Okay, everybody, tits up.
You heard it, folks.
You heard it here first.
Sharon Stone said, "Tits up."
-And I meant it. -And she meant it.
-Are we rolling? -We are.
-We rolling? -Fantastic.
Rolling.
Okay. In making the show,
we realized that employers and society in general,
had quite an interesting take on women's roles
in the world of the 1940s.
For example…
"A guide to hiring women."
"When you have to use older women,
try to get ones who have worked outside the home
at some time in their lives."
"Older women who have never contacted the public
have a hard time adapting themselves
and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy."
That would be us.
"It's always well to impress upon older women
the importance of friendliness and courtesy."
This is a guide to hiring women.
What do you make of that?
"When you have to use older women…"
By the way, that phrase,
"When you have to use older women…"
Well, it's wartime, you know.
You're being awfully generous.
Yes, I am.
Well, I know when I get used,
sometimes I can be cantankerous.
-Cantankerous? -Yes.
Because you reach an age
where you don't give a shit anymore, and that's scary.
-For the men? -For the world.
-For the world. -It's scary.
"Only hire young married women."
"They usually have more of a sense of responsibility
than their unmarried sisters."
"They're less likely to be flirtatious."
"They need the work, or they wouldn't be doing it."
-Wow. -"They still have
the pep and interest to work hard
and to deal with the public efficiently."
I feel a little faint.
Yeah.
"General experience indicates that 'husky' girls…"
It is in quotes.
Are you serious?
"'Husky' girls…"
What year was this written? Can you flip to the front?
I will flip.
Well, it says here, 2008.
Oh my God!
-But I-- -Wait a minute!
I think that was the reprint.
But how about that they reprinted it?
How about that someone needed a new copy?
Okay. "General experience indicates
that those who are just a little on the heavy side…"
That's not what they say.
"…are more even-tempered and efficient
than their underweight sisters."
Could be true.
So I think the book is advocating,
really, your ideal female hire would be a young, married--
Skinny person.
Husky woman. No.
No, honey, honey person.
-What did you just say? -A honey person?
A honey person.
"Retain a physician to give each woman you hire
a special physical examination."
What?
"One covering female conditions."
What would the female weakness be?
Terrible monthly cramps that prevent her from--
-Debilitating. -Yeah.
You know, this is a time,
I think, when we have to remember that,
you know, women were being sent to mental institutions
when they displeased people.
And we have to think about
how much times have changed
and how important women's rights really are
and how important it is
that we don't allow the rollback on these things,
because these kind of things that we're laughing at,
these are really powerful and frightening things
that we just have to say
thank God that we have the ability
to read this stuff,
and we have the ability to say that Dr. John James, Esquire,
'cause he was really important,
had a book in reprint all the way to 2009,
saying these kind of things
that are complete and total bullshit.
I find it offensive and inappropriate
and no, that's what I have to say.
So, our show takes place right after World War II,
and I think it was a very rude awakening.
A very rude awakening for women,
a very rude awakening for African Americans,
who, when wartime was on, all of a sudden…
Were needed.
…we were invited in and we were given
jobs and positions of responsibility.
That heretofore we never had.
Right, and then as soon as the war ended,
the wall came crashing down again.
All of these thoughts,
they're not all 1940s thoughts,
and they're not all thoughts
that we aren't really struggling with even now.
Here's an excellent one.
"Give every girl
an adequate number of rest periods during the day."
"You have to make some allowances
for feminine psychology."
"A girl has more confidence and is more efficient
if she can keep her hair tidied,
apply fresh lipstick,
and wash her hands several times a day."
When my hands are clean, I always feel more confident.
More productive.
And more enjoyable to be around.
I'm all for the naps.
-I'd like my rest period now. -I need my rest period, yeah.
Sarah, I think this is one for you.
Please.
"Be reasonably considerate
about using strong language around women."
Cynthia!
"Even though a girl's husband or father
may swear frequently,
she'll grow to dislike a place of business
where she hears too much of it."
I don't know what the fuck we are talking about.
I have a bit of a potty mouth, it's true.
I'm very sorry.
I need some Windex here.
They'd like me to do that, right? Clean.
You can do that during your rest period.
During my rest period.
And fewer swear words used for your personal comfort.
Sorry, I can't fucking help you.
Well, that's enough of this book
and enough of these ideas.
Watch our show, Ratched.
We loved making it.
It's a really scary look at this period,
and we're hoping that you're having a better time now.
See? That's why you want Sharon Stone
to do something like that.
You don't want me to do it.
I would've said "fuck."