The women and politics show
Mrs. America 1.3 Shirley
While the end of Shirley’s campaign for President was the main focus, it was fascinating to watch two contrasting groups of women do politics at various stages. Schlaffley’s Eagles were concentrating on the one issue and trying to become a national campaign - I was amused at Phyllis getting her way by undercutting democracy and ceding what she needed to to get it done. On the other side, within a convention, and briefly in the rooms that mattered, the women’s caucus was fighting for many things, although trying to increase their reach too. And Shirley was fighting intersectionally, and the interesting thing was that she seemed less driven by ego that Bella was accusing her of. But then Bella seemed more within the system, although Shirley seemed to bring experience and an understanding of power to it. And that plea in her speech.
The bug chasing and the incongruous secret service agents were smart, telling details, while in this context, the business with the racist anti-ERA campaigner rang loud and clear. Gloria got a lesson in realpolitik (Byrne building on the sympathy earned in the previous episode beautifully) as the tide of male delegates took back their seats as the deal she’d made dissolved before her. But then there was the joy of celebrating Shirley’s achievement. (Even I know McGovern never became President.)
And then there was the clarity of the last shot - though what came just before it needed a bit of parsing from, but to be reminded that they were living under the genuine fear of nuclear war, and Phyllis would probably know more than most about it…gas masks and stockpiles, oh my.
The description of the next episode sounds ike it’s going to be fascinating.
This entry was originally posted at https://shallowness.dreamwidth.org/430584.html.
While the end of Shirley’s campaign for President was the main focus, it was fascinating to watch two contrasting groups of women do politics at various stages. Schlaffley’s Eagles were concentrating on the one issue and trying to become a national campaign - I was amused at Phyllis getting her way by undercutting democracy and ceding what she needed to to get it done. On the other side, within a convention, and briefly in the rooms that mattered, the women’s caucus was fighting for many things, although trying to increase their reach too. And Shirley was fighting intersectionally, and the interesting thing was that she seemed less driven by ego that Bella was accusing her of. But then Bella seemed more within the system, although Shirley seemed to bring experience and an understanding of power to it. And that plea in her speech.
The bug chasing and the incongruous secret service agents were smart, telling details, while in this context, the business with the racist anti-ERA campaigner rang loud and clear. Gloria got a lesson in realpolitik (Byrne building on the sympathy earned in the previous episode beautifully) as the tide of male delegates took back their seats as the deal she’d made dissolved before her. But then there was the joy of celebrating Shirley’s achievement. (Even I know McGovern never became President.)
And then there was the clarity of the last shot - though what came just before it needed a bit of parsing from, but to be reminded that they were living under the genuine fear of nuclear war, and Phyllis would probably know more than most about it…gas masks and stockpiles, oh my.
The description of the next episode sounds ike it’s going to be fascinating.
This entry was originally posted at https://shallowness.dreamwidth.org/430584.html.