If you are a woman born anywhere between 1960 and 1990, chances are you’ve read Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (Bonus points if you’re a guy and you’ve read it!) It’s easily one of the most important, influential books I read as a young woman. It was the first time I remember reading a book and thinking, “Oh wow, it’s not just me.â€
Did you know, though, that in the late 1990s, the text was updated to reflect the modern state of feminine hygiene products?
Whereas in the original novel, published in 1970, Margaret “attached a Teenage Softie to the little hooks on my pink beltâ€, in the 21st century version Margaret “peeled the paper off the bottom of the pad†and “pressed the sticky strip against my underpants.â€
When I was in elementary school and reading this book for the first time, circa 1979 or 1980, the sanitary napkin belt had been banished, but the maxi-pad dispenser in the school washroom still stocked those diaperish inch-thick pads you clipped to your underpants with safety pins. The revolution to microthin protection and ‘wings’ had yet to occur.
When I first read that the publisher had updated Are You There God, my immediate response was that it was a nice idea, making the story more relevant and accessible to modern readers. But then I started to really think about it, aided in part by a reading of Rebecca Traister’s recent article in Salon (also excerpted in my weekend Ottawa Citizen which, once again, I would link to if the Web site would load).
The more I think about it, the more I wish the publishers had left the original version to stand. For one thing, how often to we go quietly mucking about with literature to ‘update’ it? Should we apply the same reasoning to rewrite Catcher in the Rye and substitute Holden Caufield’s hunting hat for a baseball cap while we’re at it?
More importantly, though, is that by updating some of the seemingly inconsequential details in the novel, we’re cutting tiny threads that tie us to our past. It’s good to know that even though some of the mechanics of the turbulent transition that is puberty might have changed, the underlying hopes, desires and expectations are the same, generation after generation.
Traister, born in 1975, writes:
And while it may seem minor – so very minor, such a few small sentences in a 150-page book that’s just about as much as God and making your boobs grow as it is about periods – I’m actually glad for the sense it gave me that as recently as five years before I was born, girls had very different hassles during puberty. I’m glad I know a bit about what they were. I’m glad other young women know about some of the technology they can be grateful for (wings!) even if they, like me and many others, don’t share Margaret’s undiluted enthusiasm for the onset of monthly bleeding.
I said earlier that Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was one of the first times I thought to myself, “Oh wow, you mean it’s not just me?†And here we are, these many years later, discussing this wonderful, compact and timeless little book on the forum where I now turn to be reminded that no, it’s not just me.
I’ve long intended to stock our bookshelves with Judy Blume’s books for the boys – I think they’d like SuperFudge, and Ramona. I’ll make sure to pick up this one too, if I can find a second-hand copy. They might never read it, but I know I will.
What do you think? Was it a good idea to make the book more relevant to generations who grew up with ‘wings’, or should we have left well enough alone?
i don’t know – i’m torn…i remember reading the book as a young kid (probably 9 or 10) and being terrified that i would have to start wearing belt-like contraptions once my period began. Until i finally had the courage to ask my mom about it, which was a good while later, i was convinced that my life would end the minute i started menstruating and i had to wear a belt under my clothes. However, it did also make me appreciate the fact that i didn’t have to go through what my mom and women before me had to go through, something I would never have known about. There was a deeper understanding that grew out of the out-of-date reference, but there was also a few months of (granted unnecessary) stress and worry…so like i said, I’m torn…
i don’t know – i’m torn…i remember reading the book as a young kid (probably 9 or 10) and being terrified that i would have to start wearing belt-like contraptions once my period began. Until i finally had the courage to ask my mom about it, which was a good while later, i was convinced that my life would end the minute i started menstruating and i had to wear a belt under my clothes. However, it did also make me appreciate the fact that i didn’t have to go through what my mom and women before me had to go through, something I would never have known about. There was a deeper understanding that grew out of the out-of-date reference, but there was also a few months of (granted unnecessary) stress and worry…so like i said, I’m torn…
I’m against the change, I think. The Judy Blume books are about a different era, and that won’t be changed by substituting stick-on pads for belted one. I mean, is Margaret going to start IMing her friends? Tivoing her favorite television shows? It’s not pretty to realized that the books I grew up with are now historical fiction, but there’s no getting around it.
