Every time I hear the word “suffragette,” I can’t help thinking of Mary Poppins, and Jane and Michael’s mother, Winifred, leading an impassioned chorus of women in “Sister Suffragette.”
It’s taken me many years to appreciate the inclusion of that important bit of history in the classic Disney movie, and it wasn’t until the 2008 Presidential election, when women were going to be so vital in deciding the leader of our country, that I started researching the real suffragettes and what it cost for women to finally get the vote.
The more I read about these heroines, the more I wanted to cry — not just because of the horrific sacrifices they made but because of the shocking number of women who disrespect them today by not taking advantage of their hard-earned right to vote.
So I was eager to see Suffragette, the new movie in which Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep star as unlikely activists fighting for women’s rights in Britain the early 20th century.
Frustrated and realizing that civil disobedience isn’t working, these passionate working women start smashing windows and blowing up mailboxes. They meet in secret and protest in public.
The sacrifices some of them make are tragic.
And that’s why, despite the fact that the movie is often a bit heavy-handed and is definitely grim, it’s a must-see for every woman in this country because it will remind you why it’s so important for you to vote. If it was important enough for these suffragettes to risk their lives and families for — and important enough for acting royalty Streep to step in for a cameo as militant rabble rouser Emmeline Pankhurst — it seems inexcusable not to just go fill out a ballot. Or, even easier, just mail it in.
Although, obviously, women did finally win the right to vote, the story, unfortunately, doesn’t end there. What may be most depressing about Suffragette is that we’re still fighting many of the same battles today: equal pay, sexual harassment, childcare, work conditions, the list goes on. And, let’s not forget that the ERA has still not passed — which is disgraceful in the year 2015.
So please grab your friends, your daughters, your nieces, your students and see Suffragette. Then head over to FightsNotOver.com to see how you can make a difference in the fight for equality.
And, if you do nothing else, please be sure to vote. You can register to vote here.
Note: If you live in San Diego and want to attend an advance screening of Suffragette on Tuesday, November 3, please click “like” on this post and leave a comment below, saying, “I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette.” Your tickets will be emailed to you.
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette
I would like to get passes to see Suffragette.
I live in San Diego and I would like tickets to see this movie. Thanks for the review.
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette. Thank you for the review as I’m more excited to see this movie because of it ?
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette
I don’t live in San Diego, but I’ll see this movie. It IS depressing that we haven’t come further, I agree. So sad that we can’t seem to make real strides, especially with pay gaps but also in attitudes, which still lag.
We need to make younger women understand that it’s up to them to continue the fight.
I live in San Diego and would like to see Suffregette. Thanks for the review
I was always planning on seeing this movie (more now because of your post) because of it’s importance in women’s history.
I remember that Katherine Hepburn’s mother and friends were very important as well in the suffragette movement. No surprise there, eh? There’s actually some early kinescope of young Kate holding a flag in a parade of suffragettes.
Sorry to digress but your review jarred my memory. Wonderful review of a movie all women need to see. If you fly me to San Diego I’d be glad to see it with you! 🙂
I love the idea of Katherine Hepburn and her mother out there protesting! When you move out here, we will see so many great movies!
Great review, Lois. I’ve raised venture capital and startup money for 30 years, and it’s not any easier today than the first time I did a raise. Less than 4% of women ventures find funding. This go-round has been particularly rude. Men have asked me if women of a certain age know how to use a computer. They’ve told me they want “sexy deals” and there’s nothing sexy about women over 45. A male investor, who was ready to write me a check, backed out when he discovered my age. He told me no one would fund a woman over 50! Grrrr….. Brenda
Unbelievable that so little has changed. Maybe if they keep making movies like this and another generation of women gets out and fights … Thanks for sharing your story. Sexy deals? Jeez!
Wow. I read the comment about women having trouble getting funding by overt ageism / sexism. So frustrating! I do NOT live in San Diego, but I look forward to seeing this film. I should take my 14 yo daughter with me.
I live in San Diego and want to see suffragette the mivie
I live in San Diego and I am very interested in seeing the movie Suffragette especially after reading your review. Thank you for the enlightenment on this topic which needs continued conversation.
“I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette.”
Too bad they’re not doing a screening closer. My wife would have loved to attend!
I can’t believe in 2015 we still have such a long way to go for equal rights. I appreciate the courageous women in the past and present who fight for us. I am definitely going to see this movie!
I will definitely try and see this movie – I often wonder what they would think if they saw how things were today after all they did. x
I live in San Diego and would like to see Suffragette.
My husband has a 103 year old aunt. It is sobering to realize that, when she was born, women did not have the right to vote in New York State. We have visited Seneca Falls, NY and the history of the Suffragettes is sobering. When women don’t vote ,it makes me want to cry. We must understand where we have been to know where we are going.
Another great movie and review. Indeed, the fight is not over and will not be over until every woman is safe in her own home, whether that home is here in the US or in the villages of Africa – or any other place on earth.
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette.
Perhaps this will become required watching for high school history classes. Thanks for the review. Can’t wait to see it.
I would love to see this movie. Thanks for the review. I think I should take my granddaughter to see it.
It is incredible what women during that time went through for what we now consider basic rights for all
That sounds like a powerful movie. Women sure did go through a lot!
The movie sounds very interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen any previews for it but I’d love to see it.
Great article Lois. I played a suffragette in a musical one time and researched the movement. It’s incredible what those women did and sacrificed.
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette!
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette!
I live in San Diego and want to see Suffragette