>>1. My first, and more conservative, interpretation is that
>>the episode brought together the different women and their
>>different lives to show how each has her own, very specific
>>struggles. When they confront each other in the office at
>the
>>end, they're sort of confronting themselves in a twisted
>>mirror. But they're all in the same boat--or elevator, as it
>>turns out--stopping up the same leaks of sexism and misogyny
>>in the attempt to sail. It's a futile attempt, though--the
>>elevator is, after all, going down, and their boat down with
>>it.
>
>i was fine with it until the end that ending metphor isn't
>working for me
>
>although the first part is interesting and has me revisiting
>the scene of Sally falling
>
>

Yeah, it's interesting to see Sally's character develop, and you've gotten me thinking about how the themes are beginning to be worked through her character as a young girl. She's at the center of this family business smack in the center of the office, with most of the principal characters watching the drama unfold. That actually redeems it a little for me, and it does seem like her character is playing into these themes.


>>2. My second, and riskier, interpretation is that the
>closing
>>scenes show that despite the show's intentional scapegoating
>>of Betty as the worst woman/wife/mother possible, in
>>comparison to the other women who stand opposite of her in
>the
>>lobby, Betty may in fact be read as the most transgressive
>>woman on the show. The episode shows that Peggy, Fay, and
>Joan
>>are still mired in the thick of sexism, and none of them are
>>really prepared for it. Peggy is always a step behind--to
>save
>>face, she brings race up, which Don easily bats away; Fay is
>>at a moment's notice transformed into the babysitter, and is
>>upset with Don not because he shouldn't expect her to
>possess
>>maternal instincts, but because she fears she doesn't have
>>them; and Joan, well, I'm still holding out for her. She
>>understands more about men than do the others, but mostly
>>seeks to find her place among them.
>>
>>Betty, on the other hand, is so transgressive that she
>>repulses us. Don is as bad a father as she is a mother--and
>>Betty reminds him of it. She told him to put up with Sally
>for
>>the next day, until she was ready to get her. She may not
>>handle situations with the most grace, but she isn't a step
>>behind (like Peggy), doesn't relish the maternal (like Fay),
>>and doesn't simply accept how things are (like Joan). Her
>>tantrum at the restaurant in last week's episode was
>exemplary
>>of this: yes, she perhaps could have been more tactful about
>>it. But Henry wasn't really going to listen to her one way
>or
>>the other, and she lets him know it. Even if she isn't in
>the
>>office like these careerist women are, she seems more
>willing
>>to put her foot down on what she wants to do.
>>
>>Given this reading, it makes sense that in the closing
>scenes,
>>Betty leaves the office first, Peggy's lesbian friend
>second,
>>and Peggy, Fay, and Joan last. Betty, despite her seemingly
>>traditional position and seemingly disreputable qualities,
>is
>>ahead of the pack.
>
>
>again still not working with the ending for me
>
>esp regarding peggy being a step behind
>regarding racism agreed
>regarding sexism absolutely not
>and her handling of her suitor and understanding and
>addressing the real life transgressions of what he was doing
>showed that she definitely understands what is happening and
>has her finger on the pulse of her situation personally and
>professionally
>it just seems she missed out on the other revolution going on
>while she was fighting her own
>but i'd say we are all myopic in that way
>
>

That's a good point about some of Peggy's development. I just think overall she exhibits a bit of naivete and mostly waits for Don to tell her what to do. She has definitely wised up a little with regard to sexism. I really cringed when she compared sexism to racism; it just seemed forced in terms of the dialogue, like she is the mouthpiece for that position. Not to say there isn't merit to the argument, I guess, and maybe whites really are that defensive about touchy issues. I guess I feel like the writers could've had her say something a little more specific to her circumstances rather than be that mouthpiece.

With that said, it could get very interesting if she does take up the call to confront racism with more substance. Don's answer, like hers the day before, was that it's all business. And Pete, who has shown glimpses of racial awareness, and who challenged Roger not to let WWI animosities interfere with business, probably will take the same business-first strategy when it comes to these questions. So there's an opening for Peggy to make her mark. They might as well have her get it on with an Afro-American, lol.


>~~~~
>When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so
>that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
>~~~~
>You cannot hate people for their own good.