{"product_id":"the-jet-sex-airline-stewardesses-and-the-making-of-an-american-icon","title":"The Jet Sex: Airline Stewardesses and the Making of an American Icon","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the years after World War II  the airline stewardess became one of the most celebrated symbols of American womanhood. Stewardesses appeared on magazine covers  on lecture circuits  and in ad campaigns for everything from milk to cigarettes. Airlines enlisted them to pose for publicity shots  mingle with international dignitaries  and even serve (in sequined minidresses) as the official hostesses at Richard Nixons inaugural ball. Embodying mainstream Americas perfect woman  the stewardess was an ambassador of femininity and the American way both at home and abroad. Young  beautiful  unmarried  intelligent  charming  and nurturing  she inspired young girls everywhere to set their sights on the sky.  In The Jet Sex  Victoria Vantoch explores in rich detail how multiple forcesbusiness strategy  advertising  race  sexuality  and Cold War politicscultivated an image of the stewardess that reflected Americas vision of itself  from the wholesome girl-next-door of the 1940s to the cosmopolitan glamour girl of the Jet Age to the sexy playmate of the 1960s. Though airlines marketed her as the consummate hostessan expert at pampering her mostly male passengers  while mixing martinis and allaying their fears of flyingshe bridged the gap between the idealized 1950s housewife and the emerging \"working woman.\" On the international stage  this select cadre of women served as ambassadors of their nation in the propaganda clashes of the Cold War. The stylish Pucci-clad American stewardess represented the United States as middle class and consumer orientedhallmarks of capitalisms success and a stark contrast to her counterpart at Aeroflot  the Soviet national airline. As the apotheosis of feminine charm and American careerism  the stewardess subtly bucked traditional gender roles and paved the way for the womens movement. Drawing on industry archives and hundreds of interviews  this vibrant cultural history offers a fresh perspective on the sweeping changes in twentieth-century American life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964050075701,"sku":"ByrdShop_0812244818","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780812244816.jpg?v=1770446805","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-jet-sex-airline-stewardesses-and-the-making-of-an-american-icon","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}