Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness --- and Liberalism --- to the Women of America PDF
Preview Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness --- and Liberalism --- to the Women of America
SPIN SISTE How Women the of i the Media Sell Unhappiness and >^ Liberalism to the ^ Women America of Myrn ISBN 0-312-31287-3 SPIN SISTERS They tell you what to think, they tell you how you feel—and theytell you constantly, on television and in magazines, that today's women, who have more opportunitiesthanwomen have everhad before, are frazzled, frumpy, fearfulvictimsoflivestootoughfor them to handle. SPIN SISTERS They are the women at the top of the media heap, the Girls' Club ofthe female media elite, who lunch, party, and weekendtogether, supportthe same left- of-center causes, and think alike—especially when it comes to social issues and politics. SPIN SISTERS They present their favorite celebrities' liberal mes- sageswith a halo ofapproval. Andtheytryto actlike they'reyourclosestgirlfriends—despitethefactthat you may not share any oftheir attitudes or values. SPIN SISTERS They think all women should agree with them because they are so very sure they know what's good for you—even better than you may know yourself! It's no surprise that the media aimed at women— from morningtelevision showstoTVnewsmagazines to mass-circulation beautyandfashion books—influ- ence and shape how women see themselves and their role in the world. Myrna BIyth was part of the upper echelon ofthis media machine for more than twentyyears and inthis booktellsthetruth aboutthe business she knows sowell—its powerand influence, itsmanipulationsand itsfrequentlymisguided politics. BIyth persuasively argues that today's media bombardsAmericanwomen—the mostprosperous, healthiest, well-educated, and privileged group of womenever—withconstantmessagesofunhappiness and victimization. And thatthese effectively crafted messages also push and promote a liberal political agenda thatthe Spin Sisters themselves share. (continuedonbackflap) Spin Sisters ALSO BY MYRNA BLYTH For Better and For Worse Cousin Suzanne Ladies' HomeJournal Vintage Covers Spin Sisters How Women the of the Media Unhappiness Sell and Liberalism Women to the of America MYRNA BLYTH r TTf ST. MARTIN'S PRESS « NEW YORK — SPIN SISTE—RS: HOW THE WOMEN OF THE MEDIA SELL UNHAPPINESS ^AND UBERALiSM ^ToTHEWOMENOFAMERICA. Copyright © 2004byMyrnaBlyth. All rights reserved. Printed inthe UnitedStates ofAmerica. No partof this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 FifthAvenue, NewYork, N.Y. 10010. www.stmartinscom . Design by Kathryn Parise ISBN 0-312-31287-3 First Edition: March 2004 987654321 10 CONTENTS Introduction 1. Spin, Sisters, Spin 11 2. How We Got from There to Here 21 3. Got Stress? 51 4. The Feminine Physique 81 5. The Female Fear Factor 111 6. The Victim Virus 143 7. Media Queens at Work and Play 177 8. Getting the "Get" (and Other Adventures) 197 9. if Only Women Voted" 221 10. Not a Bit Like You 261 11. Never Underestimate the Power 283 Notes 311 Acknowledgments 327 Index 329
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