY mother and wife. Nothing else. (If single, there was "money in art" or secretary training.) 

Though I had always been a slightly messy procrastinator who loved school and work, I envisioned my married, mother-life to be much like June Cleaver's, minus the heels and curlers. I assumed I'd be a 100% stay-at-home-mom and that I would feel 100% fulfilled by that role. Surprisingly, when I got married, my personality didn't change at all. I continued going to school, I worked a full-time job that I loved and I left dirty dishes in the sink for days. Then, I had a baby, and STILL my personality didn't change. Two weeks after he was born, I worked for a few hours one Saturday while he slept in the back of the store. This one-time shift turned into working 10 hours a week for over a year. And I LOVED it. I loved having a reason to leave the house that didn't cost me any money. I loved my break from my adorable baby so that I could actually have a chance to miss him. And I really loved continuing to learn about something not baby-related. 

Did you know that today, in 2015, it is not only possible to have a career and be a mom, but that it's encouraged? (Maybe not as strongly in the unique culture that is Rexburg, Idaho, but I don't care what anyone there thinks of my choices.) This realization made me think about those old magazine ads and the messages (or rather, singularly, message) they convey. Let's take a look at some of my favorites:

"Domestic Science" - Teach 'em young.

Is this legible? A most intimidating and offensive list of "Model Mother" characteristics.

Emily Taylor's identity made even more apparent by the picture's companion:

And Emily Taylor isn't the only one. So many wives cleaning!

And wives sewing...

And wives cooking...

"Domestic Hands"

So, it's NOT okay to be yourself.

              

And be sure to ask your husband's permission.

And, the best for last:

With "more luck than brains" - just let that sit for a second...

Uncovering these gems made me laugh at first. But then I grew solemn and grateful for the bra-burning, man-hating women of the 1960s. Though radical, they brought about such necessary change. 

I've created a different definition of feminism that is less man-hating and more natural-birthing, but my point here is to remind myself and you that we've come a very long way since the misogynistic "Mad Men" era. Today there are 26 female Fortune 500 CEOs - so, whatever, that's only 5.2%, but a 5.2% that deserves celebration! Fifty years ago, there were 0.

Who cares about what's modest and what isn't? Women today are allowed to wear whatever they want! And who cares if you're a stay-at-home-mom or one who works away from home 40 hours a week? What matters is that, today, YOU can make that choice! 

I've always said that I was born in the wrong decade - the 60s certainly had the best clothing, furniture and music - but the 2010s are pretty great, too.