Feminism, Part 1: 1979

Why do feminists get such a bum rap? I’ve found myself getting embroiled lately in lots of heated exchanges with conservative commenters on other blogs about politics, especially about the nomination of Sarah Palin as McCain’s VP. One post written this morning by a blogger I read regularly included excerpts from an open letter that playwright Eve Ensler wrote about Sarah Palin. Here are some of the comments that post received:

“I seriously don’t get all this Feminangst. Penis envy?”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh. What I always hated about feminism.”

“Feminists are going insane because they're afraid the first woman vice president will be a Republican. They are going nuts, saying anything and everything, trying to prevent that. They are not thinking straight, and their hysterics should be ignored."

“Ensler: ‘Everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism.’ Could this statement be more wrong? Everything? Seriously? I wish unhinged liberals would check with me before hitting the send button after they've written their screeds. Seriously, if you want to make it easy for Sean Hannity to portray liberals as out of touch elitists, keep it up."

At least no one used the hideous term “feminazi.” To be honest, while I agree with the concerns underlying Ensler’s letter, I do find myself cringing at her shrill, Chicken Little-like tone. I think McCain and Palin are the wrong choice for this country, but if they do win, I don’t think we’ll wake up the next morning and find ourselves living inside of a Margaret Atwood novel. I understand the passion of people like Ensler but wonder if their screeching hyperbole hurts their own argument and makes them appear like the cartoon stereotypes conservatives have of liberals.

Still, I’m shocked by the anti-feminist propaganda that seems so prevalent right now in the wake of Hillary’s defeat and Palin’s ascendance. In a recent post on that same blog about Palin and abortion, one commenter described a “typical feminist” as someone who is cavalier about having multiple abortions and uses the procedure as birth control, never giving it a second thought. Absurd. I don’t believe there is a feminist alive with this attitude and yet somehow this stereotype persists among people who seem threatened by feminism, many of them women. But why are they so threatened?

fem·i·nism. noun
1. the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.
2. organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.

This week, Kendall, Leah, and I saw two different versions of that entertaining feminist fantasy: “9 to 5.” On Monday, the American Cinematheque screened the original movie version starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton as beleaguered secretaries getting revenge on the world’s most vile sexist pig played by Dabney Coleman. I don’t think I’ve seen the film since it came out in 1980 (it was, surprisingly, the second biggest grossing film of that year, just behind “The Empire Strikes Back”). I expected it to be fun but dated to the point where it might be hard to sit through. I couldn't have been more wrong, we loved every second of it, as did everyone in the packed theatre. 

Lily Tomlin was poignant and funny as tough but lovable Violet Newstead, Jane Fonda was uncharacteristically frumpy and awkward as newly divorced Judy Bernly, and Dolly Parton was perfect as country girl Doralee Rhodes. Screenwriter Patricia Resnick spoke after the film and reminded us that it was Dolly’s first movie. Not knowing how these things worked, she arrived on set for the first day of shooting having memorized not only her part, but the entire script. Unlike some of the more hammer-over-the-head feminist films of the day (“An Unmarried Woman” comes to mind), the message of “9 to 5” comes through loud and clear with great humor and no preaching. Here’s a short look at the fun:

We wanted Leah to see the film because on Thursday we went to one of the first performances of the musical version of “9 to 5,” now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre and headed for Broadway next spring. The play was also written by Patricia Resnick with a slew of new songs by Dolly Parton. Turning non-musical films into Broadway musicals is a common trend these days but it’s very hit or miss. As much as I loved the film, I didn’t think the plot would necessarily translate to the stage and I wondered if Dolly would be able to pull off an effective Broadway score. Again, we LOVED it!

Taking on the iconic roles of Violet, Judy, and Doralee are Allison Janney, Stephanie Block, and Megan Hilty. All were superb, making the roles completely their own while still giving plenty of winks to the beloved movie characters. I’ve probably seen a hundred plays with Kendall over the years and this is the first play I can remember where we didn’t try to rewrite the whole first act during intermission. (By the end, we had a few suggestions but we still thought it was a near-perfect transfer to the stage!) Is there anything Dolly Parton can’t do? Patricia Resnick told us that Parton was the easiest, nicest person she’s ever worked with, and the most prolific. The set of “9 to 5” deserves special mention with its incredible use of a giant video screen backdrop and the constantly changing scenery that simultaneously descends from above and rises from a huge hole on the stage that the actors must walk onto only seconds after the floor returns. It’s taken a while to work out the kinks of this dazzling set—previews were delayed a week after Marc Kudisch (playing the Dabney Coleman part) fell into the gaping pit before the floor reappeared.

