In Defense of Martha Stewart

I made a few reusable grocery bags from old t-shirts, using a variation on the Martha Stewart method. For some reason, when I bring these to the grocery store, the cashiers and/or baggers always feel the need to comment. Usually it’s just, “oh, that’s a good idea.” Yesterday’s conversation was a bit different.

“Oh, that’s a good idea,” the cashier said.

“Thanks,” I replied.

“Did you double-stitch across the bottom?” The cashier asked.

“Yup,” I said, and watched the bagger struggle with putting my groceries in the bag. It takes a little getting used to, using these bags.

“That’s cute,” the bagger said when she finally opened the bag and saw the Hogwarts crest on the front.

“Thanks,” I said again. “It didn’t fit me anymore, so I figured I’d reuse it.”

“Wow, that’s such a great idea,” the cashier said again.

“I could never make something like that,” the bagger added.

“Uh, thanks,” I said. I was getting a little tired of this conversation, and so I introduced the guaranteed conversation stopper: “I wish I could take credit for the idea, but Martha Stewart did it first.”

Silence on the end of both the cashier and the bagger.

“Yeah, I saw it on the Martha Stewart show,” I continued.

More silence.

“Martha Stewart rules all crafts, after all,” I finished. I paid for my groceries, picked up my bag and walked away. I don’t think the cashier or bagger said another word to me, not even to tell me to have a nice day.

I’ve found that introducing Martha Stewart into the conversation is a really great way of ending whatever it is we’re talking about.  People are scared to talk about Martha Stewart, or even to admit that they like her show/crafts/magazine/recipes/products.  Is it because she was sent to jail for five months because she took advantage of an insider tip and got caught?  I’m not sure.

Here’s what I do know about Martha Stewart via Wikipedia: she started out writing a cookbook, wrote many more books, contributed to magazines and newspapers, made a few TV appearances on talk shows, and then started her own magazine.  In 1993, she got her own TV show.  Then she consolidated all her assets and ventures under one brand, Martha Stewart Omnimedia.  She also started offering her own branded products, and continues to do so to this day.  Somewhere in there she sold off a bunch of stocks the day before their price dropped due to a tip from a friend.  Since this is illegal, she went to jail for 5 months and profited even more after she got out (even though she’s no longer CEO of her company, just creative advisor).

Here’s what I’m impressed with: Martha Stewart worked her way to fame, survived a messy divorce and lots of public criticism, and she’s still one of the most well-known names in households today.  Not only that, but she’s famous specifically for doing things that are traditionally assigned female gender roles.  Crafting!  Cooking!  Decorating her house!  This is insane!  Traditionally, “women’s work” is unpaid and undervalued.   And yet she’s famous!

If she were a man, Martha Stewart would be hailed as one of the greatest businessmen of all time — pulling herself up by her bootstraps and all that.  Since she’s a woman, we comment about her lack of scruples and how she’s sneaky and underhanded and horrible instead.  She is a taboo subject (as anecdotally evidenced by my many grocery trips), unless you’re among close, trusted friends.

Martha Stewart made it big doing women’s work in a man’s world.  Despite all the setbacks, she’s still doing what she loves, and putting out more products and making more money.  Yes, I’m quite impressed.