Maybe you grew up watching movies with female characters like Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, or Ariel. Maybe you’ve wondered why there are stereotypes about women being bad drivers or ignorant about sports. Maybe you want to know about feminism and the women’s movement. Women’s Studies: A Personal Journey Through Film can help you answer these questions. Though it focuses on the experience of women, it’s appropriate for anyone who wants to learn to critically examine films while learning about the history of the women’s movement and how gender, race, and social class influence us. Women have earned their right to stand up and be recognized as equal partners and reap the benefits of their hard work. As the anonymous quote goes, “History is Herstory too.”

Required Materials

You will be required to have access to the standard editions of the films used in this course:

 

• Mona Lisa Smile (2003)         • Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

• Far From Heaven (2002)        • A League of Their Own (1992)
• Mean Girls (2004)                    • The Help (2011)

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Disney Animation – 1937)

• Beauty and the Beast (Disney Animation – 1991)

If you do not already have access to these movies, you may consider other sources such as your local library.