MTM

When Winston Churchill said that they who stand and wait also serve, he was referring to the women of England. During the war women left their homes and went to work in the factories. When the war was over many gave up their jobs so that the men could have them. I recall women who said that they should not be taking a job from a family man. While this planted the seeds for the women’s movement the real impetus came in 1960 with the introduction of the pill. Sexual freedom opened the door to other freedoms and this led to women going back to the work force. Female power was illustrated on TV with shows like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. These programs which ran during the 60’s showcased the new power of women using magic and while they were still in the home they had taken on more influential roles. Shortly after that the Mary Tyler Moore Show started and here was a real mortal, young, single, professional woman, out in the world on her own. After that a number of shows staring working single women taking care of themselves and children became popular. Shows like Kate and Alley, One Day at a Time, Alice, Cagney and Lacey and even Superwoman. TV led the way showing how the culture was changing and this led to the great progress that women have made over the past 40 plus years.