I am in the middle of reading Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown. Boy, the messaging sent to women via the media and other outlet sources over the years has done a complete 180! I was so fascinated with some of these excerpts that Karma Brown shared in her book that I had to share a few with you. I, of course, also had to add a little twist by adding my 2020 translation! SO, here we go:
It is up to you to earn the proposal- by waging a dignified, common-sense campaign designed to help him see for himself that matrimony rather than bachelorhood is the keystone of a full and happy life. –Ellis Michael, “How to Make Him Propose,” Coronet (1951).
My Translation: Trick him into marrying you.
Your mind can accomplish things while your hands are busy. Do head work while dusting, sweeping, washing dishes, paring potatoes, etc. Plan family recreation, the garden, etc. –Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book, revised and enlarged (1956).
My Translation: You can dream about doing great things but you got married to be nothing more than a maid, plain and simple. Know your place woman!
Nothing destroys the happiness of married life more than the lazy, slovenly wife. –Mrs. Dobbin Crawford, Bath Chronicle (1930).
My Translation: It is your job woman to clean up behind your lazy, slovenly husband.
Nagging is a devastating emotional disease. If you are in doubt about having it, ask your husband. If he should tell you that you are a nag, don’t react by violent denial-that only proves he is right. –Mrs. Dale Carnegie, How to Help Your Husband Get Ahead in His Social and Business Life (1953).
My Translation: It is your fault if your husband fails in the workplace, all your fault!
Just as the vampire sucks the blood of its victims in their sleep while they are alive, so does the woman vampire suck the life and exhaust the vitality of her male partner or victim. –William J. Robinson, Married Life and Happiness (1922).
My Translation: Do not expect anything from your husband. If you do, definitely don’t voice your expectations.
Woman’s sexual response is so general and diffused that frequently she does not even know that she is being aroused, and even more frequently is quite unaware that her behavior is arousing the boy beyond the boundaries which she herself would wish to maintain. –Evelyn Duvall and Reuben Hill, When You Marry (1953).
My Translation: It is a woman’s fault if she is raped.
Remember your most important job is to build up and maintain his ego (which gets bruised plenty in business). Morale is a woman’s business. -Edward Podolsky, Sex Today in Wedded Life (1947).
My Translation: You woman do not have a right to have dreams of your own. You were put on this earth solely to help your husband realize his dreams.
THUS THE REASON FOR THE FEMINIST, WOMANIST, ME TOO MOVEMENT. Women were tired of being objectified and spending their life on earth not realizing their own dreams.
Do you agree or disagree with my translations? Do you have your own translations you would like to share?
Much Love,
Tonza
Thank you for this post. We’ve come a long way but culturally we are still on the cusp. I still am in awe of being alive to see some of these triumphs. As we slowly see the behavioral changes of our daughters to making empowered decisions are still in a world that requires a male face to represent/co-sign women…. please keep posting