How to Undress in Front of Your Husband by Becky Stowe

How to Undress in Front of Your Husband

By Becky Stowe

It’s easy to become disheartened by the ridiculous standards of beauty that women are held up to. It is helpful however to look back on the way things used to be to feel a sense of how far we’ve come in the last few decades.

One day during my wanderings through the interwebs, I came across an educational film from the 1950s. It’s called-y’all ready for this?- How To Undress In Front Of Your Husband. It’s exactly what you think it is: an educational video for women on how they should undress in front of their husbands to please them. According to the introduction of the video, “Men have submitted, suffered and supported [marital boredom] long enough.” SO UNDRESS YOURSELF LIKE A SEXY MOVIE STAR DAMMIT. THAT WILL SOLVE ALL YOUR MARRIAGE PROBLEMS.

Thanks to a Peeping Tom, we are given a glimpse into the boudoirs of two women (What better way to show wives that they are objects to be admired by their husbands than a little perverted voyeurism?) One is the glamorous movie star Elaine Barre Barrymore who epitomizes the ideal feminine woman with a slender figure. The other is Trixie Friganza, a large woman who has the nerve to yawn, scratch itches and conduct herself (IN THE SO-CALLED PRIVACY OF HER OWN DAMN BEDROOM) in a way that is not proper or seductive.

The narrator (who I’m going to call “Big Brother”) praises Ms. Barrymore for removing her stocking in a way that showcases her legs and makes comments about how nice her “teeth” are. As for Ms. Friganza, Big Brother only criticizes her and makes fat jokes at her expense in reaction to her doing perfectly human things. Trixie’s tired and she want to get some sleep, not do a striptease.

The problems I have with this video are too numerous to be addressed at once. Objectification, oppression, misogyny…the list could go on for awhile. I had to pick my jaw up from my desk more than once while watching this. But I guess I’m just crazy because I don’t get ready for bed as if I am being watched by someone that needs to be pleased. Granted most people don’t slam doors or stomp for comic effect like Trixie, but I think most of us would agree that after a long day (bad or good) we are all Trixie. Fuck you Big Brother. #TeamTrixie

The Bookmaid's Starter List of Books by Women Writers by Becky Stowe

The Bookmaid’s Starter List of Books By Women Writers

by Becky Stowe

With Hissy Fit’s focus on the representation of women in the media for this month’s edition, I began thinking about a form of media and entertainment that is always on my mind; books (I’m an English major who works in a bookstore. Books are all I think about). As a bibliophile and a feminist, I am all too aware of how few books by female writers we all read. Sure there’s always the classics like Jane Austen, Mary Shelley or any of the Brönte sisters, but those can be a bit dated for today’s readers. I’m often asked for my recommendations on books as a reader, but now I’d like to give you some recommendations as a reader and a feminist!

Disclaimers: No Stephanie Meyer or E.L. James. You can read them if you want but I’m not going to go out of my way to recommend them. Also, this list will be in alphabetical order of the author’s last name as opposed to ranking them best to worst (down with the patriarchal hierarchies!!!).

Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie

This novel about “race, love and identity” in a post-9/11 world has received high praise from authors and editorials alike. You may recognize her as the woman whose TED talk was sampled in Beyoncé’s “Flawless”. It’s clear that she deserves to be known for far more than that so watch her TED talk and then pick up a copy of this book.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

I’m not lying when I say this is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read in my short yet expansive reading career(*editor’s note: AGREED*). It’s set in a totalitarian Christian society that has overthrown the government and has completely repressed women into beings worth little more than livestock. As unappealing as this may sound, this speculative fiction serves well as a warning as to what could happen if we let far right wing Republicans take the White House in 2016 –I mean, what could happen if we don’t fight for our rights.

Kissing The Witch by Emma Donoghue

First of all, this is a re-telling of classic fairytales was done long before Once Upon A Time was even a thing so don’t you dare compare the two. Donoghue puts feminist and queer twists on stories we all thought we knew . These tales are short, dark, and decadently sweet compared to Walt Disney’s version of Grimm’s fairy tales.

Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johnson

A fantasy novel set in the 24th century with the best of Renaissance Faire fantasy worlds paired with Hunger Games/Divergent dystopia. Young Kelsea finds out that she is heir to the throne of a kingdom under the thumb of another. She’s super badass but realistic at the same time. They’re casting Emma Watson as her in the movie. That’s all I need to say.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Yay for graphic memoirs! This is an autobiographical novel about growing up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution. The readers get to see (literally since it’s all pictures) young Marjane struggle with her identity as an Iranian, a Muslim and as woman in an increasingly Westernized world.  

Woman By: Becky Stowe

Woman*

By Becky Stowe

I am a woman
I walk down the street in the middle of the night
armed only with my keys and courage
They think I’m afraid of them
When I walk
I am not a slave

The shadows whisper
wanton words and invitations

They think if they take me
my courage will abandon me
and I will no longer be

free



*(inspired by the poem “Postman” by Monica Hand)