Naomi Wolf explains how middle-class women have been historically controlled by shifting ideals, from the "cult of invalidism" in the 19th century to the "happy homemaker" archetype of the 1950s. The discussion asserts that these ideals are manufactured by the advertising and media industries to ensure women's livelihoods and self-worth remain tied to consumption. This manipulation is described as a reflexive social mechanism rather than a conscious conspiracy.
