Cosmopolitan, October 1982

Welcome to the very first episode of Mag Hags, the podcast that every modern woman should know.

Join Franki and Lucy as they dive into the glossy archives of women’s magazines to find out what's still hot, and what's definitely not. 

And where else to begin than the OG of having it all: Cosmopolitan.

Franki has travelled back in time to October 1982, when The Pill turned 21 and publishers were just cottoning on to the idea that women buy books.

Elsewhere, a hapless man gets some Thatcherite therapy and the Mag Hags get some dinner inspo from a truly astonishing advertiser.

Plus, Lucy reveals her daddy issues about His Majesty King Charles III.

Want more of these magazines?

Sign up for the Mag Hags newsletter. See the features we talk about, marvel at the amazing adverts, enjoy vintage fashion, beauty, and lifestyle tips, and get access to loads of other bonus bits. Plus episode transcripts straight to your inbox. Go to maghags.substack.com

If you are enjoying the show, why not buy us a coffee?

Ko-fi is a super easy way to support the podcast with a one off donation - you can think of it like buying us a drink, or leaving a tip. Mag Hags is created entirely by Franki and Lucy. So your support means the world to us and it’s what will allow us to keep doing it. Simply go to ko-fi.com/maghags. Thank you so much!

CHAPTERS

07:09 – Intro to Cosmo October 1982

09:33 – Girl Bossing vs Having It All

10:29 – The pill that promised so much: A review of 21 years of oral contraceptives written by someone who's never taken them

26:47 – *An ad break from 1982*

30:09 – Talking It Out : A Cosmo "counselling" session that reads more like a scolding

38:13 – Tactful sex tactics: Can you use the word "fondle" without laughing

42:28 – Fashion and beauty tips from 1982

44:42 – Frills or Thrills: Trashy paperbacks are having a moment. Is it good, steamy fun or patronising frivolity?

48:37 – What's hot and what's not in 1982

LINKS

Research: On coils and ectopic pregnancies: Safety, efficacy and patient acceptability of the contraceptive and non-contraceptive uses of the LNG-IUS | International Journal of Women’s Health, 2009

Read: On Erin Pizzey: Feminism’s Purity Wars by Helen Lewis | The Atlantic, Feb 2020

--

Mag Hags is written and hosted by Franki Cookney and Lucy Douglas.

Editing and audio production by Franki Cookney.

Our theme music is Look Where That Got You, Mattie Maguire. Additional music: Leotard Haul, Dez Moran. Both courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.