IJAs

Iron Jawed Angels just may be the best movie that I’ve ever seen. Both the story and the movie transcend time. It tells the story of these courageous women who fight for what they believe in; it’s one of those projects where the focus isn’t just on the time period, but rather the conviction of heart that is conveyed. The movie was made to be able to connect with generations of women, proven in its shooting style, modern soundtrack, and frank depictions of suffragists as humans rather than the worn stereotypes that are immediately thought of today. The movie remembers the viewers, especially women, of just how important it is to vote and have their opinions heard; it’s important to use the rights that were granted to us not even one hundred years ago. The only critique that I have with the movie is rather more of a question: Is it really possible that suffragists, or even modern day feminists, can have both the roles of wife/mother and that of working woman? Like it was said in the movie, “The new suffragist is single, young, independent, educated, and very beautiful” and “My whole heart’s in this fight; there’s nothing to spare-not if I mean to win.” I understand that it was a different time period in the movie, and that different customs were upheld, but the same idea still applies. If someone is whole heartedly committed to the movement, how can there be enough room for anything else?