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This Day in Esoteric Political History

The "Bra Burner" Myth Is Born (1969) w/ Cristen Conger

Sep 8, 2024
Join Cristen Conger, a member of the 'Unladylike' podcast, as she dives into the 1968 protest at the Miss America Pageant led by the New York Radical Women. The discussion uncovers the origins of the 'bra burner' myth and how this media narrative overshadowed the protest's real messages. Cristen explores the impact of language in activism and questions the legacy of being labeled a 'bra burner.' Plus, she touches on women's roles in conspiracy culture, connecting these historical threads to contemporary feminist movements.
27:42

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The 1969 Miss America Pageant protest aimed to challenge patriarchal beauty standards, symbolizing a pivotal moment in second wave feminism.
  • The bra burning myth, perpetuated by media representation, distorted the actual events of the protest and oversimplified complex feminist issues.

Deep dives

The Miss America Protest: A Turning Point in Feminism

In September 1968, feminists and civil rights activists protested the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, marking a significant moment in the second wave feminist movement. This protest served as a symbolic confrontation against patriarchal ideals represented by the pageant, where activists mocked its values by crowning a sheep and discarding items like makeup and girdles into a 'Freedom Trash Can.' The protest aimed to awaken societal awareness about women's oppression, contrasting the mainstream portrayal of beauty with the struggles faced by women. Simultaneously, the first Miss Black America pageant occurred, highlighting the racial dynamics within the feminist movement and shedding light on the oversight of racial inclusivity in second wave feminism.

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