'Mrs America' shows the antifeminist movement makes the same sexist arguments today that they did in the ‘70s
One of the most audacious shows on television right now is FX’s miniseries ‘Mrs. America’. The story revolves around the second-wave feminist movement in the ‘70s and the Equal Rights Amendment. The story, however, is not just about the feminist trailblazers whose ideas resonate even today. It’s also about the other side of the movement -- a campaign led by Phylis Schlafly, a staunchly conservative voice in American politics, whose views against liberal politics, communism, reproductive rights, and even the feminist movement shaped modern conservative politics.
The show’s title discernably is a tribute to Schlafly and her ideals and that’s important to remember. It’s as much a story of the vicious anti-feminist rhetoric and manufactured hysteria against feminist ideals of equality that continues to be witnessed even today from not just right-wing men but also women like Ann Coulter and Tomi Lahren.
Journalist and feminist writer Jessica Valenti argued a few years ago that women weren’t a monolith, and neither were the issues that they care about or believe in. “But anti-feminist organizing is based on a deep hypocrisy and selfishness -- an ideology built to assure conservative women that as long as they are doing just fine, other women will make do,” wrote Valenti. “And they're putting up roadblocks to progress right in the middle of a renewed feminist awakening, with retrograde sexism that's ultimately not too different than that of their male counterparts.”
In many ways, thus, ‘Mrs. America’ proves to be a spectacular watch that is rich in parallels with the present, and a star cast that can’t be praised enough for its semi-biographical portrayal of real people who, for the better or for worse, changed the world and shaped the times we live in.
But even in the context of this conversation around equality and the opposition it received (and continues to receive), the sexism and misogyny portrayed in the show feel jarring. Yes, it was almost half a century ago. And yes, it’s an antifeminist battle that’s being portrayed, but realism need not be pleasant. In one of the scenes in episode 1, a senator refers to women talking as “clucking”, implying that women are less than human; they are hen. In many scenes, the condescension Schlafly (Cate Blanchett) receives from men around her, including her husband, is repulsive to watch.
One particular scene shows how Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), perhaps one of the most famous feminist icons of the 20th century, was told by her male editor that her “great legs” were the reason why he gave Steinem her first writing gig. And when it’s not the blatant misogyny, it’s all the entrenched, seemingly innocuous sexist practices that come out alive in the show. The list goes on.
Perhaps, one of the reasons why all these instances pop out on the show is because the show's makers intended for the audience to see the kind of battle women had to wage against patriarchal values back in the day (though little seems to have changed in 50 years). But even this intentional messaging is unsettling at best and upsetting at worst. The portrayal of misogyny is important, especially to this story, but that doesn’t make it less jarring.
Maybe more so because the portrayal of history in this miniseries doesn’t feel historical at all; in the sense that it is very much how things are even today. "Choice" is still being battled. Especially by women like Schlafly. Feminists are still being attacked by women like Coulter and Lahren. Even so-called radical feminists have terrible beliefs when it comes to equality -- Trans-exclusionary radical feminists or TERFs don’t believe in equal rights for trans women.
In many ways, ‘Mrs. America’ serves more than just a docudrama. It serves as a reminder that whatever the era, some battles remain the same. And the fact that 50 years haven’t changed the dynamics of this battle for equality, is perhaps, what disheartens the most. This is not to imply, at all, that the feminist movements have failed. They haven't. But those who oppose it still haven't changed. Their core values are still regressive. Their arguments still hinge on creating hysteria. And their beliefs dehumanize women. And at the forefront, again, are women who wage this war against equality.
‘Mrs. America’ premiered with its first three episodes on Hulu, with weekly episodes dropping every Wednesday on the streaming platform.
