Mad (Wo)Men

These are dark days for the vagina. In many states, federal funding is being cut by the millions for organizations that provide low-cost family planning services, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and annual exams for women. Panels full of religious male experts are the priority voices in federal debates on health insurance coverage as it pertains to birth control. Rush Limbaugh has made it so women are deemed sluts and prostitutes for taking the pill. Apparently, our society has taken a half century leap backward. If AMC’s Mad Men is any indication of the oppressive attitudes to be found when unchecked males are allowed to run things, vaginas and the women who own them have much reason to be alarmed.

Set on Madison Avenue in New York during the 1960’s, this intriguing series revolves around the employees of the fictitious Sterling Copper advertising agency. The show gets its title from a popular term of the time, a self-assigned nickname of the advertising industry’s male executives: Madison avenue advertising Men. Of course, the double meaning is there. These crazy boys are smoking constantly, high rolling in strip clubs, and living in the fast-paced ad-world. This alone would make for a successful television drama, but ironically the most captivating part of it all is not the men. It’s the show's insane image of the womanhood and the great actresses that give it form.

Female characters in Mad Men portray the polarized femme of the 1960’s. They take the role of the all-serving secretary, putting her best assets on display or suggesting that others do the same for the purpose of making financial and career gains. The newest addition to the firm, executive secretary Peggy Olsen (exceptionally played by Elisabeth Moss) is bluntly made aware of this reality along with the viewer. Like us, Olsen knew this was how things were done, but hearing it is still quite unsettling. There is no respite in the workplace. The less glamourous, trail-blazing choice was an option. To show the fate of any woman who chose successful career over the perfect family, there is a woman doctor. She is plain, cold, and covered. Costumes are a fundamental element of all period pieces, and Mad Men is no exception. Always used to set the time and mood in a production, the impeccable, stunning costumes of Mad Men also give a wealth of insight. The subtle patterns of a man’s tie tell his place on the ladder. A wife’s elegant pajamas match her desire to be perfect for her late arriving husband. The length and tightness of a woman’s dress show the values and intentions of the route she chose.

Regardless of which way a woman went, Mad Men makes it clear her path would always be traveled beneath man. When a wealthy, intelligent female client unapologetically challenge dashing mad man Don Draper (Jon Hamm) during a meeting, he figuratively beats his chest and jabbing, “I’m not going to let a woman talk to me like this.” The entire episode Draper teeters back and forth between the chauvinistic gorilla and progressive gentleman which makes for a cloudy introduction to our protagonist.

Literally hard to see through are the many smoked-filled scenes of the show. Everyone is smoking. All the time. Though this effect will be nostalgic for some, the plot does not romanticize the habit. It was during this decade that research showing the harmful effects of smoking began to surface, and Draper’s main project and problem during the pilot episode is coming up with a new campaign for Lucky Strikes. He can no longer say cigarettes are good for you and the viewer is privy to the hilarious denial of tobacco CEOs who refuse to admit their product is harmful. If only they could see New York City now!

With smoking banned in so many public spaces, all the lighting up in the show is jarring at first. Then it becomes a bit of overkill especially when an OB/GYN puffs away during a pap smear. This unthinkable act is quickly topped when the arrogant doctor begins threatening to take away the patients birth control if she “abuses” it and warns “easy woman don’t find husbands.” Given the current times, it is at this moment Mad Men transforms itself from a drama on iconic times to an ominous premonition of current ones. If the right has their way, that is the kind of horrific exchange that will be had in doctors’ offices across the country. The shameful part is it won’t be an original era. Mad Men is a well cast and fascinating reminder of where we came from and where we are headed if we forget how far we have traveled.