Movie Review: Iron Jawed Angels

Posted by Rachel on: 09.14.2007 /

“The ruling class are those who have a voice. And that voice is a vote.”

- Alice Paul

For our September meeting, our movie group watched the 2004 film Iron Jawed Angels. This film focuses on the efforts of women’s suffrage leaders Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, brilliantly played by Hilary Swank and Frances O’Connor. The film is set in the final years of the struggle before the passage of the 19th Amendment. By 1912, the veteran leaders of the women’s suffrage movement in the US had decided that a federal amendment granting the vote to women was unattainable and had resigned themselves to battling to gain the vote state by state.

Then Alice Paul and Lucy Burns burst onto the scene. Passionately committed to the idea of a constitutional amendment, they brought with them the radical tactics they had learned while campaigning for the women’s vote in England. They used parades, mass demonstrations, picketing, civil disobedience and hunger strikes to attract attention to the disenfranchisement of women. Many of the women’s suffrage leaders suffered a great personal toll before finally achieving their goal in 1920.

We gave this movie high marks. As Staci said, “All American women should be required to see this movie before their 18th birthday.” Aubrie noted that she had learned about the suffrage movement in school but it was “just names and dates.” She felt that actually seeing the movement brought to life had “a huge impact.” Before seeing this film, I knew that our foremothers had worked long and hard to earn the right to vote. But I didn’t understand how much women like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns had actually endured. I will never cast another ballot without thinking of them and being grateful for their determination and their sacrifice.

7 Responses to "Movie Review: Iron Jawed Angels"

Comment by: » Movie Review: Iron Jawed Angels
1 09/14/07 10:18 AM | Comment Link |
[...] Original post by Rachel [...]
Comment by: April Terry
2 09/14/07 2:04 PM | Comment Link |
I had the opportunity in my early twenties of seeing a one woman play about the suffrage movement, which included wonderful quotes from the greats.

I remember being moved to tears when Sojourner Truth said,

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?”

I would like to see the movie one of these days, and I agree that every woman understand what these great women did for us.
Comment by: Staci
3 09/14/07 6:09 PM | Comment Link |
In addition to all the wonderful things Rachel pointed out, I wanted to remind everyone that the suffrage movement used non-violent methodologies in order to affect political will. They held fast to their goal and methodologies even when they were called unpatriotic for criticizing the president during a time of war and despite horrendous mistreatment. This is, in fact, what eventually won enough people over to pass the 19th Amendment. People were persuaded - their hearts and minds changed - rather than forced to change. IMO true power can’t be taken by force.
Comment by: Our Feminist Foremothers on Abortion « Rachel Stanton
4 09/15/07 9:48 AM | Comment Link |
[...] “Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.” - Alice Paul [...]
Comment by: Rachel
5 09/17/07 8:01 PM | Comment Link |
People were persuaded - their hearts and minds changed - rather than forced to change. IMO true power can�t be taken by force.

Well said, Staci!
Comment by: alex
6 04/24/08 10:52 AM | Comment Link |
this is so interesting
Comment by: benjamin ady
7 04/24/08 5:15 PM | Comment Link |
Hey Alex

Welcome to Jacques. Glad you liked it =)