I had to share this photo today — it makes me smile. This photo of my younger sister and me was taken in 1969 in Turkey when we were stationed at Karamursel AFB.
If you know me, then you know how much I love watching Mad Men; this past season (3) was my favorite so far. I was born during the time period in which the show takes place. We were living in either Torrance or San Bernardino when JFK was assassinated. That’s me in the photo below at about two years old in the pink pantsuit and black Mary Janes. My mom was probably pregnant with my youngest sister when this photo was taken — which means my Dad was in Vietnam while she had three daughters to take care of and one on the way.
My older sisters were 6- and 11-years old then — nearly the same ages as Sally and Bobby in Mad Men. It’s incredibly interesting to watch historic events unfold on the show and wonder how it mirrored my family’s experiences at the time. I love the rich details on the show along with the gritty reality of the racism and sexism — it’s jarring but accurate.
But far more than anything else on the show, I’m tuned in to all the women in their various roles. From Carla — the domestic helper, to Betty — the prototypical suburban sixties wife, I can’t help but compare it to how many more choices and opportunities women have now versus how few they had then. I feel that I can design my own role and make my own rules — it’s an incredible privilege wrought by the dissatisfaction of women in that era.
Who else is watching? Thoughts?
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.simplyjanet.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to Plurk]](http://www.simplyjanet.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-plurk.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to Delicious]](http://www.simplyjanet.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-delicious.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to Digg]](http://www.simplyjanet.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-digg.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to StumbleUpon]](http://www.simplyjanet.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-su.png){kind=icon}
4 comments ↓
Those are great photos. I wish that there were more from my childhood. Finding them is finding a treasure!
Watching Mad Men has also made me wonder about my mother’s life back then. There are so many things that I did not know or get about what it was like to be a female back in the 60′s and 70′s. I remember how loyal my mother was to a certain Atlanta Department store because they were the first company that would give my mother a charge card being a single via divorce woman. She found it nearly impossible to obtain a charge card of any kind without a man co-signing on the account. Amazing.
Janet, these photos melt my heart! I’ve never seen the bottom photo! SO CUTE OF YOU!!! I’m so glad you posted them and to hear your memories of that era. I don’t remember much and I think most of my young memories are from Turkey. (I will confess I have never watched Mad Men because I missed the beginning, but will join in progress.) Love, Me.
Cute photos.