I have this debate with a woman in my family who is the age of my mother, and it sprang to mind when reading your post and then going to check out the article you critique. My relative was raised on Mary Tyler Moore (whom she loves and emulates.) I think MTM's show did a lot for women in that it introduced, gently, issues that (generally white) women experienced at that time and that flew under the radar of a lot of media. From the pill to unequal pay to discrimination of various kinds to life expectations, Mary Tyler Moore brought up a lot that we needed to think about in a media package that felt light enough to incite discussion without being accusatory - it was a useful/good show, very popular for that among, I'm sure, many other reasons. That said, I think MTM also set up a lot of women (this relative among them) for resentful disappointment. Mary Richards is self-sacrificing, self-effacing, and always polite, and the men in her life on the show (Mr. Grant, Murray, even Ted) are receptive to her kindness and protective of her as a result. They shield her from a lot of advantageous exploitation and offer a lot of emotional support. Compare that to a Liz Lemon in 30 Rock (my generation) who, while being VERY flawed, did not expect this protection and made certain she got what she wanted even if it meant she misbehaved or failed to live up to her ostensible values. Because truthfully, the world is not set up to care for Mary Richards in the way The Mary Tyler Moor show demonstrated - that's very aspirational, and I think my older female relative is highly resentful of the general world and in particular other women for failing to 'be' like Mary Richards and/or respond as Mr. Grant did to Mary. I think we forget how powerful media is in shaping our expectations (representation matters, right?) and our underlying software/emotional reaction to situations that don't go as expected. What my relative and I can agree on is that Rhoda (Mary's friend on the show) and Phyllis (another friend) and Sue Anne (not a friend, not quite an enemy) have a more clear viewed understanding of how the external world treats (intentionally or indifferently - and I think a lot of it is pure indifference/autopilot) self-sacrificing women. It takes advantage of them and then is surprised that this engenders resentment or frustration. As a therapist said once to a friend of mine, 'if you did it with out clarifying obligation, you did it for free.' I don't necessarily agree with that statement in all contexts, but I think sometimes the disconnect in expectations and understanding (for men, women, etc.) comes from this gap in understanding. For fun, some links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l10Xx4f4e1A, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_auii3BVwKA&t=3s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj8yxkE7Btc