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ENTITY instructs you on how to deal with a modern day Don Draper.

Power is sexy. Having power, drive and a position of prestige is attractive in any partner. When “Mad Men” debuted on our televisions in 2007, we were a nation captivated. For seven seasons we watched with breathless wonder as Don Draper manipulated and ruled over his world of advertising and debauchery.

He was an archetype to break all male archetypes and his womanizing and power plays sparked one of the greatest love affairs between America and its relationship to TV. He became the man men wanted to be, and the man women wanted to be with.

But when talking about how attractive power can be, one must look at both sides of the argument. Yes, he shows how sexy power can be, but he also shows its potential destructiveness.

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Don Draper’s power comes from a place not earned, but rather a status given: that of the white male. He is the epitome of manhood and yet, in comparison with a modern world where feminism is attempting to revolutionize a nation, he is the antithesis of manhood fully realized.

Draper’s sense of manhood still exists in our world today. In fact, you probably know someone who reminds you of John Hamm’s smiling face. You’ve dated him, you’ve worked for him, you’ve studied for his classes, you’ve met his gaze across the bar. Chances are you know him better than you’d like to admit, so what is a modern girl to do when she finds herself face to face with a modern-day Don Draper?

1 Channel Your Inner Olivia Pope

When Olivia Pope walks into a room, people stop to listen, because she is a women who actively enforces how she deserves to be treated. No women deserves to be treated as disposable, so if you find yourself having to deal with a modern-day Don Draper in your work or personal life, handle the situation like Olivia handles D.C. scandals.

Do not shy away from the situation; dig deep, find your nerve and speak out with courage and conviction. Know your worth and stand tall in the truth that you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

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2 Face the Situation Head-On

There is a time and place for speaking up and staying silent, but moments of contempt from your Don Draper are not moments to be silent. Don’t shy away from the conversation. We know that being treated badly can take a hit on your confidence, but you are too great to be treated as less.

Once you’ve channeled your inner Olivia Pope, use her to address and solve the situation. Evaluate your circumstances – maybe talk about it with someone who knows both of you – and choose the correct time and place to address the issue.

3 Be Direct, Clear and Sure

Make like Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail” and take it to the mattresses. When Kathleen Kelley is faced with her very own Don Draper in the character of Joe Fox, she struggles to stand up for herself. She gave us all some serious #realtalk when she says, “What happens to me when I’m provoked is that I get tongue-tied and my mind goes blank. Then I spend all night tossing and turning trying to figure out what I should have said.” It is after she is able to practice and organize her thoughts that she is able to stand up and say what she thinks to him.

Take a page from Kelley’s book and plan out what you are going to say ahead of time. Don’t rely on your gut to get you through this conversation. Make a list of your main points and try your monologue in the mirror a couple times. It’s okay to get emotional, just don’t let your emotions get in the way of your intelligent and valid reasons for being treated better. Channel your emotion into giving your arguments passion and power.

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4 Know When Enough is Enough

There may come a point in time where you need to make like Beyoncé and say, “Boy bye.” If he still hasn’t changed after you have spoken up for yourself, tried to educate your Don Draper and taken every step necessary to improve the situation, you might need to consider that enough is enough.

Respecting yourself is a lifestyle choice. It means being active not passive in the way others treat you at work and in your personal life. If the time comes to leave, know that leaving a job or relationship that does not respect you or treat you like you deserve is one of the bravest things you can do.

As women, we show true power when we treat ourselves with dignity and expect the same from others. If you find yourself in a situation with a modern Don Draper, do not be afraid to stand up for yourself. After all, there is nothing sexier than a woman who knows her worth and demands the respect she deserves.

Edited by Ellena Kilgallon
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