Evolution and Persistence of Societal Norms

Today's society has gone through numerous changes to become what it has today. But there are still many norms that remain the same. It has caused either a negative or positive outcome which has impacted the society. Some topics that stood out throughout the show was the development of technology, women rights, and social norms. Society has changed since the 1960s.

Since the 1960s, technology has developed and transformed lives tremendously. In the show Mad Men, technology consisted of typewriters, radios, and blackboards.

Now we have cell phones, projectors and computers to replace all that. In the show, Peggy starts her day at work by sitting down at her desk to use her typewriter.

Today, Peggy would be sitting down at her desk to use a MacBook. Another example would be when Don Draper gets up to write down his idea about cigarettes on the blackboard. In offices today, projectors, and whiteboards are being used. But video calls are now also very popular when sharing ideas and new proposals to other institutions around the world.

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Women rights played a big role throughout the whole episode and have changed since the 1960's. Today, women are being treated better than a couple of years ago. But are still far from being equal to men. In this society, women have the same chance as men to get employed and have gained more freedom and independence. Women are standing up for themselves and defending each other.

Back then women were being downgraded, harassed and could not stand up for themselves.

For example, Pete harasses Peggy in the elevator by saying she had nice legs but would look even better if she showed more skin. He also continued to make further comments with his colleague. Another example would be women being objectified in their workplace.

Different societies have different social norms that they follow. Some of the norms shown in Mad Men are drinking and smoking inside their workplace, and women being treated like sex objects at work. In today's society we have different norms, for example, workers are not allowed to smoke in workplaces, should be treated equally and should not harass each other. In this society, there are norms that don't have to be spoken about. Some examples would be not standing too close to a person, being respectful to coworkers and dressing appropriately and being professional at work.