Madmen sexism part 2: Season 2

This is part of a series on the show Madmen, and its treatment of the issue of gender in the 1960's.

This post will focus on Peggy Olson and Roger Sterling, with some mention of Don. This may contain spoilers if you haven't seen the show.

Peggy Olson, who proudly graduated from a secretarial college is an example of two things in the 1960's. Firstly, her circumstances represent the tough situations facing women, and I believe her actions represent the very beginning of the re-birth of feminism. She begins as a secretary and is dominated by the men in the society. She has very little power in her society and is generally kept down, not only by the men who work at the office, but also by the women. When she doesn't mindlessly agree to Joan Holloway's requests, and tries to prove herself, she incurs Joan's wrath through subtle methods. Joan advises her, in a very pointedly mean statement that "This isn't China, there's no money in virginity" attacking her apparent  "purity". She becomes a copywriter at the end of season 1, and is quickly attacked by her old colleagues. For example, when a copy machine is bought by the building, the secretaries angrily store it in her office. She has to fight to get a new office that is her own, and is attacked when she does that. Furthermore, when she goes out to a bar, people expect her to go home with whatever guy asks her, because she is a woman. Yet, she has advanced in society. She has been able to gain power and raise her status in society, something which hadn't happened in since 1945 at Sterling Cooper.

Roger Sterling offers another interesting view into the 1960's. He is a misogynist generally. He is often dismissive of his wife, and has constant affairs with the young women who either work at the office or come to the office to audition. He uses women fairly constantly, to the point at which he has a heartattack. His then great heartfelt revelation to his old love affair other than is wife is "Look, I want to tell you something because your very dear to me and I hope you understand it comes from the bottom of my damaged, damaged heart. You are the finest piece of ass I ever had and I don't care who knows it. I am so glad I got to roam those hillsides." This is a fairly dramatic, and yet still sexist comment, and his great expression of love.

Don offers another interesting view into the sexism in the world. Don's affairs had, for a long time, been private and confidential, yet acceptable. When the later came to light, Betty felt betrayed and left him. It was only until she became pregnant that she accepted him back. I believe that this proves both bad and good things about the society. As a good thing, it shows that women had power in relationships and could do what was right. But, it also shows the female dependance on men, and how Betty needs Don to be able to survive.