Phyllis Schlafly
Puppet of the Patriarchy
The fabulous miniseries Mrs. America completed its nine-episode run last week. It leaves us questioning why things have changed so little in the meantime. It was so well-produced and acted that I looked forward to each episode, even if it meant I had to be reminded of Phyllis Schlafly. If you haven’t seen the show yet, you can access it on Hulu. Please note that there are spoilers in this article although if you know your history, you will not be surprised.
The series focuses on the second wave feminist movement’s work for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and Phyllis Schlafly’s grassroots organizing against the measure. In the series, we see the work of the big names in feminism, Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisolm, and many others. We watch their attempts to move presidential candidate McGovern toward their side. We watch as they face the difficulties that intersectionality presents to the movement. There is some infighting and rivalry between the leaders around racial and LGBTQ issues raised within the movement. It is not pretty and even today there is no easy solution to having such a big tent. But having the opportunity to see these women in action is inspiring and an important historical lesson.
The series primarily focuses on Phyllis Schlafly, (played magnificently by Cate Blanchett) and her work…
