Women of Controversy: Bettie Page

Womanica

Acast Creative Studios

History, Society & Culture, Education

4.3 • 920 Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2024

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Bettie Page (1923-2008) was an early and iconic pin-up model. Working primarily with underground photographers and later featured in the earliest editions of Playboy magazine, Bettie, with her trademark bangs, became a sensation. After government anti-obscenity investigations, she largely retired from the public eye and became a devout Christian. Years later, she gained cult status in pop culture, and her photos remain in circulation today.

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This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Hannah Bottum, Lauren Willams, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, and Vanessa Handy. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Before there was internet fraud and phone scams, there were always swindlers.
0:05.4	Female swindlers too.
0:07.4	Discover the stories of women from the past who not only survived, but thrived as con-artists and thieves.
0:16.6	How did they use their feminine characteristics to swindle in a world where men made the rules?
0:24.0	Join me, Lucy Worsley, historian and author, and my all-female team in ladies swindlers, wherever you get your podcasts.
0:34.1	Before we get started with today's episode, I want to let you know that it contains mentions of sexual assault and violence.
0:40.3	Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Womanica.
0:46.3	This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy, whether deserved or not.
0:52.3	Today, one of the most iconic pinups of all time.
0:58.0	With her trademark bangs, she's instantly recognizable.
1:02.0	Her photos marked the advent of the sexual revolution.
1:05.0	And yet, moral crusaders in the government led her to withdraw from the public eye at the height of her notoriety.
1:12.3	Later, she became a born-again Christian. Let's unravel the fascinating and complex legacy of Betty Page.
1:23.6	Betty May Page was born on April 22nd, 1923, a few hours outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
1:31.1	She was one of six siblings and her childhood was marked by abuse and neglect.
1:36.1	Betty said that her father Roy sexually abused all three of his daughters.
1:41.4	Even after her parents' divorce, Betty's mom, Edna, largely ignored Betty and her sisters.
1:47.8	Still, Betty excelled in school. She was on track to become the valedictorian and dreamed of going to Vanderbilt University on a full scholarship.
1:57.4	But it didn't play out that way. Betty faced more chaos and anxiety at home. She was even kicked out of the house. With all that stress, she dropped to second, the salutatorian.
2:08.8	Betty did go on to attend college, though not Vanderbilt. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education in 1944.
2:16.8	After that, she briefly worked as a teacher before
2:19.0	moving on to work as a secretary. She also married Billy Neal, a high school classmate,
	...

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