American Woman is a TV series that takes place in the 1970s. The Paramount Network comedy-drama follows Bonnie Nolan, a mother raising two daughters in Los Angeles after leaving her husband, during a period of major social change for American women.
The series draws inspiration from the childhood of Kyle Richards, known for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Alicia Silverstone plays Bonnie, while Mena Suvari and Jennifer Bartels portray her close friends. Their lives reflect changing ideas about marriage, work, independence, and motherhood.
The decade is important to the show’s identity: second-wave feminism was reshaping public conversations, while popular culture was changing through music, fashion, television, and expanding opportunities for women. The setting is not the 2010s, when the series premiered, but the 1970s world depicted in its story.
A common mix-up comes from confusing the show’s 2018 release date with its period setting. Its title also references the 1970 song “American Woman,” reinforcing the era’s cultural backdrop.