Equality of the Sexes in Mad Men

Don't let the title of this post fool you, there isn't a whole lot. Tocqueville asserts that in the United States women are treated with more reverence and equality than in Europe. First and foremost, women are educated in America and exposed to the world from an early age. They are armed with reason, not just religion, to guide their judgement. American women choose their marriages for love but do so with rationality. Tocqueville believes that this contributes to stability of marriages and the high morals found in America. Also, women persevere through any conditions. As a result of these strong characteristics, Tocqueville asserts that women are treated with reverence and with equality by their male counterparts. While men and women preform separate tasks, American society acknowledges and respects the role of women.

Yet somehow, the American society of the 1950's, as portrayed in "Mad Men", differs from Tocqueville's "Democracy in America". The first example is this reverence towards the role of women and the respect for their roles. Peggy's coworkers treat her, along with every other women in the office, as a mere sex symbol. The men in the office constantly hit on her and make sexual innuendo after sexual innuendo. The relationship of Don and Betty calls into question Tocqueville's belief in marriage as a love filled, yet rational union. Don commits in extramarital affairs, while his wife deals with the children in the suburbs. Don does not respected the equality of his wife or her role in their marriage. He treats her like he treats his children. When he comes home from work to find that his wife got into an accident, he asks if it their daughter was acting out, as if his wife cannot control their kids. Also when Betty returns from the psychiatrist, Don calls up the doctor to find out what's going on. The way they discuss Betty and her session is like two fathers talking about a little girl.

Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" has influenced American's perception of gender roles and marriage for centuries. But the reality of the matter is that his assertions idealize that which is inherently imperfect: humans and their relationships. "Mad Men" portrays the vast disparity between the way men and women are treated in the 1950's as well as the confusion that comes as people struggle with these American ideals.

Works Cited:

Tocqueville's "Democracy in America"

"Mad Men"

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