I’m against the change, I think. The Judy Blume books are about a different era, and that won’t be changed by substituting stick-on pads for belted one. I mean, is Margaret going to start IMing her friends? Tivoing her favorite television shows? It’s not pretty to realized that the books I grew up with are now historical fiction, but there’s no getting around it.
I think it’s fine if it’s just that one update. It’s just a matter of young girls reading that part and understanding it or having to come and ask their moms (or someone else) what in the world Judy Blume was talking about.
I think it’s fine if it’s just that one update. It’s just a matter of young girls reading that part and understanding it or having to come and ask their moms (or someone else) what in the world Judy Blume was talking about.
I was ready to blast the change, saying that is just plain wrong. I have to agree with Renee – if it is just that one little update, then fine, but nothing else – please!
SUCH a classic book, I am sure I read it at least 6 times as a preteen girl. I loved all of her books. Not sure my boys would ever be keen, but I may just very well start some re-reading one of these days. Her books were so candid and taught us to much about the reality of struggling as a pre-adolescent.
Just thinking of Sally J Freedman and her butterfly kisses is enough to bring tars to my eyes, haven’t read that one in almost 30 years.
Excellent post Dani – LMAO @ the title, wonder how many male specimens that’ll scare away.
I was ready to blast the change, saying that is just plain wrong. I have to agree with Renee – if it is just that one little update, then fine, but nothing else – please!
SUCH a classic book, I am sure I read it at least 6 times as a preteen girl. I loved all of her books. Not sure my boys would ever be keen, but I may just very well start some re-reading one of these days. Her books were so candid and taught us to much about the reality of struggling as a pre-adolescent.
Just thinking of Sally J Freedman and her butterfly kisses is enough to bring tars to my eyes, haven’t read that one in almost 30 years.
Excellent post Dani – LMAO @ the title, wonder how many male specimens that’ll scare away.
Nope. I am not for the change. For the very same reasons you mentionned. A big one for me was that I got to see what it was like for my mom. we talked all about hte little belts and what it was like. It was kind of our first mom-daughter bonding moment over being a woman. Don’t change it.
Don’t forget to pick up “Then Again, Maybe I Won’t”. My mom made me read that book so I could see the male perspective on growing up. I am glad she did. Not that it really made me understand them any better.
Nope. I am not for the change. For the very same reasons you mentionned. A big one for me was that I got to see what it was like for my mom. we talked all about hte little belts and what it was like. It was kind of our first mom-daughter bonding moment over being a woman. Don’t change it.
Don’t forget to pick up “Then Again, Maybe I Won’t”. My mom made me read that book so I could see the male perspective on growing up. I am glad she did. Not that it really made me understand them any better.
I don’t see why it should change unless the author wanted to change it. Gosh I had forgottten about that contrapion. Yugghhhh! I hated it! Although I think I’m one of the few that never read it. SIGH. Problably becasue my libray didn’t have it and if was puchlished in the 70’s I WAS ALREADY IN SCHOOL THEN…
it would take a few years for our little school to get the book.
Good post. BUT I’m sure a few men will read this anyways and NOT post. I tried to send them away from one of mine last week adn well a few read it anyways.
SIGH
I don’t see why it should change unless the author wanted to change it. Gosh I had forgottten about that contrapion. Yugghhhh! I hated it! Although I think I’m one of the few that never read it. SIGH. Problably becasue my libray didn’t have it and if was puchlished in the 70’s I WAS ALREADY IN SCHOOL THEN…
it would take a few years for our little school to get the book.
Good post. BUT I’m sure a few men will read this anyways and NOT post. I tried to send them away from one of mine last week adn well a few read it anyways.
