"Stepford doctors": an allegory. Issue 1 (26th May 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sayers, G M
• Is Part Of: Medical humanities. Volume 32:Issue 1(2006)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2006-05-26
• Subjects: "Stepford wives" -- doctor/patient relationship -- medical management -- freedom -- slavery -- resources; Medicine and the humanities -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; 616.1
• DOI: 10.1136/jmh.2004.000187
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-215X

Abstract

Abstract : The Stepford Wives, a novel by Ira Levin, provides the theme for this allegory. The men of Stepford belong to the Men's Association. Their wives are "perfect", in that they do nothing other than clean, cook, preen, and provide satisfaction without argument for their husbands. They are, furthermore, content with their lot, and believe that their previous interests and freedoms were self indulgent. Levin never informs his readers how the men came to obtain total mastery over their "Stepford wives", although there is the suggestion that the real wives have been replaced by robotic lookalikes.