For most of modern history, most soaps have been primarily branded and marketed toward women,

because for most of modern history, companies could safely assume most soaps was purchased by women,

who could safely be assumed to do most of the shopping for a household and to stay home on weekdays,

using soaps to clean the house, children, clothing, and dishes while men worked outside the home.

With the advent of commercial radio stations in the 1920s,

all these safe assumptions led to daytime programming targeted at the typical American housewife.

Since this hypothetical woman had only recently been given the right to vote,

did not work outside the home and probably did not have a college degree.

She was presumed to have no use for news of politics, economy, academic interests,

or really anything that didn't directly affect and or reflect her home, family, and friends.

Presumably other typical American housewives.

Therefore, most non-musical programming in the first two decades of daytime radio was educational.

Based on the premise American housewives were maybe a little bit dumb and would or perhaps should take an interest in bettering their cleaning, cooking, parenting, and social skills.

In these early days of radio, when every show's sponsor was mentioned so often it may as well have been part of every program title,

and often was, this advice was sometimes dished out by a brand's fictional spokesperson, like Betty Crocker.

Many of you have had our Christmas cookie recipes for four more years and we have some fun new ones for you.

Our cookie tool lesson this week is on some new Christmas cookies.

And besides that, we're sending several extra cookie recipes to all the members of my cooking school who have indicated that they want the Wednesday menus on recipes.

So I hope to be sure to watch for them.

One of these recipes I'm going to give you today.

Well, I'm sure you'll want to use it with others for your Christmas party for the children.

It does the kind of cookie they like best.

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