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If you’re looking for a ‘60s era female powerhouse for life inspiration, then Peggy Olson is your gal. (Given, she is a fictional character, but that doesn’t mean the entertainment icon can’t teach us a thing or two about making it big.)
Over the course of the show “Mad Men,” Peggy goes from secretary to copywriter to copy chief. Throughout the course of her character growth, we see her transform from a budding woman, still figuring out who she is, to a commanding female leader. The inspirational woman leaves her inhibitions at the door and is willing to fight for what she wants in the world. (Her hairstyle evolution is inspiring in itself.) Here are some tips to follow so you, too, can become a modern day Peggy Olson.
CNN describes an instance when John F. Kennedy, during a televised interview with Roosevelt, said, “We want to be sure that women are used as effectively as they can to provide a better life for our people, in addition to meeting their primary responsibility, which is in the home.”
What’s a woman to do when society tells her to do one thing but she desires another? When Peggy came out of Miss Deaver’s Secretarial School, the last thing she expected was to become a copywriter. The show, which takes place primarily in the ’60s, definitely sets up an air of sexism from the get-go. Despite this, Peggy perseveres and doesn’t let any of the naysayers bring her down.
When Peggy is offered a better salary and position at CGC, she doesn’t let herself be held back by memories or fondness over one company. Though it was Sterling Cooper that gave Peggy her first start, she knows that she must continue moving forward if she wants to be successful in the advertising world.
It becomes apparent from the beginning of the show that respect towards women was somewhat nonexistent in the ’60s workplace. Though there seems to be a layer of common decency (which is often punctured), Peggy continues to be treated as a secretary long into her career. She quickly learns that if you want respect, you have to earn it. If earning it doesn’t work, then demand it.
Peggy went into advertising knowing fully well that she would be competing with misogynistic men. Not only that, but US News outlines how women in the ’60s only received, “60 percent of the male rate.” When you’re receiving less money than your counterparts, it’s hard to equal the playing field. From the get-go, Olson faced calculating judgement, and yet she persisted through the constant barrage of criticism and came out on top.
In “Mad Men,” the busty and confident Joan uses her curves to maintain her position and power over the office. Though she’s certainly respected, Peggy goes about her success in a completely different way. Often wearing figureless styled dresses, she’s hammered for not showing off her body more often. Despite the disapproval, she sticks to her guns and works hard to gain the recognition she deserves.
When something in life goes wrong, turn to damage control quickly and efficiently. After Peggy finds out she’s pregnant, she quickly rallies to figure out her life plan. No matter what goes wrong, whether it be a bad sales pitch or a devastating breakup with a soulmate, she rallies to come out on top with elegance.
The only direction to move in life is forward, and inspirational woman Peggy definitely knows that.
