At the height of Gloria Steinem’s liberation movement and female empowerment, the women of Stepford seem to be regressing. Abandoning all forms of independent thought, they seem to be becoming cleaning machines and dedicated housewives.
Joanna and Walter Eberhart have just moved to Stepford, a spectacularly beautiful idyllic neighbourhood which seems to be the right place to bring up their children. Her husband enrolls in the local “men’s only” club, with the stated intention of making it gender neutral.
Joanna picks up her photography again, but she is unable to relate with the other women of the town, dedicated housewives with perfect outfits with the singular ambition of making their husbands happy; quite the diametrical opposite of the strong liberal independent thinking Joanna.
When she sees her two friends (and the only “normal” women) turn suddenly into the typical “Stepford” wives, she suspects some foul play.
The whole book was a commentary on feminism, or rather, the opposition to it from the “good old boys clubs” all over America. Though often marked as a horror novel, it is quite funny with clever writing and hilarious dialogues. It is rather short, and can be finished cover to cover in a few hours, and thoroughly entertaining.