Iron Jawed Angels Movie Analysis

A. SELECT AND DESCRIBE 5 CHARACTERS

1. Inez Milholland Boissevain Inez is a socialite, born from a wealthy family. She believes that women, deserved to be treated like how men are treated during their time. Her father, influenced her to be an activist and a fighter for women equality because her father also support the same cause. That could be liked to how much she believes that gender equality should be allowed. Mr. President, How long must women wait for liberty?" 2. Alice Paul She was a member of the womens political. She joined National womens Party to fight for womens rights. She was arrested several times. While she was imprisoned, she participated in hunger strike and she was being forced fed. For her, she chooses to forego a relationship with Weissman in order to devote herself completely to the suffrage cause. She Is motivated by the vision she has always have: freedom of women. Her mother was an outspoken person, and she became one as well. "When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down until you get to the end of the row. 3. Ben Weissman He works as an editorial cartoonist. He joins in on the fight for suffrage because he is interested to Alice Paul. His purpose in the movie to show the personal side of Alice Paul. He is an obstacle, a complication that she has to get over. Moreover, he has been driven by his attraction and curiosity to the suffragists cause. What will women do with their vote, reform politics? 4. Tom Leighton When Senator Tom Leighton found out that his wife donates in the National Womens Party, he cuts off the allowance of his wife because he is against suffrage for women. He was born and raised to a kind of world where men are superior that women. It has been that way since he was young and changing it is a big mistake for him. But when he saw his wife is in a withered state, his love for her cause him to have a change of heart. Senator Leighton: And how are you going to stop me? Can you afford an attorney? Emily Leighton: An attorney? To prove what? That I'm their mother? What will your judge say? That this is your house and your children? What am I to you, Tom, in your house? Chattel? This is how you punish me? I am their mother! They are not your children to take!

5. Emily Leighton She is Tom Leightons wife. Before she joined the suffragists, she was a very timid house wife. She most often do not voice out her opinions and whenever she has to make a decision, her husband has to have a say for it first. Analyzing this, he character portrays that women at that time in general. She is used to being a simple housewife, so she tried to stay one. But She then realized that amendments shall be made, for the future of her children and for the betterment of her country. Even if her husband objects for her increasing involvement with the National Womens Party, she sticks on her decision and she walks out on him. They are the only reason I am here. (Pertaining to her children)

B. 10 MATERIAL CULTURES
1. Red roses of the opposing senators o The red roses symbolizes a NO vote whereas the yellow symbolizes a YES. o The men who voted a no doesnt want change. They think that gender equality is an unimportant issue. This represents the thinking of most people during that time. 2. White horse of Inez Milholland Boissevain o It symbolizes freedom and bravery. Inez is a free woman. She knows what she wants and know what she has to do. She is a brave person, leading a march that many people opposes. Just like a stallion, she is courageous. 3. Coin of Lucy burns o In the start of the film, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns tossed a coin to decide who would get the Hat. It symbolizes the risks they have to take, in order to get what they want. They knew theyll be persecuted, but still, they stood to wh at they believed in. Just like in a toss coin, you take a chance, and see where itll get you. 4. Eye Glasses of Mabel Vernon o It symbolizes intelligence. Not only is it that women are very resilient, they are also intelligent. To relate it to Mabel Vernon, Mabel Vernon is a college degree holder and a teacher before she joined the suffrages. She is a very intelligent person. 5. Clothes of Rose Winslow o Rose Winslow is a poor foreign immigrant. She started working in a factory when she was 11 years of age. Her clothes, tattered and unclean at times, symbolizes the hardships women face. 6. Ben Weismanns Canvas

o His canvas, represents his ideas and creativity. Being the cartoonist of Washington post, he is a very talented person. He could express his feeling more when his hands work on a canvas. 7. Harry Burns yellow rose o If red is a no, then yellow is a yes. His yellow rose symbolizes the division of the male population that supports gender equality and hope. Harry Burns broke the tie during the voting, which gave the suffrages hope. 8. Feeding tube of Alice Paul o This symbolizes the desperation of the government to keep or stick to the societal norms. They do not want people to know what Alice has been doing: having a hunger strike. They knew that people will give her sympathy that later join her cause. The immoral way of force feeding her symbolizes the unruly government. 9. Graduates graduation gowns o This symbolizes the achievements and contributions that the female college graduates give to their country. They are as smart and as useful as the male population, and wearing them in the parade is one way of them saying that were all college degree holders, why not let us vote? 10. The Suffragist o This is their official publication which symbolizes their cry for freedom. Women who are concerned of their future, write and express what they had to say in order for people to be aware of the current situation.

