THE STEPFORD WIVES
in print, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin (well known for his menacing Rosemary's Baby) filled me with fear and suspense from cover to cover, for the ending of the book is no relief from the untold horrors preceding it. The screenplay, adapted by William Goldman and directed by Bryan Forbes, should have remained an untold horror, because somewhere the suspense is lost in all the hints and flashbacks of what is to take place.
Katherine Ross, the protagonist, moves to Stepford, Connecticut an idyllic suburban town, with her upwardly mobile attorney husband and two school age children. After a few days' inspection of the town she discovers the townswomen to be picture perfect and empty headed, responding only to talk of kitchen cleansers, brownie mix or sweet nothings whispered by husbands who spend evenings locked up together in their secret men's club. Katherine, with friend Paula Prentiss, decides something is definitely amiss when she forms a women's consciousness raising group where the topic that finally raises any sign of awareness in these living dolls is a discussion about floor wax.
Is there something in the water? Is she crazy? Why does her once supportive agreeable husband disappear every night to mix with the other male Stepfordites? Why do the women all have large breasts, small waists, long legs, ruby lips and uncontrollable sex drives? (Why would anyone waste time sitting through the movie trying to find out?)
The questioning Miss Ross discovers why and in doing so meets the fate of every other Stepford wife replacement by an identical mannequin programmed to be the perfect wife, mother and lover, with nary a contrary bone in sight.
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The concept behind the story that most men would prefer to live with the Madison Ave, ideal of the American wife, one who can remain perfectly unruffled while tending home, family and hubby is terribly untrue, an insult to men and women and their relationships together. The picture seems to wrongly assume that men would choose to trade in their independent, free-thinking, not always agreeable wives for robot-like dolls programmed
to respond appropriately.
The book left much unsaid. What really happened in Stepford was never exactly told, Mr. Levin allowed you to use your imagination, allowed you to take your fears as far as you wanted to. The movie doesn't. Everything unfolds before you leaving no room for thought, turning a good suspenseful horror tale into a cold blooded murder story. Save your movie money and read the book. (another review page 8)
THE STEPFORD WIVES FOR REAL
The March 13 issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer presented an article entitled Being A Total Wife: You Can If You Try, which dealt with the complex questions of women's roles today. This article vividly explained the "Total Wife" course and corresponding how-to book Total Woman which is supposedly spreading like a cancer throughout the country. This article put forth foolproof suggestions for reviving marriage and winning the adoration of your man by compromising yourself and personal freedom every step of the way.
For example, the four basic tenets of "Total Womanhood", or the "Four A's", are the following:
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1. Accept him (write out lists of his faults and virtues. Throw away the list of faults — only think about his virtues.)
2. Admire him (tell him you love his body. If you choke on that phrase, practice it until it comes out naturally).
3. Adapt to him (the total woman caters to her man's special quirks, whether it be salads, sex or sports).
4. Appreciate him (give him your undivided attention and try not to make any telephone calls after he comes home, especially after 8 p.m.) Marabel Morgan, pioneer crusader of this reactionary movement has answers to all your questions about catering to your man and family (i.e. fulfill everyone's needs but your own). For instance, she informs us that a "Total Woman's" sex life can be easily perked up by
"dressing up in high heels, being prepared for lovemaking every night and looking to God, plugging into the ultimate power source". In order to capitalize on this alluring sexual technique a woman must strategically make use of her most plentiful weapon time...
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She tells us that "the most important eight minutes of any housewife's day are the first four when her lord and master is waking up ("give him a kiss, rub his back, whisper in his ear") and the first four when he comes home from work. (meet him at the door in an outrageously sexy outfit.
Her failure to even acknowledge womens' needs is evident in her assumptions that in order to be a "Total Woman", one must be (1) married (2) a housewife (The issue of the working woman is skirted over as the "career gal who often faces difficult conflicts, making unrealistic sacrifices for her job at the expense of her home life.") (3) affluent (ability to afford all sorts of little extras ex, sexy. wardrobes, leisure time, etc.)
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Numerous attacks have been launched by book reviewers and feminists; yet charges of "setting the American woman back 200 years and reestablishing indentured servitude" go unheeded by this "Total Woman" (alias Maverick)Marabel Morgan In reality movements such as "Total Woman", "Fantastic Womanhood", "Pussycats", and other assorted Stepford Schemes) contain a common flaw that the opportunity (and/or desire) to become this type of female is universally available. This
brand of distortion is analogous to reading a manual on Southern Race Relations by George Wallace.
It is time for feminists, "anti-libbers", males, institutions, especially church and school, etc. to realize that since women compose 53% of the population, they are by no means homo. geneous. Just as it is not every woman's desire to have a man around the house, it is also not every woman's desire to be drafted, hold a 9 to 5 job, become a plumber, pro football player, etc... The media continually gives credence to "anti-lib" movements which attack and misrepresent feminist ideologies and demands, prolonging the day when women, and ultimately all humankind, will be free to control their own lives.
*(Editorial Note) What She Wants is insulted by the attitude displayed by The Plain Dealer in it's treatment of the story. If the PD staff felt that Marabel Morgan is newsworthy, it seems only fair that a rebuttal could have been printed on the same page, or a feminist reporter could have had an interview with Ms. Morgan, or at least, an opposing viewpoint could have been expressed in the body of the article. As it is, "Being A Total Wife: You Can If You Try" is presented in a favorable light, andWSW does not consider this conscientious news coverage.
We urge our readers to write The Plain Dealer and express their opinions. Feminists cannot remain aloof to the narrow orientation of "Todays Living," assilence may infer approval to the editors at the PD.
page 5/What, She Wants/May, 1975