75 pages • 2 hours read
Stephanie DrayBecoming Madam Secretary
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Resistance in the Face of Sexist Discrimination
The novel Becoming Madam Secretary explores the challenges faced by women in government through the life and career of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a US presidential cabinet. Throughout the narrative, Frances encounters numerous obstacles that highlight the difficulties that women faced in the political sphere during the early 20th century, but she refuses to let these obstacles stop her from achieving her goals.
From the outset of her career, Frances faces skepticism and dismissal due to her gender. When she moves to Hell's Kitchen in 1909 to work at the Hartley House, her supervisor, Miss Mathews, questions why a woman would want to study economics, reflecting the prevalent belief that certain fields were unsuitable for women. This attitude persists as Frances advances in her career, with her ambitions often met with surprise or resistance. As Frances becomes more involved in politics and labor reform, she continues to encounter further systemic barriers. Her efforts to lobby for labor reforms, including limiting working hours for women, are initially opposed by male politicians, including Franklin D. Roosevelt. When she is appointed to government positions, such as the Industrial Commission of New York, she must navigate a predominantly male environment, often facing additional scrutiny due to her gender.
Upon becoming Secretary of Labor, Frances is subjected to personal attacks and criticisms that often focus on her gender rather than her policies. During press conferences, reporters frequently ask about her clothing and social life instead of her work, demonstrating the difficulty that women faced in being taken seriously in high-level government positions. Frances also grapples with balancing her demanding career and her family responsibilities, a challenge that was particularly acute for women in her era. She must manage her duties as Secretary of Labor while caring for her daughter and dealing with her husband’s mental illness, illustrating the additional pressures often placed on women in high-profile positions.
Despite these obstacles, Frances perseveres, ultimately playing a crucial role in shaping New Deal policies and passing landmark legislation like the Social Security Act. Her journey demonstrates both the significant barriers that women faced in government during this period and the potential for women to overcome these challenges and make lasting contributions to American politics and society. The novel thus provides insight into the historical struggles of women in government while also highlighting the progress made through the determination and capability of pioneers like Frances.
The Role of Determination in Accomplishing Reform
Becoming Madam Secretary illustrates the potential for significant reform through the pivotal role that Frances played in shaping American labor policy during the early 20th century. The narrative demonstrates how determined individuals, working within the political system, can effect substantial change despite formidable obstacles.
Frances begins her career as a young social worker and rises to become Secretary of Labor, a personal career journey that mirrors the gradual process of social and political reform. Early in her career, she witnesses the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and this disaster becomes a catalyst for her commitment to workers’ rights and safety regulations. This event underscores how specific incidents can spark broader reform movements. Spurred on by the memory of the women who died that day, Frances persistently pushes for labor reforms, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable opposition. Her efforts to limit working hours for women, improve workplace safety, and advocate for child labor laws demonstrate the incremental nature of reform. Despite setbacks and resistance from various quarters, including business interests and conservative politicians, Frances’s continued advocacy gradually shifts the political landscape.
Later in the narrative, the novel portrays the New Deal era as a period of unprecedented possibility for reform. Frances’s appointment as Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt opens up new avenues for implementing progressive policies on a national scale. Her work on programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps and, most significantly, the Social Security Act illustrates how moments of crisis, such as the Great Depression, can create opportunities for sweeping reforms. The passage of the Social Security Act, Frances’s largest long-term goal, serves as a prime example of the potential for major reform. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including opposition from Congress and concerns about its constitutionality, Frances and her allies successfully navigate the political process to enact this landmark legislation. This achievement demonstrates how persistence, strategic political maneuvering, and public support can come together to bring about substantial policy changes.
Frances’s career, as depicted in the novel, shows that significant reform is possible through a combination of individual determination, favorable political circumstances, and sustained effort over time. Her success in implementing lasting changes to American labor policy and social welfare programs illustrates that while the path to reform may be challenging, it is achievable. The novel thus offers a hopeful perspective on the potential for dedicated individuals to shape public policy and create enduring positive changes in society.
The Tension Between Idealism and Pragmatism in Government
The novel illustrates the tension between idealism and pragmatism in government through Frances’s journey from a passionate social reformer to a seasoned cabinet member. This tension is woven throughout the narrative, highlighting the challenges of maintaining one’s principles while navigating the complex realities of governance.
Frances begins her career with a strong idealistic drive, evident in her early work at the Hartley House and her insistence that poverty in America is an economic problem rather than a problem of personal morality, as was widely believed at the time. Her reaction to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire further cements her idealistic commitment to workers’ rights and safety regulations, shaping her vision for reform and driving her entry into politics. As Frances becomes more involved in government, she encounters the necessity for pragmatic approaches. Her work with Al Smith and later with Franklin D. Roosevelt exposes her to the intricacies of political maneuvering. The novel depicts instances where Frances must compromise or adjust her ideals to achieve progress, such as when she accepts the exclusion of canneries from her labor bill to ensure its passage.
The tension between idealism and pragmatism is particularly evident during Frances’s tenure as Secretary of Labor. Her pursuit of Social Security legislation exemplifies this struggle. While she holds firm to her vision of comprehensive social insurance, she must navigate opposition from Congress, business interests, and even some figures within the administration. The process of drafting and passing the Social Security Act involves numerous compromises and strategic decisions, forcing Frances to balance her idealistic goals with pragmatic realities. At times, Frances’s idealism wins out over pragmatic concerns: Her efforts to assist refugees from Nazi Germany, despite opposition from the State Department, demonstrate her willingness to push against institutional resistance to uphold her principles. Conversely, her involvement in implementing Hugh Johnson’s economic plan, despite her reservations, shows her recognition of the need for practical action in times of crisis.
Throughout her career, Frances grapples with the challenge of effecting change within a system that often resists radical reform. Her evolution from a young social worker who breaks rules to directly aid the poor to a cabinet member who skillfully navigates political channels to enact nationwide reforms illustrates the ongoing tension between idealism and pragmatism in governance.
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By Stephanie Dray
