Herstory Blog Assignment

Shanay Cogdell


WST 3015

1/30/10

Professor Nina Perez


Herstory Blog Assignment

In early 20th century England, it was a time of strife for women unable to vote in any elections. The women apart of the suffrage movement then became instrumental in winning voting rights for women everywhere. Several years later, the movement came to America but at first didn’t inspire women in America because the suffragists were too radical. The suffrage movement during this time period is represented by the “First Wave”. The first Wave of the women’s movement is characterized as the suffrage movement and occurred primarily during the 1800s and early 1900s. Originating the abolition movement to end slavery, women began working toward winning the right to vote (Fight Like a Girl, p 40). Early in the film Iron Jawed Angels, one of the many suffragists, Carrie Catt, was skeptical of the whole movement and the involvement of women coming to assist them from England due to their extreme tactics and remains passive throughout the whole movie. The main character Alice Paul of the National Women’s Party drafted an amendment to the U.S. constitution that was introduced to the senate in 1923 (Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives, p 11). Alice Paul is most active and is a suffrage in all aspects because she fights for women’s rights and is relentless by doing everything in the name women’s suffrage. In Ironed Jawed Angels, activism is represented by parades, protesting and lobbying. In the opening scene of Mary Poppins, Mrs. Banks plays a key role of a suffrage. She sings a song that describes the women’s movement and the rights of women and to the importance of solidarity among women that is essential to the success of the suffrage movement; elaborating on the place of men in suffrage. Her feminism is opposed by Mr. Banks views of the family as the king of his home and society. Mr. Banks’ home revolves around his authority, schedule and his overall happiness and represents all males in early 20th century England. He is also seen as a symbol for male domination and oppression as well as the entire economic system since he represents the financial district as the employee at a bank. Mary Poppins takes over as nanny as well as a catalyst for change in society’s conception of equality and the Banks’ conception of family.

Both films relate to “isms” in many ways because suffragists were the minority and not the majority and as a result, they were not seen as equals to men.



References

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl:How to be a Fearless Feminist. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. Print.