I suspect an editor blithely tossed out the number "129" and then went off to a three-hour lunch. A writer desperately trying to meet a deadline had to go silly or never fill the assignment. Starts off with straight-shooting sincerity. "Walking a dog" or "Take a night class" are solid tips that have worked for both genders for decades. But by the end ("stand on the corner with a lasso"), that writer was brainstorming for ANYTHING to put down. (Probably brainstorming with a couple of coworkers and beers)
My partner and I had the same question: could you tell whether this was meant as satirical or entirely serious? We’re 90s & 00s kids — while we totally believe this could have been / was probably deadpan, it’s just hard to believe sometimes!
It could also be considered 129 ways to get oneself into a lot of trouble and dangerous situations. It's amazing we've all survived until now with this kind of advice to women.
That's quite the list! As others have commented, I hope this advice may be more satirical or just drawing at straws, but I could see some, or all, of this being actual advice given at the time. The general theme of the list seems to be in one of three camps: lie, change yourself, or put yourself into a situation in which you need assistance/look like you need assistance. Yikes!
Thank you for the super interesting list, as always! :)
Not sure how old y’all are, but I must regretfully tell you that these sort of articles were written and received in the 50’s with great enthusiasm and no irony whatsoever.
I suspect an editor blithely tossed out the number "129" and then went off to a three-hour lunch. A writer desperately trying to meet a deadline had to go silly or never fill the assignment. Starts off with straight-shooting sincerity. "Walking a dog" or "Take a night class" are solid tips that have worked for both genders for decades. But by the end ("stand on the corner with a lasso"), that writer was brainstorming for ANYTHING to put down. (Probably brainstorming with a couple of coworkers and beers)
My partner and I had the same question: could you tell whether this was meant as satirical or entirely serious? We’re 90s & 00s kids — while we totally believe this could have been / was probably deadpan, it’s just hard to believe sometimes!
It’s genuinely difficult to know, which in itself is amazing.
I love 30. Learn to paint. Set up easel outside engineering school.
It could also be considered 129 ways to get oneself into a lot of trouble and dangerous situations. It's amazing we've all survived until now with this kind of advice to women.
I’m at a loss about the hatbox advice. I guess that’s why I’m single.
That's quite the list! As others have commented, I hope this advice may be more satirical or just drawing at straws, but I could see some, or all, of this being actual advice given at the time. The general theme of the list seems to be in one of three camps: lie, change yourself, or put yourself into a situation in which you need assistance/look like you need assistance. Yikes!
Thank you for the super interesting list, as always! :)
Not sure how old y’all are, but I must regretfully tell you that these sort of articles were written and received in the 50’s with great enthusiasm and no irony whatsoever.