By Eleni Kontou
Mrs. America is a nine-part series that details the fight for equal rights in the US through the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
The ERA aims to provide equal legal rights to all ‘American’ citizens regardless of ‘sex’, with some states such as Connecticut also including ‘religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex or physical or mental disability’. The ERA was reintroduced in 1971 by Martha Griffiths, being approved by the House of Representatives that same year. In 1972 it was approved by the US Senate, meaning that it was then down to state legislatures to ratify (consent to) the ERA. The initial deadline for getting the 38 state approvals was 1979, and in receiving 35 out of the 38 ratifications by 1977 the ERA seemed destined to beat the deadline. However, Phyllis Schlafly rallied conservatives and stated that the ERA threatened housewives, and women. Schlafly’s campaign was entangled in fear mongering, asking people to boycott the ERA. Phyllis Schlafly’s fight of opposition prevented the ERA from meeting its deadline, with five state legislatures revoking their ratification of the ERA. Four of them then decided to resign the approval before the deadline. In 1978 the ERA deadline was extended to 1982, however no additional state legislatures ratified the ERA during this period.
Mrs. America explores the history of the ERA and those involved in a dramatic representation of the fight that occurred during the 1970s in an attempt to achieve legal equality. The show tackles many issues such as abortion, racism, sexism, sexuality, toxic masculinity, and sexual assault.
Abortion is one of the primary focuses in the show. Gloria Steinem, played by Rose Byrne, feels strongly about advocating for pro-choice while fighting for the ERA. The emotional stories that present themselves within the conversations about abortion, forces the audience to connect to these women and to sympathise. The conversation surrounding abortion is still very much an issue, with Poland only allowing abortion to people if pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, or for health reasons. The pro-choice fight continues today all over the world. Mrs. America highlights the importance of this fight by bringing to the forefront the horrifying stories of having to get illegal abortions, something that sadly still happens in some places around the world. Our bodies are our own, nobody else should have a say in what we can and cannot do with our own bodies. Mrs. America also depicts the frustration at being forced to meet in the middle when it comes to change, through the character of Gloria. She wants to keep pressing for abortion and sexuality to be included in the campaign for the ERA. However, Bella Abzug, played by Margo Martindale, suggests that they should try to force only one issue instead of many in order to get more votes and to not look too strong. Dimming ourselves is something ingrained in women and other ‘minorities’. We constantly find ourselves minimising our thoughts and ideas when around people of privilege, such as men or white people if you are black or a person of colour. We often live life fighting for less than what we deserve, dulling ourselves in order to appeal to society, a society that took our rights in the first place. Mrs. America’s exploration of society, and its power in our rising or falling, calls attention to our problematic society where we feel we have to dim ourselves in order to be listened to.
Sexuality is another theme that is explored in the programme. The abuse and casual homophobia present in the show highlights the lack of knowledge and ignorance at the time, but also within a lot of right-wing conservative people. An example of this is when Phyllis Schlafly, played by Cate Blanchett, is talking to her son about her addiction to cigarettes and how she knew it was wrong, so she chose to stop smoking them. Of course, Phyllis is actually trying to tell her son that he needs to control his attraction to men because it is ‘wrong’ in her eyes. The stereotyping of the LGBTQ+ community is harmful, even today. In the show, Brenda is scared to declare herself a lesbian because she is scared to fall into the stereotype of a feminist. The insinuation of feminists being lesbian is a harmful stereotype, not because it is bad to be lesbian, but because it is intended to insult. Brenda is not ashamed of being lesbian, she is however scared to come out due to the likelihood that she will not be taken as seriously by falling into the conservative stereotype of who a feminist is. Feminists come in all shapes, sizes, genders, sexualities, ages, and have many different styles. The show highlights this point with Brenda’s story. Betty Friedan, played by Tracey Ullman, is homophobic and does not want lesbian equality to be a part of the ERA. She is accused by the others in the group that she is inclusionary with her feminism, however Betty has an arc in the show. She appears to realise her wrongs and tries to right them by eventually standing up in support of lesbian rights being included in the ERA. Sexuality is explored in the show by some of the characters. Seeing Brenda and Jules open attraction within the left-wing side of the show is in contrast to the right-wing half with Phyllis’s closeted son. It is important for the show to explore sexuality by showing the freedom that Brenda feels when coming to terms with her sexuality, in comparison to Phyllis’s son who feels scared in his environment. Although, it is also important that while showing a side of happiness to Brenda and Jules’ brief relationship, the show also conveys the restrictions and oppressions the LGBTQ+ lives face regularly.
