I wish I could live in an episode of Mad Men

Okay, not always. But how can you not be taken away into a world of lovely bright form-fitting outfits, cigarettes in office and after-hour drinks without leaving your office? Who wouldn’t want a shot of whiskey after getting yelled at by your boss?

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Okay, not always. But how can you not be taken away into a world of lovely bright form-fitting outfits, cigarettes in office and after-hour drinks without leaving your office? Who wouldn’t want a shot of whiskey after getting yelled at by your boss?Anyway, if you have not watched an episode of Mad Men, you need to get on that and catch a few episodes. Its about an advertising firm in the USA during the 1960s, the show explores the different aspects of the society at that time such as women’s rights, alcoholism, infidelity, mental illness and, of course, t how women were forced into providing sexual favours to get ahead. Personally, I enjoy watching the show because it deals with issues that we would like to pretend no longer exist but are still very relevant in modern-day society, especially in Rwanda. I love being in a country where there is something always changing everyday; where people are part of active development in different aspects of society. Obviously, we can appreciate the new buildings, tourist attractions, health benefits and such but can we really say that, as women, we feel our views are being heard?I think that most men have moved away from the 1960s approach to women but there a few bad seeds that still need to be reminded that, yes, women can have both a career and take care of the home. In Mad Men, they deal with one character, Peggy, who depicts the ambitious woman who comes from being a secretary to copywriter. She gains a lot of confidence due to succeeding at her assignments and gains the trust of her male colleagues and this confidence oozes into her private life. This confidence puts pressure on the relationship with her old fashioned mother.I bet a lot of women can attest to having little arguments with their mothers when it comes to how they want to lead their lives. Most of our mothers are educated and have great jobs but still do not want to disappoint society by being the mother whose daughter lives with her boyfriend and does not get dolled up for every relative’s wedding (or even better, being part of ‘protocol’ at these said weddings). If it is not one of the above issues, it is another. We are being raised in different times where they love having empowered daughters but also do not want their daughters to stand out from the crowd.So yes it is good to fantasize about living during the exciting 1960s in the USA but is it as exciting living in 2013 Rwanda as a 21st century woman?