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We Had Martha Stewart Wrong All Along

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We Had Martha Stewart Wrong All Along

As I reflect upon Martha Stewart‘s journey, I find myself in awe of her resilience and tenacity. Her story is one that transcends age, embodying an ageless charm that resonates with people from all walks of life. From gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue at 81 to her recent Instagram fame, Martha Stewart has defied expectations and broken stereotypes in a way that is both inspiring and captivating.

Even before social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok emerged as hotspots for fueling self-doubt, there was Martha Stewart. In 1995, she gracefully appeared on the pages of her namesake magazine, flawlessly decorating a lavish pastel cake fit for Versailles. By mid-1990s, she effortlessly guided us through the correct technique for taming an untamed tree. Fast forward to early 2004, she exuded sophistication in her soft, twig-hued woolens while walking into a Manhattan federal courthouse amidst her trial on nine charges related to the ImClone insider trading scandal. Whether you admired her, despised her, or found pleasure in your ambivalence towards her, her purpose seemed dual: to empower you with skills for seemingly impossible home projects and to subtly instill a sense of inadequacy.

If Martha Stewart left some of us feeling woefully inadequate for domestic chores or everyday life, she simultaneously made us realize that we are our own harshest critics when it comes to building self-confidence. Her unyielding confidence and pursuit of perfection often made us feel inadequate; we blamed her for our hurt feelings. However, with social media now flooded with stunning individuals accomplishing extraordinary feats that many of us can’t replicate or afford, it might be time to reassess the Martha Stewart phenomenon – her ability to inspire as well as provoke a strong reaction among many is still significant. As Eleanor Roosevelt put it, “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.

If you’re still on the fence about Martha Stewart being just like the rest of us, despite her extraordinary abilities to cook a turkey in puff pastry without breaking a sweat, give R.J. Cutler’s documentary Martha, streaming on Netflix, a watch. Over the years, she has accomplished some truly impressive feats: as a teenager, she was a model. In the late 1960s, she ventured into stockbrokerage, which was uncommon for women at that time. She established a thriving catering business in 1973 and this led to her first cookbook, Entertaining, published in 1982. Television appearances and more books followed suit. By the late 1990s, she had grown into an empire, becoming the first self-made female billionaire in the United States.

Martha Kostyra didn’t have a privileged upbringing; instead, she was one of six children raised in Nutley, NJ during the 1940s and ’50s. Her mother taught her homemaking skills, while her father instilled in her a love for gardening. Despite their hardships, as they often struggled financially, Stewart’s modeling job at $15 per hour provided significant relief. After graduating from high school, she attended Barnard and began dating Andy Stewart, the brother of a classmate. They married in 1961 and had a daughter named Alexis before eventually purchasing and restoring an old farmhouse in Westport, CT. This property showcased Stewart’s exceptional homemaking abilities and served as inspiration for countless others aiming to improve their own homes.

However, the marriage disintegrated, and even Martha Stewart – known for her poise, sometimes appearing frosty – experienced a heartbreaking moment. Perfectionists often have high ideals; disappointments can shatter them. On camera, she confesses, “I always thought I was a swan.” Swans are monogamous, she adds, expressing admiration for monogamy until it became clear that it couldn’t save her marriage. A moment of wistfulness passes over her face before she asks, “Shall we move on to a more pleasant topic?

We Had Martha Stewart Wrong All Along

Initially, it seemed that Stewart was flawless, but later, she confesses on camera about a brief extramarital affair. As a filmmaker, Cutler skillfully coaxes his subjects into disclosing more than they’re comfortable with. His 2009 documentary, “The September Issue“, exposed the inner operations of Vogue magazine under the command of Anna Wintour. Stewart proves to be a superior subject for Cutler because she plummeted from great heights—not only did she recover but also evolved into an improved version of herself. In 2005, Stewart was given a five-month prison sentence for lying to the FBI concerning her role in the ImClone case. The early days at West Virginia’s Alderson Federal Prison Camp were dismal. Her fellow inmates found her distant, and some wished to harm her. She spent a day in solitary confinement due to accidentally touching a prison officer. The food was far from fresh. Her boyfriend at the time, software billionaire Charles Simonyi, visited her only once (and ended their relationship shortly after her release). “I feel insignificant today,” she wrote in her journal during her initial days of incarceration, expressing a sense of being unimportant to others.

