"Mad Men" character question -- no spoilers

[twickster]

I'm currently watching season two on DVD, and am wondering about Betty's socioeconomic background. It would seem that she would have come from money -- her riding, etc., isn't a hobby that she would have picked up as an adult. Has that ever been spelled out? Do we know anything about her other than that she worked as a model for a while prior to marriage? Did she go to college?

If you need to know exactly where I am to answer without spoiling, I'm 3/4 of the way through season two, and

SPOILER:

the comedian has told her about Don's affair with his wife, she threw him out, she's drinking heavily, and at the end of the last episode I watched last night, Don has asked to come back but that hasn't been resolved yet.

[Alessan]

She went to college and majored in anthropology, I believe. She's also fairly well-travelled (and speaks excellent Italian). I'd put her background as very affluent.

Modeling was once something upper-class girls did before they settled down; it was considered very respectable. Look at Carla Bruni - the Bruni-Tadesci family used to own half of Italy.

[ShibbOleth]

Originally Posted by Alessan

She went to college and majored in anthropology, I believe. She's also fairly well-travelled (and speaks excellent Italian). I'd put her background as very affluent.

I think I'd go with slightly less affluent, more likely extremely comfortable.

SPOILER:

During the story arch about her father, Betty's brother seems jealous of Don's money. I think more of Pete's family being affluent prior to his father's death - and shocked that the money was all gone. Similarly, it seems that Eugene's second wife seems to have sucked a lot of money out of him. At least that's the inference. No doubt they had some money, but it didn't really make it to the next generation.

[Enderw24]

She went to Bryn Mawr for college, I believe.
She comes from wealth but I believe it's "new money" wealth. We never REALLY get to know Betty's dad but I always had the feeling that he came from a pretty poor or humble background, earned a lot of money, and then spoiled his kids rotten giving them things he never had.

[DianaG]

Agree with Shibboleth, I think her background is firmly upper middle class. Her father did well, and they were very comfortable, but it was "spend it on your kids" type money, not "leave it to your kids' kids" type money.

[salinqmind]

Yes. Daddy's little Princess. Does li'l Princess want a cashmere sweater? Modest but real jewelry for every birthday (an add-a-pearl-necklace)? A weekly allowance right through college? Daddy will come to the rescue.

[twickster]

Thanks, that makes sense.

I was thinking, last night, that the fascination of this show for me is that I am pretty much the age of Don and Betty's daughter, Sally -- I was born in '54 -- so it's like peeking in on what my parents were doing after I'd gone to bed. (And, yes, they were both definitely drinking and smoking.)

[Dorothea Book]

Originally Posted by DianaG

Agree with Shibboleth, I think her background is firmly upper middle class. Her father did well, and they were very comfortable, but it was "spend it on your kids" type money, not "leave it to your kids' kids" type money.

I agree but the Bryn Mawr education is a true elitist criterion (especially at a time when most women didn't go to college at all); it's the kind of thing you buy for you kids like a legacy. It might have helped to marry into a family more like Cooper's or Peter Campbell's. But she chose...Dick Whitman.

[Bridget Burke]

Originally Posted by DianaG

Agree with Shibboleth, I think her background is firmly upper middle class. Her father did well, and they were very comfortable, but it was "spend it on your kids" type money, not "leave it to your kids' kids" type money.

Bryn Mawr was Katherine Hepburn's alma mater; so Philadelphia Story comes to mind. The Lords of the Main Line had a pool; poor Betty's family had a lovely home in Philadelphia, but probably had to use the pool at the club. The Lords had a stable; Betty had riding lessons, which she resumed later. (And Betty's expensive education apparently went in one ear & out the other. She learned pretty good tourist Italian while a model.)

This Sunday's episode might include settling her father's estate. Stay tuned!

[twickster]

People -- I'm a season behind y'all, watching on DVD -- pls. stay away from spoilers, as requested in the OP.

Thanks.

[astro]

Upper middle class - Dad probably making 2009 equivalent of around $ 150,000 - $ 200,000 +/- a year - I 'm guessing $30,000ish a year in 1960 income. Ivy colleges were expensive (my sister went to one in the 60's ) but weren't crazy ass expensive like they are now. That kind of (relative) money then and now might afford you a comfortable upper middle class income, but unless carefully husbanded and invested is not going to leave much for the kids after retirement other than the house..

Inflation calc

1 2009 dollar = .14 in 1960 buying power

[Zsofia]

Bryn Mawr is not an Ivy.

There was a scene sometime in the first season where a bunch of the non-working women were chatting about their alma maters - they all went to extremely good schools that are at least now very academically rigorous - Sarah Lawrence, Randolph Macon, etc., just to waste it on their Mrs. degrees.

[astro]

Originally Posted by Zsofia

Bryn Mawr is not an Ivy.

.

Fine seven sisters then. Same difference pricewise. kinda pricey then, stupid expensive now.

[Exapno Mapcase]

Bryn Mawr is one of the seven sisters colleges, which were popularly known as the women's Ivy League back in the days when women were not accepted at several of the Ivies.

Slow, delayed simulpost.