When the movie version of “9 to 5” came out, the phrase “sexual harassment” had not yet entered the American lexicon. That was just “the way it was,” there was no special term for the ghastly way many bosses treated their female employees. I entered the workforce at exactly the same time as Judy Bernly. My first job was as a copy clerk at the Chicago Tribune. I can’t say I remember witnessing any blatant examples of sexism at the Tribune, but it was definitely an Old Boys Network. In my lowly role as copy clerk, I was parallel to a Judy Bernly or Doralee Rhodes, and even though I wasn’t being ogled, some people there treated us horribly. I remember the reporter who used to throw change at me and order me to go downstairs to buy him a donut, never looking up or saying thank you when I returned. Part of my job was pulling copy off the constantly spewing UPI and AP machines and there was a movie reviewer who used to put his feet up on the machines as he gazed at the incoming news stories, preventing me from pulling the copy. He never spoke to me directly. (I’m sure he would have if I’d been a woman so I should count my blessings!)

The following year I started my career in publishing with a job as Writer/Producer at SVE in Chicago, a producer of educational filmstrips, videos, and computer software. My boss was a fantastic woman named Sue Mahoney who became a true mentor for me and all of the writers under her wing. The above photo was taken in 1981 in Sue’s cramped office. That’s Sue on the phone feigning horror at some schedule that Maria Sosa (now a big honcho in Washington at the American Association for the Advancement of Science) is showing her. There’s David Bauman to the right of Sue, Rian Murphy and Susan Weiss to her left, all still talented writers spread out across the country. I’m on the left (was I ever that skinny?) standing over a blurry Sandra Jackson-Opoku, award-winning author of “The River Where Blood Is Born” and other books.

Sue Mahoney was a dream boss. Tough but kind, wildly supportive, always encouraging us to try new things and to stretch ourselves. I left SVE in 1986 when I moved to Los Angeles, but we never lost touch. She died a few years ago, full of life to the end, and always inspiring those around her. When I think back, almost all of my bosses have been strong women. And strong feminists. Sue Mahoney was a devout Catholic. I have no idea what her stance was on abortion or other hot-button topics but I know that she fought long and hard to rise to her position at various companies. I know that she endured a lot of the bullshit that Violet, Judy, and Doralee experienced and then made it her life mission to protect her own employees from such treatment.

It is because of Sue Mahoney and the other strong women I have known that I will never view “feminist” as a dirty word or let the right co-opt it as they have tried to do with the word “liberal.” I shudder to think what this world would be like today without all of the women who fought so hard for feminist causes.  

Comments

[Jane]

Only you can mix theater and politics like you do and have it come out making perfect sense!

Danny, this past year in politics has been one that I've felt deeply and painfully. I'm an emotional being, no doubt about it, but I felt pained intellectually as well. Over the course of Bush's reign, I have felt angry, frustrated, powerless, disgusted, and more. When the tide began to turn, there was a feeling of affirmation and solidarity, but wow -- there was so much hostility expressed in the Dem. primaries that I had to step back.

Had to -- as in I found it terribly painful to see Dems. rip each others choice apart as if real human beings were not involved. There was a Bush-like chill and a Rove-like assault being launched in the enthusiasm for change, and it stunted (for me) the brief feeling of unity.

Now that we're here, with our four candidates, my disgust is only growing. (Did you see Jon Stewart's piece on Palin and her mouthpieces?). I am stunned in the worst way that Palin has been so green-lighted and excused -- esp. by women. The facts, which are plentiful and horrific, don't seem to matter as much as much as the PR, and I am absolutely frightened by the prospect of a McCain/Palin win.

I'm frightened MORE, though, by the continuing blindness quarter-thought reasons, religious fervor, and single-issue obsessions that continue to dominate the American political process. Are we becoming dumber as a nation? Are we that susceptible to marketing? Has opinion overtaken objectivity in the news? Are political talking heads and their opinions what Americans are relying on to make their voting choices?

I'm just scared.

[Jeff]

I'm not surprised to see the increasingly aggressive coverage on Palin but I don't think that has anything to do with her gender -- at least not in the major news outlets. After all when the media smells blood in the water it becomes a feeding frenzy (e.g., Britney Spears, OJ Simpson and Bill Clinton to name a few).

