Peter Suderman (Don Draper and the Women Who Love Him) and Whiskey (Mad Men, John Edwards, and the Hotel California) have different responses to Katie Baker's Why the Ladies Love Jon Hamm of 'Mad Men'.

I am more presuaded by Whiskey, who once again defends the late NBC show Life:

What this says, about the writer, is that women of her class, generation, and background have no clue about masculinity, strength, or what indeed makes a man. It's telling that while "Mad Men's" bad-boy in adult clothing, Don Draper, creates a huge fuss among the show's mostly female fans, and the female-dominated media, the example of male strength and compassion in last season's "Life" (with "Band of Brothers" star Damien Lewis) had almost no reaction in either the press or female fans of a similar age and background (late twenties, to mid thirties female professionals). This despite the character being written and acted as a "Man's Man" i.e. one with restraint, power, protectiveness, capable of being gentle and shockingly tough as the situation required, and with an air of mystery and semi-controlled anger underneath his seemingly good-willed charm. Moreover, a character that liked and respected his tough, independent female partner, found few takers among female fans and fewer champions in the feminized media. A failure that is both telling and depressing.

I don't know enough about Mad Men to say, but if it is the case that Don Draper is not entirely confident in himself and his ways, but has doubts and even suffers from a possible identity crisis, is this also part of the attraction to certain woman? A bad boy who may be ready to change, given the right sort of push by circumstances? (Or better yet, a woman who can tame him?)