Considering that Mrs. America is a show centered around the ERA. It is only natural that feminism is explored a great deal in the show through the characters casual sexism, and racism. Many of the characters represented are brainwashed by society to continue placing men in positions higher than them. They defend their own oppression without realising the damage that it has on their own lifes. These women are so threatened by the idea of feminism because of the way that the men in their life view both feminism and women. Feminism appears as a threat to them because society has made it seem that way through stereotyping and fear mongering. This divides the women in the story due to the idea that some of them have the wool pulled over their eyes by men and the men’s control of society, due to their positions of power. In episode five, Phyllis being scared of the man who brings her husband's wallet back conveys irony. She is going against advocating a change to women’s rights and yet she feels fear in being alone with a man, due to the inequality she faces as a woman. This irony is brought up later in the debate scene when Phyllis denies Brenda’s claim, asking Phyllis to own up to the truth that women are discriminated against. Thus, proving the ignorance, hypocrisy, and the brainwashing of some women by society and its constructs. During the same debate Phyllis’ husband calls her ‘submissive’ and she is offended by it, again showing that she is oppressed by the inequality’s women face. Perhaps she does have feminist beliefs to a certain extent but is so adamant to please men that she does not realise. Casual sexism is also explored with the many comments throughout the show with the expectation placed on women to ‘smile’, and to be less ‘mouthy’. The glass ceiling is a looming presence in the show, Jill’s home life shows that even in a household fighting for equality she is still expected to do the housework, and childcare etc. All while working as a white house assistant. Her husband does not take any responsibility to help out around the house, conveying that women always have to work harder than men in order to get to where they want to be. The irony and ignorance of many conservative characters is highlighted when Bella speaks to Phyllis’ group (including Alice) at a rally where Phyllis doesn’t turn up. The conservative group tells Bella that they don’t want to be working girls, they want to be housewives. Bella then gives them ‘congratulations’ because due to campaigning they have become ‘working girls’. They are fighting against the ERA, despite enjoying the platform and certain amount of freedom given to them in order to defend misogyny. They are low-key pleased about their platform and would rather be working, than being housewives. The feminism present does not attack housewives but rather says that the ERA will allow the freedom of choice in whether you work at home or get an official job/career.
Racial inequality is also an extremely important part of feminism, if feminism isn’t intersectional, then it’s not feminism. The racial divide is explored during a discussion between black characters talking about the privilege white women have over black women and how not all feminist issues are gender related. The discussion calls out the white feminism present in society, including within some of the characters fighting for the ERA. This casual racism and demonstrations of tokenism calls out Ms magazine by their often-one-sided argument for the ERA. Margaret, played by Bria Henderson, leaves Ms. Magazine and when doing so, she is uncomfortable talking to Gloria about why she is leaving. This is likely because (as mentioned earlier) she feels like her voice is not heard and has to dim herself down within a predominantly white environment. The show also calls out the privilege that white, straight people have over BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ people by making things such as race and LGBTQ+ rights expendable on the ERA. It becomes a debate on whether to include these human rights, because those making the decisions have the privilege to discuss it. They try to tactically make decisions instead of morally in order to get straight, white women equality, but it leaves out BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people. It truly conveys the hypocrisy of white feminism and their ignorance.
