Parenting
By Alex Turner
Updated: March 27, 2021
Originally Published: March 25, 2021
I had heard of the film “The Stepford Wives” and knew it was adapted from a novel by Ira Levin, but my understanding was limited until I tuned into the You’re Wrong About podcast, which delved into both the book and the movie. The podcast examines pop culture narratives from the 80s and 90s, challenging our preconceived notions. The hosts, Jamie and Taylor, are both insightful and entertaining—I’d love to hang out with them.
Their episode on “The Stepford Wives” explored the relevance of Levin’s satirical work, emphasizing how exaggeration is used to highlight societal flaws. In this case, the story critiques societal pressures on women, particularly mothers, and how men historically sought to keep them subdued and confined to domestic roles.
To summarize: Joanna Eberhart is a young mother and photographer who relocates to a seemingly idyllic town in Connecticut with her family. She quickly notices that the other mothers appear strangely robotic, showing no ambition beyond household chores and catering to their husbands and children. These women, once assertive and career-driven, have been reduced to obsessing over spotless floors. Through investigation, Joanna and her friend discover that the other wives have been systematically replaced by robotic versions of themselves, stripped of their opinions and individuality.
It sounds absurd to think we would ever go to such extremes as murder or robotic replacements. However, during the mid-20th century, women were essentially being drugged into compliance with the rise of “Mother’s Little Helper” pills. As societal pressures mounted, many women felt suffocated, leading to a rise in prescriptions for tranquilizers like Miltown, which were marketed as solutions for anxiety and stress.
Miltown was touted as a way to alleviate mental strain, with one doctor claiming in a 1956 Cosmopolitan article that “frigid women” became more responsive to their husbands after taking it. Seriously? It’s appalling to think that women were being medicated not for their well-being but to keep them compliant with the demands of their husbands. Instead of addressing the real issues women faced—such as the need for autonomy and support—society opted for pharmacological solutions.
As the years progressed, Miltown gave way to benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax, which were marketed as “happy pills.” These medications were often prescribed more frequently to women than men, leading to addiction and a multitude of other issues while minimizing the real struggles women were experiencing.
While feminism has made strides, the reality is that many men still cling to power dynamics that suppress women. Even those who support women’s independence often falter when their comforts are challenged. Yes, wives can pursue careers and personal interests, but they are still expected to maintain domestic responsibilities. Many men will say they’ll help if asked, but this isn’t a group project—men should take the initiative to contribute.
Today, while pills are still an issue for many women—especially postpartum—alcohol has become a socially accepted means of coping. The trend of “Mommy Juice” trivializes serious issues, suggesting that self-medication through alcohol is cute or acceptable. This cycle of mothers feeling the need to self-medicate is dangerous; we need to confront the root causes of these struggles rather than masking them.
Women must recognize the harm they inflict on themselves by seeking comfort in substances. It’s crucial to promote support systems, self-care, and professional help rather than relying solely on medication. No one should need to escape their reality to face their day-to-day life. It’s time for men to stop pushing their partners into submission, and for women to empower one another towards genuine freedom rather than numbness.
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Summary
This article discusses how society has historically subdued mothers through medication and societal pressures long before the rise of alcohol culture. It critiques the normalization of self-medication among mothers and the need for genuine empowerment and support rather than compliance.