# Do women like Mad Men? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781 "2010-06-19T17:00:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/21 "2010-06-19T20:13:48Z")
All the women in the **FtG** clan love it. We all have the DVDs etc. The show is not really sexist as it is showing how sexist things used to be and is walking us thru the changes that society experienced in that era. The DVD extras go into this a lot. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/22 "2010-06-19T20:55:56Z")
I’m a woman, and I say with utter truth, the major thing I have to look forward to in my boring life is the July 25th return of Mad Men. ‘do women like Mad men’…what an odd question! There are no 'splosions, guns-a-blasting, or nudity; there are no comical romantic hijinks. I like that in a TV show. It’s indeed a period piece which requires some knowledge of the past, some appreciation of the art design and fashion, and watching to see what it was like in the non-politically-correct era. It’s not for dummies who get bored easily. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/23 "2010-06-19T21:30:32Z")
I’ve never watched it but my Mom who is in her early 70’s loves that show. She goes on and on about the authenticity of the props and such and they they bring up things that she hadn’t thought of in years. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/24 "2010-06-19T22:51:08Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > In some ways, _Mad Men_ is a sociological study of changing attitudes about the sexes, the races, child rearing & sexual orientation–beginning just as the 60’s began. In other ways, it’s an intelligent soap opera with lashings of highly inappropriate humor. The art direction–costumes, set design & music–is worth detailed study to appreciate how it evokes the period. FYI Tom and Lorenzo from Project Rungay are doing an [in depth look](http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/search/label/Mad%20Men?max-results=15) at the fashion of the female characters and how it defines their roles, the plot and the era. Female, and love the show - both for the attention to detail in staging and costume, but also the soap opera storylines and the conflict between pre-feminism and the feminist movement. Boy From Mars is a fan too. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/25 "2010-06-19T22:52:56Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Virtually the only thing I’ve ever heard about this show is how hot guys find one of the actresses. Is this a “guy show” like Burn Notice and Sons of Anarchy with a mostly male audience, or are there a lot of women (here) who enjoy it too? It’s my favorite show (I’m a she). John Hamm is delicious, the story telling is complex and both the mens and womens story lines, especially as they pertain to powerlessness, are compelling. Did I mention John Hamm? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/26 "2010-06-19T23:03:05Z")
And here I was kind of wondering if many guys liked it. But I don’t watch it myself and most of what I hear about it is talk about the clothes (because I read a lot of blogs about vintage clothes). ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/27 "2010-06-19T23:05:20Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Seriously? You’ve never heard women discuss Jon Hamm? I kind of envy you. > [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > John Hamm is a major hottie; he plays Don Draper, a fascinating character but possibly not good relationship material. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Did I mention John Hamm? Jon. Jon Hamm. Short for Jonathan. After I went to all the trouble to look it up, this is the thanks I get. > [@dangermom](#): > > And here I was kind of wondering if many guys liked it. But I don’t watch it myself and most of what I hear about it is talk about the clothes (because I read a lot of blogs about vintage clothes). Yeah, between the celebrated hunkiness of the star and the emphasis on design, I really thought it was aimed squarely at the ovarian demographic. (I watched the first episode, and wasn’t remotely interested in seeing the second.) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/28 "2010-06-19T23:18:12Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Jon. Jon Hamm. Short for Jonathan. I knew it looked wrong. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/29 "2010-06-19T23:19:45Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m a dude. I love Mad men so much it makes me fear for my eternal soul. Not intending to say that guys can’t/don’t like it… but it’s definitely not a blokey, macho show catering for the male gaze…as the OP seems to think. I am not aware of a female character on TV quite like Peggy - she’s fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/30 "2010-06-19T23:27:03Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I knew it looked wrong. I was wrong, too. It’s [Jon Hamm](http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&q=jon+hamm&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=l1EdTNbIBcOBlAe7nsD_DA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQsAQwAA). I also misspelled [Christina Hendricks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Hendricks)’ name. Intelligent scripts, attractive and/or interesting actors & outfits to die for… (Yes, **Girl From Mar** s, I’ve been following the excellent posts at Operation Rungay.) ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/31 "2010-06-19T23:29:56Z")
Mad Men has one of the most [female-dominated](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574332284143366134.html) writing and directing staffs of any TV show: > [@](#): > > Behind the smooth-talking, chain-smoking, misogynist advertising executives on “Mad Men” is a group of women writers, a rarity in Hollywood television. Seven of the nine members of the writing team are women. Women directed five of the 13 episodes in the third season. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/32 "2010-06-20T00:03:48Z")