In my opinion the Republican talking points this time around just stretched to truth a bit too far and the press just didn't want to be party to supporting that so they're making a story out of it. My bet is in a couple of weeks no one will be talking about Palin, just like they're not talking about Biden.

[Sandra Jackson-Opoku]

Hi, Danny -- It's the "blurry" Sandra Jackson-Opoku! I have my name set on Google Alerts and your blog came through my email today. It's great to catch up with what you and everyone else is doing these days, though I was saddened to hear about Sue Mahoney's death. I last saw her maybe 7-8 years ago and promised I'd keep in touch, and somehow time slipped away. What a shame. Sue was quite a gal.

[Ian]

My biggest reaction to the choice of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate has to do with Hillary. While the Republicans seem to tout Palin as a smasher of “the glass ceiling,” it seems like a slap-in-the-face to women like Hillary and Barbara Boxer who have been marching around the halls of old boy power and really changing things. Putting Sarah Palin up there like some Rebublican version of Eleanor Roosevelt seems disingenuous at best and downright vile at worst. Plus there’s just something Stepford Wifeian about it. Phew...I could go on but will spare you.

I love 9 to 5. It was a remarkable movie to see when I was thirteen and ERA was strong in the news. And it was SO funny. You’re right, Dabney Coleman plays the best sexist boss from hell in film history.

[churlita]

I was always told that feminism was about women having choices to be whoever they wanted. How can that be bad? I consider myself a feminist.

I would love to see a president and running mate who were both intelligent and qualified. It would also be great if they knew about the policies and doctrines of the president they supposedly support.

[Maria Sosa]

I too had the privilege of sharing Sue Mahoney as a boss and a friend. What a great, great woman she was. And Danny it is ironic that I would be the one in the photo handing Sue a schedule that would terrify her. Perhaps it was blank, as that would be more my style.

Don't get me started on feminism. I guess I'm just an old curmudgeon now because I still consider myself a proud and defiant feminist and liberal.

And finally, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, (I'm typing your whole name so that you can find this post too) how the heck are you? It's been years. Still love you and miss you.

[Hillary]

I have to admit that while I ususally thoroughly read and savor your particularly poignant and well-crafted posts, the issue of "feminism" and the ugly, unfair connotations the word conjures up for so many sent me straight to the Comments section. I recently posted a link to a rousing, concise op-ed piece by Gloria Steinem to my Facebook profile, simply because I love her style of writing so, and I felt it would be an easily-digestible and thought-provoking piece, even for those of my friends not inclined to follow politics (it essentially evaluated McCain's motives in his VP choice, but did not attack Palin herself). It was not a 'Chicken Little' diatribe like Ensler's, not a rant, nothing to ruffle any major feathers. Imagine my complete awe (and minor offense), then, when a good friend forwarded it to her contacts with the sweet preface, "I'm not a feminist, but..." My ire was nearly impossible to suppress. Not a feminist!? Not of the desire to place value on yourself and your rights?! I was, and am, at a loss for words, only because so many arguments rush forward at once, a cogent rebuttal is unlikely. I guess I'm aghast that so few women, or men, for that matter, my contemporaries, see pro-feminist attitude as an empowering life view rather than an angry, vindictive, militant lifestyle, replete with moral laxity and endless bra-burning and protesting. (I've been told that's the bulk of what feminists do...I must've not gotten the handbook.)

As a young woman who strove - who still strives - to understand feminism, its history, and its implications in my life exclusive of a formal school setting, I am indebted to the discoveries I've made, particularly in the words and works of great women who came before me, just as I am stringent in my assertion, my belief, that everyone would benefit if this simple life view were adopted by many, if it was taken to heart. To me, it boils down to equality, dignity, according each sex an equal measure of respect, consideration, and allowance, which is perhaps an embellished version of the dictionary description Danny so eloquently offered above.

That a self-professed pro-feminist like myself (arguably too young to have made significant contributions to the Second Wave of Feminism, but one who reveres and upholds the concept, who relished 'The Feminine Mystique', and who was liberated by reruns of 'That Girl') would automatically be considered "someone who is cavalier about having multiple abortions and uses the procedure as birth control, never giving it a second thought" - this calculation is beyond my comprehension; this is so base and unfounded a stereotype that my heart breaks a little to read it.

I guess what my blog-rant essentially means to say is: Thank you, Danny Miller, for a thought-provoking post on an issue dear to my heart, as so many of your contributions are. I relish reading your take on things and am grateful for your online presence.