The feminist claimants who are men in the show are still rife with toxic masculinity, such as Brenda’s husband. When Brenda tells her husband that she slept with Jules, he is fine with it, but he says that if she slept with a man it would be different. Thus, portraying toxic masculinity/competition between men and how they don’t see women as a threat. The Brenda and Jules’ relationship also explores the selfishness and ignorance of men and their inability to please women in bed. They only care about their own pleasure, women are not allowed to enjoy sex due to the construct that sex is a man’s right. Toxic masculinity occurs frequently in the show through many of the characters, Phyllis’ husband is frequently offended by her working. He even states that Phyllis can’t go to law school because she is ‘too old’. It is obvious that he feels like his masculinity is under attack because she is a woman. Another example of the toxic masculinity present is when the President fires Bella because he can’t look like he is ‘weak’ compared to a bunch of women. All of the other women then resign in support of Bella, highlighting the solidarity and strength of women.
Mrs. America draws attention to the ‘Me Too’ movement with the sexual assault of women and the inequalities we often face in order to get into any position of slight power, or even just to receive minimal respect. A particularly powerful scene comes from an unexpected conversation between two Republicans, Jill Ruckelshaus, played by Elizabeth Banks, and Phyllis. Jill supports the ERA and talks about how she ‘had to let more than a dozen congressmen put a hand on my arm, my hip, my backside. More than a dozen congressmen demanded to see my pretty smile before they signed on’. Advantage is evidently taken of women, even at present this is still an ongoing issue. Men use the inequality of women to their own advantage, knowing that because of their power they will rarely have to face up to their actions. Jill also warns Phyllis of men ‘you want to get ahead by climbing on the shoulders of men Phyllis? Fine, just know they’re looking right up your skirt’. This is an extremely powerful line that highlights the irony of Phyllis’ defence of men’s privilege.
Character arcs are powerful in the show, representing that a change in society is a possibility. Alice Macray, played by Sarah Paulson, has a character arc that has her changing her beliefs and eventually getting a job as a 4-1-1 caller. She tries to convince the others in the group that the ERA benefits all women by stating ‘I have to ask who is actually attacking us’. Portraying that Alice now realises that the anti-ERA people are attacking themselves as women by not wanting the ERA. Another example of evolving ethics is when Betty turns around and supports the protection of lesbians, despite always standing against LGBTQ+ rights being a part of the ERA. The show highlights the idea that nobody changes from pro-ERA to anti-ERA (if they are not influenced by fear mongering that is). This is because pro-ERA is the progressive belief and morally correct choice. You can evolve your beliefs, like Alice and Betty, but you can’t devolve your beliefs. Thus, giving a sense of hope for the future of the US and the world as a whole.
The ending of the show is powerful and demands change. Women and minorities such as BIPOC and LGBTQ+ are too often told that they need to compromise in order to have success. Mrs. America deals with this continually throughout the show, highlighting the inequalities faced. In the end Reagan realises that he didn’t do well with the women's vote, specifically the vote of black women, whom only 14% voted for him. So, he realises that he has to be pro-ERA in order to fix this and get more women on side. This is ironic because it shows that women were massively for the ERA but the many male voices and positions of power within the media etc. Made anti-ERA seem like it was the more popular and prominent movement. The show ends with Phyllis’ husband asking her when dinner is, and her then going to make the dinner after not being appointed into the president's team. The disappointment is evident on her face which is ironic considering that she has been fighting for her right to be a housewife this whole time. She has attained what she fought for, and yet she is unhappy. This lengthy scene really highlights the irony of Phyllis’ fight and the many other women who fought against the Equal Rights Amendment.
In 2017, Nevada ratified the ERA - becoming the first state since the deadline to sign their approval. Then in 2018, Illinois ratified, finally followed by Virginia in January of 2020. Sadly, the fate of the ERA is still uncertain due to the complication of the three remaining state ratifications coming after the 1982 deadline. In February 2020, the democrat-controlled House voted to remove the deadline for the ERA. The next step is to get the republican controlled Senate to agree, there should be no deadline on whether people deserve equal rights.
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