Mrs. America: An Engaging Story Of A Complex and Ambitious Female Activist

Cast:- Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba and Sarah Paulson

Rating:- 4/5

Mrs. America tells the story of the second-wave feminists who tried to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s and the anti-feminist women who were ultimately successful in stopping them. The show largely follows Phyllis Schlafly, the over-conservative activist who discovered her calling in founding the STOP ERA movement. The ERA movement entirely relied upon the idea of equality between genders ought be written in the American Constitution. 

The mini-series set in 1971 deserves full marks to lay down the foundation of the country in the right manner. Mrs. America as a period drama has everything you may possibly expect. Right from perfectly depicted color palette- the shares that were so close to the earth tones and yet very different from what is found in the nature, the soundtrack which perfectly defines that era, dynamic montages, the telephones to the portryal of men and women in the society everything reminds you of the time the story is set in. But Mrs. America is completely aware of the present audience as well. After watching the first three episodes one thing that hits us straight is- How little the politics in America has changed in the last 50 years.

The first episode is Schlafly’s, which does seem problematic since Schlafly can be seen as a staunch anti-feminist, but to know the entire story, it is essential to examine the viewpoint of the “villains”–women who were against the ERA, and what the thinking was for these women that stood against something that seemed so logical and beneficial for them. Mrs. America tells us the story of a villain by showing how the sexism in the 1970s affects Schlafly personally. The show opens with Schlafly being paraded around in a bikini at a political fundraiser, and shows the ways that a well-educated and smart woman like her ignored, objectified, and even exploited by not only others but her own husband Fred as well.

And this led her down to the path which was even worse in nature. Instead of seeing what she experienced as something she should stop, she decided she would exploit it, and the fears of other women, for her own gain. Schlafly lacks empathy she should have for women and this makes it more tragic.

Cate Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, an over conservative and toxic activist with equal parts of humanity and honesty. The woman feels beluttled when her husband does not support her after losing once, when she is treated like a secretary in front of friends but also believes that women chosse to work they will be doing two full time jobs, one they choose and the other of homemaker since their husbands would refuse to share the load of raising kids. The woman owns the character and nails every part of it. 

Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem is fun to watch. Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black female president candidate is caught between the Black rights and women’s liberation movements—and ultimately screwed by both. Sarah Paulson plays Schlafly’s fictionalized sidekick. Paulson’s character in the show seems underused and seeing more of her would have made it better.

Mrs. America does not glorify Phyllis Schlafly but tries to read the mind behind the anti- feminists  who were against something that was for their own betterment. 

The remaining six episodes of Mrs. America will drop weekly on Wednesdays—but the first free are already right there on Hulu and Disney + Hotstar. 

Final verdict: If you have set up a goal to learn new things amid this lockdown I believe nothing can be as entertaining as Mrs. America. It is better than any other history lesson you may have learnt.