It’s possible that someone finds joy in the thought that iconic figure Martha Stewart once experienced low moments. However, would you genuinely desire to encounter such an individual? In the 1980s and ’90s, Stewart was frequently criticized and ridiculed, even on shows like Saturday Night Live. To some extent, she seemed to welcome this criticism, appearing quite smug. But it’s important to remember that no one remains the same person throughout their entire life. The Martha Stewart we know today from her books, magazines, and TV shows is not the same as she was in her 20s, 50s, or 60s. In her latest appearances, such as in ‘Martha’, she appears on camera wearing a sleek black blouse adorned with subtle sparkles, looking more radiant than simply “young”. Her skin seems ageless, fitting for her age. Moreover, at the age of 81, she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, donning only a white bathing suit and an apricot taffeta drape. Her smile is both daring and endearing, hinting at a secret she’s unwilling to share easily, despite her years of experience.

We Had Martha Stewart Wrong All Along

In my opinion, Cutler’s documentary provides an intriguing peek into Stewart’s life behind bars. It illustrates, through creative sketches of reenactments, how Stewart transformed her imprisonment into a period of growth and opportunity. She shared wisdom with fellow inmates, guiding them on how to launch businesses upon their release. She took on tasks like cleaning bathrooms and made it a point to learn something new daily. Upon her release, she confidently stepped back into society, adorned in a stylish, hand-crocheted poncho crafted by a friend and fellow inmate. DIY enthusiasts were inspired, rushing to create their own versions of this chic accessory.

The poncho symbolized principles Stewart had consistently upheld, despite its misunderstanding or even resentment by some over time. Stewart championed the idea that domestic crafts, traditionally female-oriented, were valuable and worthy of appreciation. She encouraged us to appreciate these skills often overlooked as lesser than male pursuits. You could attempt crocheting, gilding an Easter egg fit for a monarch, or arranging garden blooms in an earthy vase that would seem priceless. Martha’s results might not be attainable, and she likely knew this as well as you do. However, setting high standards might have been a gesture of respect for her audience rather than an act of condescension. Ultimately, Stewart wanted you to give it a shot.

The underlying message in the book Martha is that Martha Stewart has suffered enough and deserves her moment of glory. Indeed, today, most people seem to adore her. Her Instagram, filled with “thirst trap” selfies and pictures with friend Snoop Dogg, brings joy. This month, her 100th cookbook will hit the shelves. It’s possible that those who previously mocked her relentless pursuit of perfection or enjoyed hearing about her not being a very kind person – I used to be one of them – may now recognize that we were engaging in a subtle form of misogyny. As Martha Stewart’s son-in-law, lawyer John Cuti, states in Martha, “She was a demanding boss, but some of the actions for which she was criticized would be praised if a man had done them in the business world. That’s a well-worn cliché, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

We additionally observe old footage from the 1990s featuring Owen J. Lipstein, the chief editor of the sarcastic Spy magazine, delivering this grand statement: “The more you know about this woman, the less you appreciate her.” Seeking admiration: isn’t that every woman’s goal? Perhaps Stewart—especially the younger, daring, power-hungry Stewart who demanded everything she desired despite obstacles set by men in authority—didn’t prioritize being liked. And now, as we learn more about this woman, our opinion of her improves. She no longer leaves us feeling inferior about ourselves. Because, ultimately, it has always been our responsibility, not hers, to maintain our self-esteem. And if, in the process, we picked up a skill or two on creating realistic fondant butterflies, daisies, or forget-me-nots? That was just an added bonus.

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2024-10-29 17:10

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