Lynn Peril

Think Pink analyzes the socially constructed feminine gender though the lens of pop culture. Advice books, education, fashion, television, household product marketing, magazines and movies all do their part to make sure growing girls are trained to accept their lot in life as the bearer of children. Dating and marriage just happened to be incidental steps. By comparison, books and magazines produced for boys encouraged them to become more fully rounded human beings.

Lynn Peril walks us show more through the evolution of femininity using various points of popular culture from the 1920s through the mid 1980s. Her wit and sense of humor with have you cracking up and feeling sad and pathetic by turns. Makes you wonder if we really are past the bad ole pre-feminism days.

You'll hunger for more of the mind blowing ads and images. I like how Peril grounds the information by including personal anecdotes so the book doesn't read like a dry text book.

This book will hold interest for folks into a lot of topics including sociology, gender and American pop culture. show less

A quick read that was at the same time horrifying and refreshing. Horrifying to hear, in such great detail, the stupid things that women were (and still are) encouraged to do to be "feminine." Refreshing as it makes me glad that I always rebelled against such things from a young age, and still do to this day. Femininity be damned.

Another fascinating exploration of "pink think" culture by Lynn Peril. This time, Peril takes on women in the workplace during the early to mid 20th century--a time when a career woman's highest goal was to be executive secretary to her (male) boss. The idea that a woman could become the boss herself was laughable during this time, despite the fact that there were many educated and talented women swimming around in the steno pool. Chapters include sex in the office (including a description show more of "scuttle"--a favorite office "game" of Helen Gurley Brown's), dealing with the boss, and the liberated secretary.

I've taken it upon myself to read everything Peril has written--including her two earlier books, "Pink Think" and "College Girls". She is one of my favorite authors and she never disappoints. Her books combine a casual, chatty, funny style of writing with fascinating historical research. "Swimming in the Steno Pool" is a fun, informative read. I can't wait to see what Peril writes next! show less

Peril provides an entertaining history of cultural ideas about "femininity" in America from the 1930's through the 1970's. Throughout the book are fascinating nuggets of "femorbilia" (to take the name of Peril's column in Bust magazine) such as marriage manuals, "fatty fiction", and ads encouraging women to douche with Lysol. Peril makes learning fun with easy, breezy writing style, cool sidebars, and plentiful pictures and illustrations. I heart this book!