Mad Men, the new American tv show portrays advertising in the 50's and provides an interesting comparison for women now. The women in the show are a mix of pre-feminist stereotypes - socially ambitious secretaries, the perfect stay-at-home wives and the free spirited mistresses.
Further back there were the Geishas and Tanyu of Japan who were celebrated by men and treated with indifference by wives. Never mind that most didn't choose that lifestyle but were sold by their parents as children. Surely it wasn't normal for women not to be married and have children? They were fashionistas and free spirits. In their world they were independent and although they were artisans first they were also business women. At a time when women didn't work or own business they did. In the flower and willow world they owned the Geisha houses, Geisha schools, agencies and tea houses.
Like the saying the more things change the more they stay the same. Now books like the Domestic Godess and shops like Cath Kidson are supposed to be ironic. Ironic really? Is ironing, cleaning and looking after kids ironic too? Is it ironic that I have ended up a mistress? How did it come to that? I chose freedom, a career and no kids but I still beleived that I would marry for life.
In Mad Men Mrs Don Drapper says to the secretary without a hint of irony "you probably know him more than I do" as she sits there waiting for him with her brood. Later she says to her friend "I really expect the royal treatment when I walk into his office (by the other staff)... but it's like walking into another country where I don't speak the language".
Funny I faced this same senario. My boss's wife came in with their two kids to pick him (he was taking the afternoon off) and sat at his desk while he was in a meeting. She looked at me as if to say 'look after them (her children)' while she went to the washroom. She acted really smug as if to say 'I am the boss's wife'. Damn girl are you delusional or what? The man is an idiot. A skirt chasing idiot that catches no one try as he might though. He's a pig who is on his way out and the sooner the better. He eats lunch with no one. She came back and I did my best to try to look busy. I later chatted to my co-workers about it. Whether she is the wife of the CEO or the wife of the janitor to us her status is the same.
This is a top 5 London ad agency that could give Mad Men a run for the title. In fact Loverboy works there. He of course is not the only one screwing around on his wife. It is still the done thing don't you know.
The only really difference between then and now is fashion. The creatives now are a scruffy looking lot. On a night out the best they can hope for is for some one to mistake them for the foul-mouthed fame seekers Tower of London. Everything else is the same including their over importance about what they do. They've modernised nothing. In fact the agency I am mentioning is only just embracing the digital age and putting in an inhouse web team. It is fraught with pain and drama. Never mind that else where the internet is worth billions and billions and people behave like grown ups. They are insisting they do it their way.
Damn anyone who gets in their way. Point this out to them and you are shown the door by the head gimp in his long greasy hair, black jeans and converse trainers.
What would be scarier greasy-boy's wife or his mistress?
