Mrs. America

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Americaended with the Hal David/Burt Bacharach-composed What the World Needs Now Is Love.

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Isnt marriage, by definition, a prison?

Telling people what to do despite a lack of qualifications or knowledge is basically Phylliss jam.

That wasnt very ladylike.)

John Schlafly isnt the only gay character treated disrespectfully in this episode.

Gloria takes her at her word, though, that the move is because of her sons education.

As soon as Marc realizes Brendas affair was with a woman, he seems immediately unthreatened.

Which is… condescending as well as naive?

I guess Im more conventional than I thought, Brenda tells Gloria.

But she also admits that shes afraid of the impact that dating women could have on her work.

Are you going to call a press conference and sit beside me and declare we are all lesbians?

Wheres Kate Millett now?

Brenda pointedly asks Gloria.

Trying to advocate for gay rights and womens rights simultaneously may be, sadly, too much.

But she doesnt have a husband like Marc.

Lots of people dont want the ERA to go through.

They wont let you fail.

On the surface, thats supposed to sound reassuring, I guess.

But every sentence in that statement has a subtext.

The first: Youre a housewife, you dont need to study law.

The second: Youre not so important to the anti-ERA movement.

It will probably flourish without you.

This episode closes on a note that, at first glance, rings as deeply ironic.

It blew our little minds.

While Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc (& Gloria & Bella & Shirley, etc.

It was conditioning the next generation to see the world, and gender, in a healthier way.

Americais the closest Ive come to finding anotherMad Mensince, well,Mad Menwent off the air.

Thats not surprising sinceMrs.

Americas creator, Dahvi Waller, worked onMad Men.

If you dont like the terms of the debate, he says, change the shape of the table.