SIGH
I was upset to hear about the change. I didn’t have to deal with those belts when I was growing up, but I remember the first time I read about them in the book. By that time, I had already seen my mom’s maxipads, and so I figured the belts were what had come before. I even asked my mom about it, and asked if she had to wear them when she was young. I think it’s important for girls to know how these types of things have changed.
I was upset to hear about the change. I didn’t have to deal with those belts when I was growing up, but I remember the first time I read about them in the book. By that time, I had already seen my mom’s maxipads, and so I figured the belts were what had come before. I even asked my mom about it, and asked if she had to wear them when she was young. I think it’s important for girls to know how these types of things have changed.
They updated it? But it’s not a textbook, for crying out loud; it’s a novel. Can you imagine if they “updated” Anne of Green Gables or Little Women to make them more “relevant” to modern girls?
Or hey, why don’t we make paintings more “relevant” to modern audiences by changing the outfits in the Victorian portraits?
They updated it? But it’s not a textbook, for crying out loud; it’s a novel. Can you imagine if they “updated” Anne of Green Gables or Little Women to make them more “relevant” to modern girls?
Or hey, why don’t we make paintings more “relevant” to modern audiences by changing the outfits in the Victorian portraits?
Personally I’m not happy about the change, but it may help girls of the younger generation to better relate to the story.
I grew up with Judy Blume books and I loved them. For your boys I would definitely get the Super Fudge books, Blubber, It’s Not The End Of The World, and as they venture into puberty if they haven’t already I would get them Then Again Maybe I Won’t (it’s sort of the male version of Are You There God It’s Me Margret).
Also, it’s not a big deal, but if I’m not mistaken, Romona was actually written by Beverly Cleary. (I could be wrong though)
Personally I’m not happy about the change, but it may help girls of the younger generation to better relate to the story.
I grew up with Judy Blume books and I loved them. For your boys I would definitely get the Super Fudge books, Blubber, It’s Not The End Of The World, and as they venture into puberty if they haven’t already I would get them Then Again Maybe I Won’t (it’s sort of the male version of Are You There God It’s Me Margret).
Also, it’s not a big deal, but if I’m not mistaken, Romona was actually written by Beverly Cleary. (I could be wrong though)
I completely agree with you, Dani.
All of this rush to make things “relevant” to our children completely underestimates their ability to relate on their own terms, or to learn about someone else’s situation. This is the same reason I can’t stand the fact in the Harry Potter books, English terms are changed to “American” English for American kids. Because what, American kids are too dumb (or American adults too ego/”ethno”centric) to figure out how to relate to another term for a word in their own language?
Heaven forbid we expand our children’s horizons a bit to include that which isn’t simply under their noses.
Glad you addressed this!
I completely agree with you, Dani.
All of this rush to make things “relevant” to our children completely underestimates their ability to relate on their own terms, or to learn about someone else’s situation. This is the same reason I can’t stand the fact in the Harry Potter books, English terms are changed to “American” English for American kids. Because what, American kids are too dumb (or American adults too ego/”ethno”centric) to figure out how to relate to another term for a word in their own language?
Heaven forbid we expand our children’s horizons a bit to include that which isn’t simply under their noses.
Glad you addressed this!
Nice writing about the topic of connecting to the past. Women used to not talk about “those things” — my great Aunt Helen said they used flannel before they used the hook pads. What did the Indians use? Ever wonder about that? A little cross-cultural thinking, but Blume wrote about our culture. I, too, wish the original had stayed but then… it would be less marketable. Sort of like an old cookbook that first says, “after you pluck the chicken”…
–Hattie at MotherPie
Nice writing about the topic of connecting to the past. Women used to not talk about “those things” — my great Aunt Helen said they used flannel before they used the hook pads. What did the Indians use? Ever wonder about that? A little cross-cultural thinking, but Blume wrote about our culture. I, too, wish the original had stayed but then… it would be less marketable. Sort of like an old cookbook that first says, “after you pluck the chicken”…
–Hattie at MotherPie
i actually re-read this book a few months ago. i found my old copy, probably 25 yrs old, and i couldn’t resist not reading it. while reading, i said to myself, they should update this book and take out the belt thing. how weird that they did. i think it’s important to let girls feel normal and like they are not alone when it’s in regard to this topic. so i’m all for the change. i’m pregnant right now with my first girl and i can’t wait for my daughter to read it.
i actually re-read this book a few months ago. i found my old copy, probably 25 yrs old, and i couldn’t resist not reading it. while reading, i said to myself, they should update this book and take out the belt thing. how weird that they did. i think it’s important to let girls feel normal and like they are not alone when it’s in regard to this topic. so i’m all for the change. i’m pregnant right now with my first girl and i can’t wait for my daughter to read it.
