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The Extra Woman
The Extra Woman: How Marjorie Hillis Led a Generation of Women to Live Alone and Like It | Joanna Scutts
18 posts | 5 read | 21 to read
Despite multiple waves of feminist revolution, today's single woman is still mired in judgment or, worse, pity. But for one brief exclamatory period in the 1930s, she was all the rage. Marjorie Hillis was working at Vogue when she published the radical self-help book Live Alone and Like It: A Guide for the Extra Woman. With Dorothy Parker-esque wit, she urged spinsters, divorcees, and old maids to shed derogatory labels, and her philosophy became a phenomenon. From the importance of a peignoir to the joy of breakfast in bed (alone), Hillis's tips made single life desirable and chic. Now, historian and critic Joanna Scutts reclaims Hillis as the queen of the "Live-Aloners" and explores the turbulent decades that followed, when the status of these "brazen ladies" peaked and then collapsed. The Extra Woman follows Hillis and others like her who forged their independent paths before the 1950s saw them trapped behind picket fences yet again.
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K.Wielechowski
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Pickpick

Fascinating examination of the phenomenon of the single woman that grew from the 1920s-1950s. Most of which was through the lens of the self-help books that exploded onto the market, especially those by Marjorie Hallis.
As an extra woman or “live-aloner,” it was interesting to see how far we‘ve come and how far we have yet to go.
It did make me want to rage at men and society and the world.
#womenshistorymonth

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K.Wielechowski

“Worse, even, than a woman who puts marshmallows in a salad…”

Woah, Marjorie coming with the shade, meanwhile four generations of Midwestern moms just swelled with rage and they don‘t know why. 🤣🤣

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Soubhiville
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I have two Libby holds about to become available, so I downloaded this to get me through the few days or week until they do.

It‘s an interesting read about changing the perspective of the public on single women, particularly those who have no desire to change their status.

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RowReads1
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#Internationalwomensday This is one I have checked out and haven‘t gotten to yet. Marjorie Hillis sounds intriguing. Happy International women‘s day! 👭👩🏿👩🏾👩🏽👩🏼👩🏻👩👭#marchintomarch

rubyslippersreads A friend just recommended this one to me. 7y
RowReads1 I‘d like to note that I‘m fully aware this is in some ways “white feminism” . 7y
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kalinichta
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I don't remember where I learned of this book about Marjorie Hillis and her 1930s guides for the "Live Alone" woman, but I'm enjoying it so far. And I was delighted to come across this mention of Margaret Fishback, inspiration for the delightful Lillian Boxfish.

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jfount
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This was a fantastic read; a kind of biography of Hillis through her books interwoven with a cultural history of independent women and self-help gurus. Smart and well-rounded. An excellent read!

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jfount
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I saw this book and instantly HAD to buy it. The first 50 pages are certainly justifying that impulse!

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shendrix413
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In my feminist lit box from The Strand! 😂 #1 bash the patriarchy!
❤️

MiyakoBunny ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼 7y
56 likes1 comment
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RealBooks4ever
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Looking forward to the upcoming publication of this book! #FeministFriday #AwesomeAutumnBooks

Leftcoastzen Wow very interesting! Didn't know about her! 7y
RealBooks4ever @Leftcoastzen I hadn't either before I spied this book! 😃 7y
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DarcysMom
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟

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DarcysMom
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I find this very distasteful - Freud is so Victorian and old-fashioned. And he disliked women so thoroughly.

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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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There is so much that is quotable - I am going to have to exercise tremendous self control. 🤣

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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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Wish Granted! Oh my goodness - I went from 3 books on my #NetgalleyTBR yesterday, to 12 today.

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 2! #BEA17 edition! Set for a November 14th release. Vogue writer, Hollis, wrote "Live Alone and Like It" in the 1930s. She encouraged spinsters, divorcees, & old maids to ignore the derogatory labels and embrace who they were. Her philosophy became a phenomenon that didn't decline in popularity or practice until the 1950s. Historian Scutts re-tells and analyzes it all. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?#Coale photo bomb

Weaponxgirl Live alone and like it is a lovely read. Thanks for the heads up on this book 7y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 7y
84 likes15 stack adds2 comments