The ladies of Mad Men season 6 put up with a lot of injustice. But there is an empowering tone, closely resembling feminism, slipping into the fabric of the show.

When viewers tune into Mad Men season 6 tonight, they expect a certain about of sexism and social unfairness served with the biting wit and ruthless banter of an ad agency. A period piece is supposed to reflect the environment and the social temperature of the 1960s wasn’t exactly progressive or fair to all. Audiences understand this and sign up to swallow the bitter pill of truth anytime they tune in.

But since the beginning of the show we’ve noticed quite a drastic shift in the attitudes of the female characters. Our ladies aren’t lighting their bras on fire, no one is marching or petitioning, and there haven’t been any direct comments noting the social change. Though, if you’re paying attention the expansion and growth is extremely obvious.

Here we’re paying homage to this new outlook and giving the women of Mad Men some much needed recognition.

Peggy

From secretary, to copywriter, to head of her own creative team, Peggy was blazing a trail before she even realized what she was doing.

In the office, she’s seen as more of an equal than any other woman to come through the doors of the agency. But it’s not like she hasn’t earned every ounce of that respect. Peggy’s painstaking dedication to her job has built her a solid and substantial reputation at work. She’s more professional than the men, works just as hard (if not harder), and goes above and beyond so no one can ever look at her and wonder how she got to the position she’s at.

But what is particularly interesting though, is that this season she seems to have paired this work habit with a new attitude. She isn’t working hard or sticking to her morals because she has something to prove. She’s doing it because that’s who she is. Peggy is secure in a way we’ve never seen her before. Confident in her own skill and willing to speak as an individual and not as a woman who can ‘do anything the boys can do.’

It’s this along with her security in being the breadwinner in her relationship that shows just how ok she is with her life and her choices. Maybe they’re not traditional, maybe she’s going to have to make some sacrifices she never expected, but that’s ok. Because she’s making a life for herself. Organizing and prioritizing as she sees fit and not letting some outdated social structure do it for her.

Joan

In season 1 Joan was little more than the feisty redhead of the office. Meant to do her job, do it quietly, and look good while doing it. But things have taken quite a change over the years for Joan. Business partner to a thriving and powerful ad agency; while living as a single mother in the heart of New York City. After paying her dues countless times over – she has somehow managed to walk the impossible line, with impossible standards, and remain relatively sane through the process.

Joan has always been a powerhouse of skill and tenacity. But this season we’ve finally begun to see her direct that spark against the outrageousness of her co-workers. We’d like to say peers of course, but Joan is very aware of the fact that no matter how many pieces of the company she owns, she’ll never be looked at as an equal to Don Draper. The hoops she’s jumped through, for herself and for the company are looked down on. And despite how much the men of the office truly care for her, they unintentionally dismiss and devalue her contributions by thinking she is someone they need to protect and guard. But despite how she’s seen within the office, Joan has begun to assert herself in a way we haven’t really seen from her.

This year she’s ditched her scumbag of a husband, started her first deal with a client, and even had a war of words with Don himself. Will it change the way the system operates? Will it make a huge difference on a grand scale? No, it probably won’t; but the temperament is changing and Joan is a part of the movement whether she realizes it or not.

Trudy

Although she’s a relatively minor character in the show, Trudy has managed to come across as a force this season. Her character has had a slow but steady transition throughout the seasons. What started out as a mousy and compromising wife has turned into a lady who’s willing to stand up and demand what she wants. The most notable of these moments is when she finally confronted Peter about his serial cheating campaign.

This may be one of the best scenes this season. We’re not saying that Trudy is throwing off every social constraint held on her. But she is pushing back. She’s playing by her rules now and Peter has lost his right to an opinion. Female empowerment isn’t about walking over men – it’s about being free enough to speak up and make the choice YOU want to make. Trudy is a prime example of that. She doesn’t want to sacrifice anything else for her relationship. And she’s refusing to have the rest of the world look down on her for her husband’s mistakes. So, good for you Trudy. You navigate the waters however you see fit. The women (and men too) of the future are supporting you.

Megan

The youngest of our five ladies – you might think that Megan has had an easier time liberating herself from the constrictive social pressures placed on women in the 60s. But the truth is Megan is just as tired of her culture as anyone else. Her husband is from a completely different generation, her mother is tied to the same presence of mind, and her Catholic roots have instilled similar obligations, pressures, and restraints.

But instead of simply using all of that as a guide for her own life, Megan has managed to fold her own ambitions and desires in as well. Instead of listening to the world – she married Don Draper, became a step mom, quit a stable job to pursue something that fulfilled her. Megan is shockingly close to the picture of a modern woman today. She’s trying to balance a career, the role of wife and mother, while still being an individual as well. The same pressures apply today. Do it all, be it all, don’t mess up because you asked for the choice… Megan is young, and she still has a way to go. She’s learning to navigate through life in the same way many women today are.

But what’s beautiful about this character is that she already demands to be heard. It’s a part of who she is and isn’t something she had to learn. Though, her evolution will most likely continue when she learns the truth about her husband’s affair and how she decides to deal with it. It’s unlikely she’ll betray herself to preserve some sort of outer facade. Because Megan knows you don’t have to settle for that kind of a life.

Betty

Oh Betty. The perfect housewife, mother, daughter… The stereotypical 1950s woman when the show began. But a lot has changed around Betty and she’s been forced to reshape and redefine her own identity because of it.

We’ve seen Betty’s relationship with Don fall apart at the seams. A life built on mutual lies and deception will do that. But now that she’s married to Henry, someone stable, honest, and true – it seems as though he’s given her permission to love herself. The security net of this relationship has turned Betty into someone more confident and authentic. She seems a little less afraid of criticism or embarrassment. And her outlook, although still harsh and unyielding is somewhat more flexible.

There is no doubt that Betty loves her husband and is completely dedicated to him. But instead of punishing herself for sleeping with Don this year, she embraced the moment. It wasn’t about revenge, anger, power… It was about enjoying herself. Reconnecting for a moment to someone she spent the first part other life with. Betty wasn’t tying herself to any rules or obligations like she so frequently does. She simply allowed a moment to happen, and then allowed that moment to pass. It takes a certain level of maturity and acceptance to unburden yourself from ‘improper’ decisions. Something Betty’s rarely been able to do. But this year, she seems truly at peace with her decisions. And that quite literally is a liberating occurrence for Betty.

Wrap up

What is important to remember is that each of these ladies is making extremely personal decisions. Not for some movement or because some flyer or news article told them to. They’re changing and evolving because of an innate personal desire. The mindset of sacrifice for exterior appearance is changing. One moment, one decision, one individual at a time – and that’s a pretty fascinating and enjoyable thing to watch.

Mad Men season 6, episode 12 “The Quality of Mercy” airs tonight on AMC.