Mad Men? More Like Mad Women.

I could talk for ages about what I love about Mad Men, but I could talk for even longer about the boss women that make that show what it is. For starters, at a time when women were being forced back into the kitchen when they had just been liberated from the confines of domestic life during World War II, the women who drove the feminist movement in the 1960s were badass. And Mad Men did an incredible job of showing how these women broke the confines and constriction of sexism and misogyny in their own unique ways. The following women are some of my favorite characters from Mad Men, and I’ll tell you why…

Two words: Joan Holloway. I loved Joan from the very first episode until the very last. Not only does she more than carry her weight in the Sterling Cooper ad agency—she knows all the ins and outs and how to get anything done in the office—she is also unapologetic about her ability to attract the eyes of men. She embraces her vivacious, busty figure and fiery red hair, and exudes a certain confidence that is mature and refreshing. During a time when women were shamed by men for their promiscuity, harassed for their femininity, or made fun of if they didn’t show enough skin, Joan embraced who she was and flaunted a contagious confidence that I so aspire to.

Peggy Olsen is another strong female character on Mad Men. Peggy’s entrance onto the show sees her as a timid new secretary lacking confidence and ambition. But what is awesome about her character is how much she changes from episode one to the last. Unlike Joan’s steadfast confidence, Peggy goes through a lot of trials to become the successful executive she eventually is. I see more growth in Peggy throughout the series than any other character, and that is what makes her stand out among the entire cast. She develops confidence, ambition, and skill as she works her way up in the agency. She finds herself often at odds with her male counterparts, but perseveres and ultimately succeeds. By the end of the series, she is a completely transformed person with talent, knowledge, wit, and grit, and she doesn’t compromise her ethics or goals for others. She knows her worth and becomes secure in who she is.

Lastly, Trudy Campbell is one of my favorite characters on Mad Men, and that may not seem to make sense given that she maintains the role of dutiful housewife and mother. However, what I love so much about Trudy is that she takes on her role as wife and mother with passion and dignity. She takes pride in her work in the house, and embraces the lifestyle even with its underlying struggles. She is also able to stand her ground against her relentless and stubborn husband, Pete. Trudy may not seem to embody the qualities of a progressive and modern woman on the outside, but her perseverant and passionate personality are what make her such a memorable character to me, and one that I highly revere. She is the kind of woman that inspires other women to do what makes them fulfilled and happy, and for her that is domestic work. Trudy is a spitfire woman with a tenacious and fierce love of her family, and that is also something about womanhood that should be championed.

Mad Men

Mad Men is one of my all-time favorite period pieces. It’s a show that captured my interests in more ways than one. To begin, the show features strong female characters that depict real struggles that exist even today. Secondly, the time period in which the show takes place is beautifully portrayed, for all of its beauty and flaws, and the social issues of the 1960s are reflected in the storyline. And lastly, Mad Men is centered around character development, which allows its audience to become thoroughly invested in the story and the people involved.

Photo by Mark Selinger for GQ, 2007

The first episode of the iconic series shows a day in the life of playboy ad exec Don Draper, which seems to consist of waking up in a different woman’s bed and drinking and smoking to get through the day. On the outside, Don leads the life of a wealthy bachelor. It is not until the end of the episode that the audience learns that Don is in fact married (and not to the woman who’s bed he woke up in that day) and has two young children. This episode sets the tone for the rest of the series: everything you think you know about Don can be easily upturned. He is a mysterious character, and not much of him is revealed to the audience right off the bat. Don is like an onion, the audience gets to know him layer by layer. You learn to love him, and you learn to hate him. But one thing cannot be denied about Don: his character is completely captivating. Much like the other characters in the show, the more you get to know about them, the more you become invested in their lives.

Justina Mintz/AMC

The firecracker women in Mad Men—Peggy Olsen, who blossoms in the later seasons, Joan Harris, who discovers her passion for working, Megan Draper, a free-spirit, and Trudy Campbell, a woman who embraces her role as mother and wife with fierce passion—all make the show a true picture of the various roles women played in the 1960s. They face adversity, judgment, stereotypes, and sexism on a daily basis, and carry on despite having to work often twice as hard as their male counterparts. Civil Rights, the Counter Culture, the Sexual Revolution, and Feminism are all subject matter for Mad Men. This, paired with the stunning costumes, sets, and characters, capture the 1960s with sharp accuracy.

Photo by AMC

Mad Men is vibrant, enthralling, and thought-provoking. The show was incredibly well done and anyone who enjoys a good period piece should definitely give it a watch.