The way you describe Christie Hefner makes me think of what I would call a libertarian feminist today—a feminist more interested in civil liberties than enforcing the “correct” politics (and behavior) of her sisters. Excited for next week’s issue 🤓
Leigh, I agree that she had a take on feminism that was very straightforward and was suited to head the magazine. From everything I’ve read, she was an extremely capable business person and would have excelled wherever she was.
Omg Melanie, I lol’d at the mention of Wayland Flowers and Madame! Great piece, I remember all of this and to think just how much “The Mansion” and “Hef” were part of the scene, what a different time. Really enjoyed this.
I was fifteen in Chicago in 1979 and was too young to be surprised at how much Playboy was part of the American scene. It was part of the culture I grew up in. As a teen, rather than making it my project to be a masturbation inspiration as seen in Playboy, I made it my project to protect myself from the eyes of people who would objectify me (before I knew that word). I didn't really know what I was doing when I dressed more like a boy than a girl, but I knew I didn't like the grabby eyes of guys or the judgmental eyes of older neighbor ladies who thought I was just bashful. I had no mom and no siblings, so my self-protection was paramount (and luckily, largely successful).
The way you describe Christie Hefner makes me think of what I would call a libertarian feminist today—a feminist more interested in civil liberties than enforcing the “correct” politics (and behavior) of her sisters. Excited for next week’s issue 🤓
Leigh, I agree that she had a take on feminism that was very straightforward and was suited to head the magazine. From everything I’ve read, she was an extremely capable business person and would have excelled wherever she was.
Omg Melanie, I lol’d at the mention of Wayland Flowers and Madame! Great piece, I remember all of this and to think just how much “The Mansion” and “Hef” were part of the scene, what a different time. Really enjoyed this.
I was fifteen in Chicago in 1979 and was too young to be surprised at how much Playboy was part of the American scene. It was part of the culture I grew up in. As a teen, rather than making it my project to be a masturbation inspiration as seen in Playboy, I made it my project to protect myself from the eyes of people who would objectify me (before I knew that word). I didn't really know what I was doing when I dressed more like a boy than a girl, but I knew I didn't like the grabby eyes of guys or the judgmental eyes of older neighbor ladies who thought I was just bashful. I had no mom and no siblings, so my self-protection was paramount (and luckily, largely successful).