I’m a woman and I love _Mad Men_. I can’t wait for the next season - it’s intelligent and Jon Hamm is gorgeous and I wish I was Joan. Wish, wish, wish. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/33 "2010-06-20T00:20:41Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s my favorite show (I’m a she). John Hamm is delicious, the story telling is complex and both the mens and womens story lines, especially as they pertain to powerlessness, are compelling. > Did I mention John Hamm? Yes, you did. I thought about repeatedly saying _Elisabeth Moss_ in return but I don’t have any dignity to waste. (Some would say none at all.) Also, my appreciation for her … how to say… partly in spite of her physical appearance, rather than because of it. We may have discussed this at the time, but what are your thoughts on the interaction between Joan & her doctor husband–particularly the bit in Don’s office just before their marriage? Also, do you see Betty’s infidelity at the end of last season as more or less likely to make her dependent and vulnerable to the man she left Don for? > [@alexandra](#): > > Not intending to say that guys can’t/don’t like it… but it’s definitely not a blokey, macho show catering for the male gaze…as the OP seems to think. I am not aware of a female character on TV quite like Peggy - she’s fantastic. I am required by the Usage Fascist Bylaws (seciton 3, subsection q, paragraph 19) to point out that you should have written “I am not aware of another female character on TV quite like Peggy.” Sorry, it’s not personal, just business. 😃 As to the gender issue, I suppose it depends on whether you think all guys like “blokey, macho” shows. My single favorite TV show of all time is _thirtysomething_, which tain’t a tiny bit blokey. (Except for the tendency to show Mel Harris wandering about half-naked in the first season. I approved of that as a youth.) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/34 "2010-06-20T00:27:34Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Yes, you did. > > We may have discussed this at the time, but what are your thoughts on the interaction between Joan & her doctor husband–particularly the bit in Don’s office just before their marriage? Her story would be a perfect example of the powerlessness I was alluding to. Within her realm in the ad firm she was power personified. We saw this right off the bat. But over the seasons her power began to erode- Peggy rose above her and needed to be, superficially at least, deferred to. She was sleeping with the most powerful man there, until he moved to a secretary that she couldn’t even fire. Her new fiancee/husband rapes her to demonstrate his power (whether he realizes it or not, he sensed this was her domain and she was more successful there than he could be in his world). She falls into a subservient role at home and can’t even articulate why she is not happy. She doesn’t have the language for such a loss. I could go on. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Also, do you see Betty’s infidelity at the end of last season as more or less likely to make her dependent and vulnerable to the man she left Don for? Less- I think her story is the opposite- she is on a power upswing. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/35 "2010-06-20T01:14:12Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Her story would be a perfect example of the powerlessness I was alluding to. Within her realm in the ad firm she was power personified. We saw this right off the bat. But over the seasons her power began to erode- Peggy rose above her and needed to be, superficially at least, deferred to. She was sleeping with the most powerful man there, until he moved to a secretary that she couldn’t even fire. Her new fiancee/husband rapes her to demonstrate his power (whether he realizes it or not, he sensed this was her domain and she was more successful there than he could be in his world). She falls into a subservient role at home and can’t even articulate why she is not happy. She doesn’t have the language for such a loss. I could go on. > > Less- I think her story is the opposite- she is on a power upswing. Regarding Betty: If she were a woman I knew & liked (the second is hard to imagine), I’d be more than a little concerned by [spoiler]her presumable husband-to-be offering to support her entirely, especially as regards her NOT getting any alimony from Don. It leaves her entirely dependent on him, in a way she would not be dependent on Don if she had left him and gotten alimony; at least in that case there’d be some involvement of the court. Betty looks about 30 to me, which means that going back into modeling is going to be hard (I should think), and she has no other skills I’m aware off. Moreoever, I think the PHtB is doing that on purpose. An unmonied Betty is easier to control.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/36 "2010-06-20T01:25:53Z")
Good point! I see what you’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/37 "2010-06-20T02:07:33Z")
Wait … _Burn Notice_ is mostly for men? The only people I know who like it are women. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/38 "2010-06-20T02:08:37Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > Wait .. _Burn Notice_ is mostly for men? The only people I know who like it are women. I’m a dude, and I love Burn Notice so much that… ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/39 "2010-06-20T03:06:35Z")
I’ve read rave reviews of the show but I’ve yet to watch an episode. Is there someplace online I can catch previous seasons? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781/40 "2010-06-20T03:09:52Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > Wait .. _Burn Notice_ is mostly for men? The only people I know who like it are women. Then you desperately need a new set of guy friends. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-like-mad-men/543781.md?page=3)