Depiction of Women in Mad Men: Secretaries Then and Now

I was recently watching Mad Men on Netflix, and one episode included a warning that some scenes might now be considered inappropriate. That made me think about the depiction of women in Mad Men, especially the way secretaries were shown in the 1960s. We often try to erase the past when it does not fit with the present, but I do not believe that is right.

How Women Were Depicted in Mad Men

In the show, women were often seen as suitable only for secretarial roles. They were expected to leave those roles when they married. Otherwise, they became wives and mothers, raising a family. At the time, this was considered the norm, and few questioned it. Many young women aspired to be secretaries. The role carried a higher status than many other jobs open to women.

What may surprise you is that these attitudes were still around when I began my career as a secretary in the late 1990s.

My Own Experience as a Secretary

Back then, bosses expected their secretaries to look after them. We offered coffee when they arrived and stayed on hand to meet their needs. We dressed in a particular way, always in a skirt or dress with heels, and presented a smiling face as the gatekeepers to our bosses’ work.

I can imagine some people recoiling at the idea that this was still normal in the 1990s. But I loved it. I enjoyed every minute of my job as a secretary and have very fond memories. It annoys me when people try to dismiss my past because it is no longer seen as politically correct.

Why Erasing the Past Does Not Help

Instead of erasing things from the past that we no longer agree with, we should use them as lessons. That way, future generations can learn to treat people fairly and equally. We often learn more from mistakes than from getting things right the first time. Surely that same idea should apply to history.

If you have not seen it, Mad Men is a programme that follows the lives of advertising men in the 1960s. It is very well made and worth watching. Thankfully, times have moved on and today women have far more opportunities.

Looking to the Future

I am not condoning the sexist behaviour shown in the series or in real life. Like many women, I heard more than my share of comments and still do from time to time. That is content for another post.