Ms. Equal Rights

Well, now. Isn’t Cate Blanchett getting good at flexing her villain muscles? The trailer for the new FX miniseries Mrs. America has been released and, dammit, if Cate isn’t making me worried I’ll feel even the tiniest sliver of sympathy for Phyllis Schlafly - who clearly deserves none. The story chronicles the real-life fight over the Equal Rights Amendment, which in case you haven’t noticed still hasn’t passed. So, yeah, there’s that. The cast looks stellar with Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem, Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm, Margo Martindale as Bella Abzug, Tracey Ullman as Betty Friedan, and Elizabeth Banks as Jill Ruckelshaus. And, you know, I guess there are some straight white dudes in it too, or whatever.



It’s bonkers to think that here we are almost 50 years later and we’re still fighting the same culture wars. Women are still fighting for equality, as are POC and LGBTQ people and all other marginalized groups. The patriarchy just hums along, and cries bloody murder when anything threatens its precious power structure. Because, remember, to those accustomed to privilege, equality will always feel like oppression. But, as the rest of us know all too well, it is exactly the opposite.

Also, did I mention Sarah Paulson plays one of Phyllis’ friends (or, as it seems soon-to-be former friend)? Yes, lesbians, we have a real-life Carol and Abby BFF reunion.