The Total Woman Facts: Know More About This Novel

'The Total Woman' is a 1973 novel by Marabel Morgan.

The book is a guide for women on how to be the perfect wife and keep their husbands happy. This anti-feminist book became a bestseller pretty quick.

The book's core message is that women should be submissive to their husbands and do whatever it takes to make them happy. Marabel Morgan advocates for a traditional gender role for women, including cooking and cleaning for their husbands and children and always looking flawless.

Since its release, feminists and social commentators have heavily criticized 'The Total Woman.' It is seen as a book that promotes the subjugation of women, and its advice is now primarily considered outdated and harmful.

However, it remains a popular read for many women who still hold traditional views about gender roles. Despite the criticism, it is truly a wonder how 'The Total Woman' has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and continues to be popular with women who want to maintain a traditional role in their marriage.

If you're looking for a book that advocates for traditional gender roles and the subjugation of women, then 'The Total Woman' is a good choice. If you're looking for a more feminist perspective on relationships, you may want to look elsewhere.

Continue reading to learn more about the novel 'The Total Woman' by Marabel Morgan!

Character

In a book titled 'The Total Woman,' Marabel Morgan wrote down her four fundamental concepts: ignoring the husband's blunders and focusing on his qualities, appreciating him, adoring him, and adapting to the notion that he was the king and she was the queen.

Morgan once penned that it is only when wives surrender their lives to their husbands and worship them and are willing to serve them that she is considered beautiful by him.

She then becomes a priceless jewel and his queen.

The book has two main characters, namely Marabel Morgan and Charlie Morgan.

Marabel Morgan is the narrator of the story. She is shown as submissive. Her sole role in the family is of a traditional housewife, meaning all she does is stay at home, take care of her husband and raise kids.

Charlie Morgan is the husband of Marabel Morgan, author of 'The Total Woman.' He is a prominent businessman, and the two met when Marabel was working as a secretary for him.

Charlie is very supportive of his wife's career and is a big fan of her work. In 'The Total Woman,' Charlie Morgan is used as a model for the perfect husband throughout the book. Charlie Morgan is the ideal husband, according to Marabel Morgan.

He is always happy and supportive of his wife and is always willing to help out around the house. He is a model for how husbands should behave towards their wives.

Novels

On June 25, 1937, Marabel Morgan was born in Crestline, Ohio. She is an American author.

She is a self-proclaimed relationship expert and has written several books on the subject. She writes self-help novels for married women. Some of her most famous works are 'The Total Woman' (1973), 'The Total Woman Cookbook' (1976), 'Total Joy' (1983), and 'The Electric Woman' (1986).

Inspiration And Development

Marabel Morgan established a firm named Total Woman, Inc. that would be dedicated to selling this concept back in the '70s. She started giving workshops for many women, especially married Christian women, on how to behave in front of their husbands after that.

The workshops cost $15 and are divided into four two-hour sessions.

She educated over 100 teachers over the period of many years, who then taught workshops in 28 states and Canada. There were almost 15,000 alumni by the mid-'70s, including singer Anita Bryant, spouse of golfer Jack Nicklaus, the spouse of boxer Joe Frazier, and 12 wives of Miami Dolphins football players.

This anti-feminist book by Marabe Morgan was released in December 1973 by Fleming H. Revell Company, a division of the evangelically focused Baker Publishing Group. The original printing was limited to 5,000 copies.

The book sold over 500,000 copies within the first year, making it the best-selling non-fiction book in the United States in 1974. Over $600,000 were paid for the paperback rights.

In Other Media

Reference to the book, 'The Total Woman by Marabel Morgan,' has been made in various places.

The iconic series Maude's episode 'Feminine Fulfillment' focused around the protagonist Maude Findlay's closest friend Vivian Harmon succumbing to 'Feminine Fulfillment,' which Maude describes as 'like Total Woman.' Vivian was waiting for her husband Arthur in order to surprise him.

Instead, she surprises Maude along with her husband, Walter, by unlocking her front door in a long coat and exposing herself to be encased in saran wrap while anticipating her husband.

'Total Woman' is mentioned a second time in the same episode, titled 'Feminine Fulfillment,' after additional details about the movement are revealed.

Maude is a feminist and is enraged with her friend's transformation and confronts what she perceives is her husband's burning desire to be spoiled in this way by covering herself in plastic wrap under a long coat and welcoming a male neighbor who taps on the Findlays' door.

The persona of Anne Clement, who claims that her book about how to become the ideal wife is the origin of the threatening messages against her, in the TV series 'The Rockford Files' episode 'Trouble in Chapter 17', is derived from Marabel Morgan. 

In a 1978 Rhoda episode, the matter was again covered. Regardless of the fact that the novel has a different name, the episode is titled 'The Total Brenda.' Brenda, Rhoda's sister, started wearing fancy skirts and satisfying her fiancé, irrespective of Rhoda's annoyance.

Kathy Bates' role in the '90s film 'Fried Green Tomatoes' tries a saran wrap incident with her husband.

Lorelai jokes around with her mom in an episode of Gilmore Girls, and she said that she should have answered the door, but she didn't have any saran wrap.

Morgan and her anti-feminist novel, The Total Woman, were mocked in the Earwolf podcast The Complete Woman, which is based on a self-help audiobook from the '60s and stars Amanda Lund as Marabel May. This fictional hostess is a parody of Morgan.

FAQs

Q: What is the meaning of Total Woman?

A: In general, a total woman is a woman who is mentally healthy, mentally strong, and spiritually based with self-confidence. But as per the book The Total Woman and its author Marabel Morgan, a total woman is one who fills the traditional gender role of a woman perfectly.

Q: What is the total woman movement?

A: Total Woman Movement was formed in 2003 to raise women's individual and spiritual esteem to the highest level possible. This allows them to be complete and courageous.

Q: When was The Total Woman written?

A: 'The Total Woman' was written back in 1973.

Q: Who wrote the book The Total Woman?

A: 'The Total Woman' was written by Marabel Morgan. She is an American author who mainly writes self-help books for women who are married.

Q: When was The Total Woman published?

A: 'The Total Woman' was published on May 10, 1973.

Q: What is the theme of The Total Woman?

A: The book's core theme seems to be that a married woman's role in the house is to do everything and anything to please her husband. If she succeeds, her husband will gratefully show her compassion and treat her well in return.

But if the woman fails or if the man mistreats the woman, then it is your responsibility as a total woman or Christian woman to live with it with a smiling face.

Q: Where is the symbolism of The Total Women?

A: 'The Total Woman' is a book that promotes traditional gender roles for women. This is symbolized by the way that Marabel Morgan advocates for the traditional gender roles, which feminists and social commentators have heavily criticized since the book's release.

Q: What made the author write the novel?

A: The author wrote the novel based on her personal experiences and beliefs about women and marriage. Marabel Morgan felt that women were not fulfilling their potential by catering to their husbands' needs and wanted to teach them how to be the perfect wife.