Comments on: “Mad Men,” The Bell Jar, and The Feminine Mystique

By: margot.mifflin

margot.mifflin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:10:05 +0000

I also just discovered reruns of the Dick van Dyke show (which ran from 1961-66) are on again–also provides a fascinating point of comparison but mostly on a Friedanesque level: charming sexy homemaker (Laura) juxtaposed with sexually frustrated over the hill career woman (Sally). There’s some serious gender anxiety going here among the women, but interestingly, Rob is refreshingly assured in his thoroughly unmacho masculinity. The set up is sort of like the Lucille Ball show, only the talented wife isn’t infantalized here, and the artist husband isn’t a daddy figure.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 05:14:09 +0000

I could have sworn there was a Bell Jar reference in that episode – you confirmed this! I’m glad the allusions aren’t being lost on the audience. I’m working my way through the second season and am curious as to how they’ll depict the changes in the mid-sixties in later seasons. I like what they’ve worked in thus far – pantyhose, photocopiers…

By: margot.mifflin

margot.mifflin — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:50:39 +0000

Thanks, I’ve since noticed a bunch of other resonant cultural developments for women in 1963 (mainly in the arts), and am thinking about writing about this at greater length. A small one: today’s Times Book review notes that author Elissa Schappell took the title for her collection Blueprints for Building Better Girls from an etiquette book published in 1963!

By: John

John — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 03:51:01 +0000

I’m reading – at last – the bell jar and think – this must be required reading for the writers on mad men. I would bet on that. I did a google search on mad men the bell jar and got your – what for me is – prescient blog post
I agree! This is an old post of yours; the river has long past, but – nice work. All the best.