My mom was almost forced to quit her job when she was pregnant with me - in 1974. I was shocked when I found out. It was considered wrong/bad/whatever for children to be exposed to such a pregnant woman. (I guess because it was obvious that she was having sex? With her husband?)

Anyway, my dad the law student wrote a memo appealing their decision and they let her stay until the end of the year (although I was born a month early so that was the end of that).

eta for clarity - my mom was a 4th grade teacher

ISTR that the contraceptives law was not that common or not frequently enforced-- akin to sodomy laws. But I haven't seen Mad Men yet.

Do you know what the law was in New York? I understand it was a state by state deal.

I was also appalled that Don could call up his wife's shrink and get the lowdown on her session from him.

I believe it was legal for doctors to prescribe in NY (where M. Sanger opened a clinic in the 1920s). I think Connecticut and Massachusetts may have been the only states where it was illegal.

I know my parents had to go to a court hearing with their doctor and minister get permission for my dad to get a vasectomy back in the early '60s. They had to prove that the reason they were getting it was to save my mother's life and that they were of good character.

Maybe it's because I've got a disability, but I'm still not sure a neurologist might not be a better fit than a psych. And, yes, bleah, to not talking to her and then talking to her hubby. Sometimes fighting for social change can be so frustrating, because day to day you don't see your work, but it's obvious watching that, that we do make a difference. Even if we have not created a utopia or anything.

erika - I'm guessing that her husband hasn't actually seen her hands not working so is willing to believe it's all in her head.

Yeah, that's true. He's not home a lot, and these are short little 'sodes she's been having. And I know more about disabilities than he might.

On Damages, the blonde who is the secret witness against Frobisher? Apparently played by Jamie Bamber's younger sister.

And did you guys think that Draper's wife's disorder was a panic attack? I thought it was going to be something like ms which had to have been really difficult to diagnose and pretty much untreatable at the time. (Or so I would guess.)

I still can't decide which it is supposed to be, but the scene at the end where the husband called the Psychiatrist really freaked me out.