We, the women –
Uncle Sam is using good psychology
By Ruth Millett
Mrs. America was thinking recently how tough sugar rationing was going to be on her and the family – liking pie and cake as much as they do. And thinking of not having a car and that walking to the market, to bridge club and to the beauty salon wasn’t going to be much fun. Then she picked up her newspaper and read an item that gave her quite a jolt.
American women – the article said – could best be described as “dumpy.” And the authority for the article wasn’t some woman-hating feminine detractor.
It seems that recent research done by the Bureau of Home Economics in Washington showed that the average American woman over 18 years of age is 5’3” and weighs 133.5 lbs. Her bust measurements are 35.62, waist 29.15 and hips (shame on her) are 38.62.
Compare that with the measurements of the slim young things we want to look like and often kid ourselves we do – and you see why Mrs. America got such a rude shock. For the woman who looks the way we think a woman ought to look today is a streamlined 5’6”, weighs only 122 lbs., has a 34-inch bust, a 25-inch waist and (what’s a girdle shortage to her?) is only 35 inches around the hips.
No wonder Mrs. America put down her paper, and got out her tape measure to read on it some discouraging figures.
So she could best be described as dumpy, could she? Well, she would see about that.
And right away she had something more to worry about than a possible sugar shortage and the fact that she would have to start walking whether she wanted to or not. There must be some pretty good psychologists in the government’s Bureau of Home Economics.
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U.S. War Department (March 13, 1942)
Army Communiqué No. 145
Philippine theater.
The situation in Bataan is unchanged.
New Guinea.
Five American Army heavy bombers of the Flying Fortress type raided the Japanese-held airdromes at Salamaua and Lae in New Guinea on March 11. All buildings were destroyed and heavy damage was inflicted on runways. At the harbor of Lae, a direct hit was made on a pier.
Our bombers were attacked by a formation of Japanese fighting planes. Five enemy planes were shot down. None of our bombers was damaged.
There is nothing to report from other areas.
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