It's just...he says that the actresses on the show think it would be better, and I can't imagine any of them saying it, but specifically the leads-Peggy, Betty, Joan (maybe), or Rachel thinking any of it was easier.

There are a lot of background actresses for the secretarial pool so maybe one of them are saying it.

Plus someone with a smaller role isn't going to know exactly what's going on in scenes where it's just Don's wife and the shrink, right? Not until they saw the whole thing together?

Here's the quote:

Yeah, there are a lot of women on set who look at their characters’ lives and say, “Why did we ever burn our bras? Things were kinda nice.”

Characters' lives says to me someone who we know as a character, and I don't buy it.

I also have to admit that the 'bra burning feminist' stereotype kinda chaps my hide.

I think that it's more his interpretation of the comments that the women are making. For example, if someone said "it must have been nice to only have to worry about the house and the kids", they don't mean that it was a better time and they want to go back there, but that women had less responsibility.

"Kinda nice" doesn't read to me as "better."

I believe that there are women who've said something like that, and as as been said, it's a mix of nostalgia and the awareness that life isn't exactly utopian now, either. I doubt they were deathly serious, and meant "I'd give up my own life to go back in time and be this particular character for real."

ETA: What Vortex said, except I don't see him interpreting any more than we are here.

The bra burning phrase is what pinged me. So often used as a pejorative by my misogynist father...it just smells of patronizing dismissal. I grew up in the 60s and 70s...never once heard a woman mention bra burning...never knew anyone who did it nor anyone who knew anyone who did it. One or two incidents turned into a bucket in which to toss any 'uppity' woman.

Plegh. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

"Kinda nice" doesn't read to me as "better."

Even coupled with "Why did we ever burn our bras?" Only if they were saying it sarcasticaly might I buy it.

It's because I think the show does such a good job of showing that things weren't simpler and that women's lives were harder that I can't buy anyone saying "Dang that feminist movement. I'd rather just hang around the house." Unless they were being deeply sarcastic.

and in an interview, not just amongst friends (not that that's better, but the fact that he feels so comfortable using it for national consumption is telling as well)

This is how I feel about the whole interview, actually. Many of his comments might be okay to say to a friend, but to an interviewer? It just seems like real insensitivity to both the actual topics (women in the 50s and men talking about their feelings) as well as an insensitivity to the readers. Not that he has to be sensitive to us, but if he's not, I can't help but react as many others here did.

It just seems like real insensitivity to both the actual topics (women in the 50s and men talking about their feelings) as well as an insensitivity to the readers.

Or just plain lack of maturity. Neither one gets a pass from someone of his age and public stature, in my book.

One or two incidents turned into a bucket in which to toss any 'uppity' woman.

Bra burning is a myth. [link]