Dealt with MANY, MANY Joans in my career. Tread carefully

Definitely true about Joan vs. Peggy. I believe that is a big part of the reason women didn't succeed (as far/as fast) then - as well as now - because other women didn't suport them. Men may be secretly jealous of one another but manage to seem supportive; women to this day (and maybe henceforth!) are competitive with one another.

Yes, Joan is putting up a front that she is respecting Peggy, and then sticks that monstrosity of a copier in her office! She is still the HBIC (and I love her!)

I wonder what Joan's take is on Peggy's extended absence? My guess is she knows exactly what happened, and is saving that for when she needs something from Peggy. I wish they would team up on the guys, that would be sweet.

I'm sorry if I sound repetative, but I've posted in other threads that I was surprised by Peggy's attitude, especially the way she addressed Lois when she was looking for Don. Then I remembered how nasty she was to the actress who was trying to do the radio commercial for the "weight loss device". And of course she was really snotty to the guy she went out on a date with. I used to like Peggy's character but not so much anymore. She reminds me of girls I went to high school with who looked down their noses at people. That is the way Peggy is now.

Joan is Joan. I don't know why, but I like her. Maybe it's because we're both redheads and we are built the same (but I'm not that tall). I relate to her I guess to a certain extent. She is firm with the other secretaries but she is still vulnerable. She doesn't seem to let other women get to know her but men she seems to be more open with.

I was glad she put the copier in Peggy's office. She had it coming. Maybe that is what Joan's intent was, defending Lois but without actually seeming to defend her? She's a complex character, our Joan.

I really like your observations, lfwh. I love Joan, but I want to smack her at the same time. I could see that our Peggy was going to become much more assertive in Season 2. Honestly, when she called Lois out on her little comment, I thought she showed great loyalty to Don. She is truly his protege. And what she said--it sounded like something he would say. Does anyone else think Lois was a bit too sensitive about the whole thing? She told Joan that Peggy "yelled" at her, and I thought Peggy was pretty discreet. I'd think after 14 months at Sterling Cooper, Lois would've grown a thicker skin by now. Btw, does anyone else think Lois looks a little heavier than last season? All of her outfits in this episode were really dumpy, and she just sparkled last season. Could Lois be expecting?

I met ALOT of Joans in my work life, and some were my bosses, too. They could be frighteningly vindictive and destructive towards other women.

I certainly rarely, I mean RARELY, saw them exercise the option of objectivity vs an opportunity to screw (I mean figuratively, not sexually) another woman in the workplace.

If they could show their power, wow, they never hesitated. Never a light touch about it either. Always the sledgehammer approach. Oy!

I met ALOT of Joans in my work life, and some were my bosses, too. They could be frighteningly vindictive and destructive towards other women.

I certainly rarely, I mean RARELY, saw them exercise the option of objectivity vs an opportunity to screw (I mean figuratively, not sexually) another woman over in the workplace.

If they could show their power, wow, they never hesitated. Never a light touch about it either. Always the sledgehammer approach. Oy!

I agree....there is a Joan in every office but there is a Peggy too. I would much rather interact with the Joans out there. While I admire the Peggies of the world I worked with one like her in a law firm in the '70's that sooo got on everyone's nerves. While I was efficient and looking for better opportunities all the time, I still learned how to have some fun with my office peers. We even had a night of drinking and trashing the offices somewhat like the show depicted, except there weren't any men other than the ones two of the group brought along after hours. We caught hell the next day but thankfully the senior partner's daughter had been with us so our butts were saved. We even had our own mechanic "Marlboro" man that we would watch out our 6th story window every day at lunchtime but that's another commercial.
Those were good days. Nowadays you would probably be fired on the spot. Anyway, love this show...just hope they don't leap into the '70's and '80's...that will be their death. I would have liked more of the fifties.

I agree with so many of the comments - women competing with other women, not forming an "old girls network" and backing each other up. It exists even today. Peggy knows the way to the top is not by getting the underlings to like her - underlings = women. Underlings don't matter and can be replaced if they fail to perform. The one exception is Joan, who is skilled at manipulating at least some of the male higher-ups (though Bert Cooper and Don don't seem to worship her sex appeal, still, they don't care how she treats the female support staff, as long as the work gets done).
Joan is not a friend of other women. Then again, neither is Peggy - the way she treated Lois was uncalled for - she should just clued in Lois about showing loyalty and discretion by merely saying "He's out".

I'm a "Peggy" after 5 months of being belittled by my own personal "Joan" I finally learned to play her sensitive side. I see Peggy heading in that direction with Joan- You have to manipulate the manipulator. Peggy is just digging her heels in as a copywriter. I wish I was one, too talented without the rest.