Change is bad. Change is bad. Bad bad bad. But I’m kind of having Pre and During M.S. right now, and can’t deal with this.
Is Deenie going to be changed because Scoliosis diagnosis and treatment has changed? Is Forever going to be changed because nobody drinks Brandy Alexanders at parties any more – if they ever did? Changing the belt thing is admittedly one small thing, but it’s relevant. It was the process, the ceremony – the practicing wearing it, that provided a key understanding of her desire for maturity. Without it, it’s like mixing a martini by just pouring the elements in a glass, neither shaking nor stirring.
Change is bad. Change is bad. Bad bad bad. But I’m kind of having Pre and During M.S. right now, and can’t deal with this.
Is Deenie going to be changed because Scoliosis diagnosis and treatment has changed? Is Forever going to be changed because nobody drinks Brandy Alexanders at parties any more – if they ever did? Changing the belt thing is admittedly one small thing, but it’s relevant. It was the process, the ceremony – the practicing wearing it, that provided a key understanding of her desire for maturity. Without it, it’s like mixing a martini by just pouring the elements in a glass, neither shaking nor stirring.
I am absolutely, 100% AGAINST changing any novel to reflect a modern day detail like pad vs. belt. Thank you for this post – and I loved Beanie Baby’s response, that was perfect, too.
I am absolutely, 100% AGAINST changing any novel to reflect a modern day detail like pad vs. belt. Thank you for this post – and I loved Beanie Baby’s response, that was perfect, too.
Wow, wow, wow!! I had to comment on this one as this was (at one point in my life) my most favorite book of all time. And altering details to make it more ‘relevant’ to girls today is, to me, disappointing and disenheartening. I never grew up with belts, and really didn’t grow up with pads either. But the book still spoke volumes to me. Volumes. And nothing was lost just because I didn’t experience the same “physical” apparatus(es?) that Margaret did. What we did experience were the same fears, hopes, excitement and emotional chaos. That is what the book is about. Period.
Wow, wow, wow!! I had to comment on this one as this was (at one point in my life) my most favorite book of all time. And altering details to make it more ‘relevant’ to girls today is, to me, disappointing and disenheartening. I never grew up with belts, and really didn’t grow up with pads either. But the book still spoke volumes to me. Volumes. And nothing was lost just because I didn’t experience the same “physical” apparatus(es?) that Margaret did. What we did experience were the same fears, hopes, excitement and emotional chaos. That is what the book is about. Period.
Don’t change the details! Beanie Baby and Phantom gave the reasons better than I can.
Don’t change the details! Beanie Baby and Phantom gave the reasons better than I can.
Oog, change not good in this case. I didn’t know from belts either (I was born in 1975), but it wasn’t too much of a mental stretch to figure it out.
Although how much does it say about the impact of this book that Blume/the publisher bothered to think about this, never mind to effect the change? That’s somewhat cheering.
I have to admit, however, that it is wigging me out that my baby will be reading this probably in less than 10 years. That means I only have about 6 years to try to break it to my husband. 🙂
Oog, change not good in this case. I didn’t know from belts either (I was born in 1975), but it wasn’t too much of a mental stretch to figure it out.
Although how much does it say about the impact of this book that Blume/the publisher bothered to think about this, never mind to effect the change? That’s somewhat cheering.
I have to admit, however, that it is wigging me out that my baby will be reading this probably in less than 10 years. That means I only have about 6 years to try to break it to my husband. 🙂