The Evolution of Peggy Olson in the Workplace
Peggy Olson is one of the main characters in the American
series Mad Men which is set in the 1960s workplace. Peggy is initially seen in
the first episode where she is starting her first day at an advertising company
called Sterling Cooper as a secretary to Don Draper. Don Draper is the head of
the company. Initially, Peggy is presented as a timid, innocent and
conservatively dressed character. On her first day she is disrespected by men
who work in the office in an elevator scene. She was standing in front of them and
they make a comment saying they hoped that the elevator would take longer as
they are ‘enjoying the view’ as they look down at her bottom.[1] This happens constantly in the office. When she walks past, men turn around to
look at her behind. She is shown around the office by a character named Joan
and introduced to other female co-workers. They openly suggest Peggy should use
her looks to get somewhere in the office. The first episode sets out how life
was for women in the workplace in 1960. Peggy had no respect in the office
although she was determined to progress in the workplace. She was seen as an
object by her male co-workers and was encouraged to use her looks to get
somewhere in the office by her female co-workers.
Peggy’s first day at the office in the first episode reflects
how life would have been for many women during 1960. During in the 1960s women like
Peggy, were just beginning to break away from only fulfilling a life as a
mother and wife. This is due to a number of reasons, one of them being the
introduction of the contraceptive pill. This gave women control over their
bodies and essentially made them less likely to have children. More women were
beginning to go to university and then to work. Although they was able to go to
work they was not treated equally in the work place. There were only certain,
lower down jobs women could have. Women were not considered to have the same
ability as men. Furthermore, women was not paid equally, did not have high
prospects to progress and were often seen as an object by male co-workers. Peggy’s
treatment in the office reflects this.
As the seasons go on throughout the sixties Peggy’s
character grows. Throughout season one, she works on numerous accounts with Don
however he reminds her she is still her secretary and is not appreciated of her
work. However, by the end of season one she is promoted after showing off her
creativity in a meeting. From there onwards Peggy becomes more progressive in
the workplace. She demands a pay rise and her own office. In addition to this,
she rejects Don when he asks her to go and work for him when he wants to create
a new company. She does this because Don highly under values her work and she
knows her value and will not settle for anything less than she deserves. By the
last season Peggy is the head of the SC&P advertising company. She is shown
to be bossing men around, making important decisions and is shown to be
accepted by the men in the work place. Furthermore, she is presented to be stylish,
confident and strong.
Throughout the sixties many changes were happening for
women as they found liberation. One of those changes includes the Equal Pay Act
that was passed in 1963. The act allowed women to be paid equally to men. In
1965 the Equal Employment Commission began operations. This meant that women
would no longer be discriminated against in the workplace and they could go for
the same jobs as men. Furthermore, attitudes towards women working started to
shift. It was no longer frowned upon for a woman to work. Peggy’s evolution within
the work place reflects this change in society. Her final position contrasts
hugely with her initial representation. She becomes more determined and demanding
throughout the seasons. Peggy shows how these changes in society effected women
as they demanded to progress in the workplace as they knew they could as it was
their newly found right.
[1] Matthew
Weiner, ‘Smoke gets in Your Eyes’, Mad
Men, 2007 (Series)
Peggy Olson is one of the main characters in the American
series Mad Men which is set in the 1960s workplace. Peggy is initially seen in
the first episode where she is starting her first day at an advertising company
called Sterling Cooper as a secretary to Don Draper. Don Draper is the head of
the company. Initially, Peggy is presented as a timid, innocent and
conservatively dressed character. On her first day she is disrespected by men
who work in the office in an elevator scene. She was standing in front of them and
they make a comment saying they hoped that the elevator would take longer as
they are ‘enjoying the view’ as they look down at her bottom.[1] This happens constantly in the office. When she walks past, men turn around to
look at her behind. She is shown around the office by a character named Joan
and introduced to other female co-workers. They openly suggest Peggy should use
her looks to get somewhere in the office. The first episode sets out how life
was for women in the workplace in 1960. Peggy had no respect in the office
although she was determined to progress in the workplace. She was seen as an
object by her male co-workers and was encouraged to use her looks to get
somewhere in the office by her female co-workers.
Peggy’s first day at the office in the first episode reflects
how life would have been for many women during 1960. During in the 1960s women like
Peggy, were just beginning to break away from only fulfilling a life as a
mother and wife. This is due to a number of reasons, one of them being the
introduction of the contraceptive pill. This gave women control over their
bodies and essentially made them less likely to have children. More women were
beginning to go to university and then to work. Although they was able to go to
work they was not treated equally in the work place. There were only certain,
lower down jobs women could have. Women were not considered to have the same
ability as men. Furthermore, women was not paid equally, did not have high
prospects to progress and were often seen as an object by male co-workers. Peggy’s
treatment in the office reflects this.
As the seasons go on throughout the sixties Peggy’s
character grows. Throughout season one, she works on numerous accounts with Don
however he reminds her she is still her secretary and is not appreciated of her
work. However, by the end of season one she is promoted after showing off her
creativity in a meeting. From there onwards Peggy becomes more progressive in
the workplace. She demands a pay rise and her own office. In addition to this,
she rejects Don when he asks her to go and work for him when he wants to create
a new company. She does this because Don highly under values her work and she
knows her value and will not settle for anything less than she deserves. By the
last season Peggy is the head of the SC&P advertising company. She is shown
to be bossing men around, making important decisions and is shown to be
accepted by the men in the work place. Furthermore, she is presented to be stylish,
confident and strong.
Throughout the sixties many changes were happening for
women as they found liberation. One of those changes includes the Equal Pay Act
that was passed in 1963. The act allowed women to be paid equally to men. In
1965 the Equal Employment Commission began operations. This meant that women
would no longer be discriminated against in the workplace and they could go for
the same jobs as men. Furthermore, attitudes towards women working started to
shift. It was no longer frowned upon for a woman to work. Peggy’s evolution within
the work place reflects this change in society. Her final position contrasts
hugely with her initial representation. She becomes more determined and demanding
throughout the seasons. Peggy shows how these changes in society effected women
as they demanded to progress in the workplace as they knew they could as it was
their newly found right.
[1] Matthew
Weiner, ‘Smoke gets in Your Eyes’, Mad
Men, 2007 (Series)
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