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Transvestia

to review (I leave that task to Sheila, she's marvellous at it)...I am just quoting a couple of paragraphs from it inasmuch as it contains a novel and refreshing analysis of "femininity"....Just keep in mind this is written by an extremely intelligent woman....and the article in question is entitled "I Hate Women". I can't stand--" she says--"the current model of American femi- ninity, trussed into the Feminine role of Wife and Mother, with a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval stamped a- cross her Maidenform-upholstered bosom.... What is unattractive about the current version of American woman- hood is that she shows no spark of rebellion, but has been thoroughly, objectly brainwashed into worrying whether she is having the right "feminine" feelings and attitude which will please men, so she can be early married, im- pregnated, Pyrexed, Bendixed, Kentiled, Cheered, Ivory Snowed and PTA'd. She is busy playing the feminine Role forced upon her by American industry, psychology, socio- logy, and the mass media. It's no accident that wigs and false eyelashes are becoming widely marketed consumer products now. Added to the already popular false bosoms and stiletto heels, they indicate that to play the "natural" Feminine Role, the American woman has to use all the props of the female impersonator."

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"If she finds housework, marriage and babies un- interesting and admits it, she's sent to a psychiatrist or marriage counselor to Find Out Why she Rejects the Femi- nine Role. For some reason, rejecting the "feminine Role" is the most terrible accusation you can make against any woman these days more serious than adultery, promi- scuity, or even prostitution, which at least prove her The Feminine Role is rigidly defined, and every female is supposed to fit into it. As with the bed of Procrustes those who were too short had to be stretched to fit it, and those too long were lopped off - every woman, whatever her needs must fit herself into the...."present definition of femininity". End of quote.

"femininity'.

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These are some of the paragraphs I've selected from this rather extensive article. Needless to say we could turn the whole thing around and make very similar state- ments about the "Masculine Role" which society insists on forcing upon everybody born a male. We know that the average man is forever worrying about conforming to the

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