78. Damn, Donna Reed!

Rory Gilmore is playing dress-up for her boyfriend, and we’ve gotta unpack this! You can’t forget the Donna Reed night. The pearls, the dinner, the apron. But also, why did Rory go to all this trouble? Was it an apology, or a challenge?

That Damn Donna Reed episode of Gilmore Girls brings up tons of questions: did Dean Forrester always want a tradwife? Did Rory simply parrot Lorelai’s opinions? Was this a healthy argument for two teenagers newly in love, or a surefire sign that were all wrong for each other?

Today we dig deep into gender roles, 1950s TV shows, teenage love, feminine domesticity, Betty Friedan, Rory’s evolving feminism, and even Love is Blind. Grab your green jello and get ready for some fun!

References:

Katie Gatti Tassin @moneywithkatie on Tiktok

The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick

The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan

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Edited and produced by Jackie Procyk and Catherine Bailey. Cover art by MGI Studios

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