The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a drama series I’d give to my daughter to watch although you hear 300 “Fuck”s in one episode. I fell in love with this show after watching for 20 minutes, and now that I’m halfway through season 2, the obsession is real. Other than forcing my imaginary daughter to watch it, I would also recommend all my friends to give it a try. While the leading character is a female, her situation could stimulate with anyone regardless gender, and her spirit is worth learning from.
In the 1950s New York City, Mrs. Maisel was cheated on by her husband whom she had two kids with. While struggling to get through her life crisis, Mrs. Maisel discovered her passion for stand up comedy. At the time, it wasn’t a common scene for women to be on the stage and telling jokes. Coming from a wealthy Jewish family with her father teaching at the Columbia University, Midge (Mrs. Maisel) was taught to be, and has been, a housewife in which becoming a comic could cost her family to disown her. Yet, she kept going and I found many of her acts motivating, thus, would love to share them with you.
Though she was talking as a woman in the 1950s, the things she said still apply to what is happening today. As a beginner to comics, Midge spoke up for women whom she associated herself with — women whom were oppressed by social norms, women whom were treated differently from men, in a not so positive way. Midge encountered many mistreatments, cruel judgement and refusals as a female comic. And here’s how she responded. “Why do women have to pretend to be something that they’re not? Why do we have to pretend to be stupid when we’re not stupid? Why do we have to pretend to be helpless when we’re not helpless? Why do we have to pretend to be sorry when we have nothing to be sorry about? Why do we have to pretend we’re not hungry when we’re hungry?”
I was moved by how strong she was after the devastating change in her life. The fact that she didn’t give up, but stood up and spoke for herself despite facing all the limitations as a female. This show is not produced for women only, I believe anyone that ever felt they were at a disadvantage could resonate with her situation and words. Perhaps, you felt this way at one point as an international student living abroad. The feeling of disappointment and helplessness is overwhelming, especially when we’re in a foreign culture, which is why I want to make us comfortable to talk about the struggles here with my blogs.
When feeling like the minority or at disadvantage in a group, we question ourselves: Am I weird? What should I do to be like everyone else? Midge was weird, so are we. But why be like everyone else when you are unique in your own way, so be weird, and stay weird. Often time when discouraging things happen, all we need is a little shot of confidence, so here is a friendly reminder to you, and to myself.
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