Mad Men: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (2007)
Season 1, Episode 1
60s and Degrading
29 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A man is in place with a bar where he talks to a black waiter about cigarettes. His boss comes asking if the black man is causing any trouble. The man works for a cigarette company and throughout the episode there are scenes of women in different scenarios.

I find many of the scenes degrading - I think perhaps whoever was behind this series were mostly men, targeted to fulfill visually male fantasies. The scenes made me understand more of a time where stigmas and inequalities were even more prominent than they are today.

The businessman goes to the home of a woman who is an artist. She wears a cute outfit - black, straight pants and a tied, white button-down. She undoes the tie and unbuttons her top to reveal her bra and the next morning when the man gets up we see her nude back. She hands over his belongings to help him get ready.

The man is also invited to a bachelor party for his co-worker who is getting married on Sunday. The group of men have a card advertising the strip club. The man to be married does not tell his wife he is going to a strip club and to take her mom out for a meal.

The businessman's new secretary is advised by another woman on the duties and environment she is to work in. It seems to be a place where females have to submit to the male workers and please them.

This new secretary goes to a gynaecologist recommended by the female worker showing her around. The doctor makes degrading and unprofessional remarks on her sex life. He warns her not to sleep around a lot and that he will take back the birth control if needed. The doctor calls her vagina a "fanny" and tells her to move it towards him.

At the strip club it is classier looking than I expected with men in suits sitting at small tables being served drinks. The girls serving are dressed in tight outfits but not completely in lingerie. They wear stockings. On stage a woman slowly unzips and takes off her dress to reveal the bra and then takes off the bra. She is wearing something on her nipples with strands that move in a circular motion to her movements.

The 26-year-old man who is to be married goes to the home of the new secretary where her roommate opens the door. Upon seeing him she dismisses him immediately but he wants to see the secretary. The secretary knows he is to be married but she pulls him into the home anyways.

The main character goes home to his fiancee and there are two kids. I was shocked because he didn't appear to be married or a father. He seemed like a lonely bachelor.

This episode did make me cringe and I was disgusted by the degrading of females, which made it memorable. It was paced well and I enjoyed watching a film taken place in the 60s. The episode gave me more insight of the gender stigmas and inequalities and what 60s culture was like.
2 out of 19 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed