The Impossibility of a Life of One's Own

I watched an episode of 'The Good Life' on BBC4 the other night dating from 1975. Margo stars in a local production of 'The Sound of Music'. Cue many jokes about bad amateur dramatics. The nub of the story though is this - because Margo is playing Maria for two nights, she's unable to entertain a client of the business that Jerry works for. As a consequence, Jerry is sacked.

Wives of senior businessmen seem to have therefore been seen as an extension of their husband. Margo has no wages for her entertaining duties and seemingly no rights to a day off - or presumably to being sick. She's at the beck and call of Jerry's boss and has no employment contract of her own.

What a situation to be in! Yes, Jerry has a good wage and she has an expense account - but none of it in her name despite the work that she puts in. Some people look back at this kind of life with a wistful smile. Ladies who lunch. Ladies of leisure getting their hair done every week. But it was a prison if the lifestyle was to be kept up. And what if Jerry ran off with his secretary? What then for the wronged Margo with no money and no work experience?


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