C. CULTURES
Dominant Cultures 1. Gender Culture manifested by the fine division of male and female privileges in the society. 2. Political Culture manifested by the legislators and senators; they set the standards on how politicians should govern, how they should address the issue. They manifested it by voting. 3. Legal Culture manifested by the government as a whole, mostly the president. The president used his power to prosecute the suffrages and have them arrested on an account of crimes that they did not commit.

Subcultures 1. Posh Culture Manifested by the social gathering the people attend to. They wear their most elegant clothing and they possess an elegant flair.

2. American Political Culture As manifested by the leaders of the United States of America. It took them a long time to accept the petition of women for freedom, unlike the German Political Culture that lets females vote during that time. 3. Jazz culture Manifested by the frequent meetings of Weissman and Paul in a Jazz Bar. They enjoy jazz music more than any other genre. Countercultures 1. Feminist Culture - manifested by the suffrages; they fight for their rights as a citizen and as a human being who is indeed equal to the male population. 2. Anarchist Culture manifested by the feelings of the suffrages, especially when they were imprisoned. They fought for their freedom because they knew that they were right. 3. Oppressive Culture manifested by the majority of the people throughout the film. They do not want to change what they already have, and they are ready to hurt people for it.

D. UTILIZING CONFLICT THEORY

The dynamics that causes and change and development in the film are when the women fight for their rights to vote. The women want a change in the society because they believe to their abilities that they can also be part of the government. They believe that they can also do what other men can do and they can suggest some ideas that will improve the society. They are promoting these changes because they want to fight for what are they rights. Those men that have a position in government rejects the change because they do not trust the abilities if women, their pride and they are not accepting for having an equal rights in elections.

E. POST MODERN PERSPECTIVE: SUMMARY

Alice Paul dreams of equality, dreams of a place where women and their beliefs and skills are much needed and appreciated. They do not want to stay as a shadow population, what they wanted is a new perspective and a new law that would them feel like they really are a vital part of their nation. Not only for themselves but also for their families and the future generation. Together with her friends with the same vision, they entered a fight that will change their lives forever. They formed a separate group because the National American Women's Suffrage Association do not want to support them because they do not want to fight the president. But the suffrages with Alice Paul wanted change. They wanted freedom and they want it now. They organized a parade during the presidents inauguration, which lead to a disaster. But their determination did not die, they continued to spread the word. The continued to fight for their rights. Inez died fighting for freedom. They went to jail because they wanted change. Even after

the president announced a martial law, making their protests a bad thing, they continued to do it. With their determination and hunger for reforms they succeeded.

F. SELECTION OF CHARACTER IN THE FILM

Jalyssa Alano: I think I am parallel to Emily Leighton because as a wife she really did mentioned herself as a wife to her husband and mother to her children. She knows her rights and she stood for it and that's why I chose her. I will also stand for what I believe I can do and not being manipulated by other people even if he's my husband or relative. I stand for what is right, no biases. The character who is anti-thesis to my own self is Ben Weissman because he will only cause problems to the future. It will be hard to achieve what you want if there are people like him who will only slow you down or hinder you from doing it.

Chelsie Manipis: When I watched the movie Iron Jawed Angels, I like the character of Alice Paul for being a brave leader but I think I am more parallel to the character of Emily Leighton because even if her husband is a senator, she still chose to support the womens party for the womens rights. As a mother, she also thinks about the future of her children especially her daughter. She also stick to her decision in cooperating for fighting for the womens rights even if her husband is against for womens suffrage and she is ready to face the consequences of it even if she will be in imprisoned and leaving her family. For me, the character who is anti-thesis for my own self is Tom Leighton because for him, his position is more important than his wife in the beginning. He always thinks that he is right and he never listens to what his wifes opinion because of his pride.

Monique San Lorenzo: The character that struck me the most is Inez Milholland Boissevain. Mostly because I feel like we are parallel in many ways. She is someone who do not give up or back down when she believes something is right, when something is needed to be changed and when she knew that she could do something about it. Even though her health is slowly deteriorating, she still stick to what she believes in and kept her promise to her friend, Alice Paul. The promise of helping her fight for freedom. And well, she did. Till her last breath. But her death did not go to vain. All their efforts are being felt by women around the word. (well mostly) In my opinion, the anti-thesis for my own self is President Woodrow Wilson. I know deep Down he knew that the suffrages were right, but he stood to what the people want. Also, even if he knows getting the suffrages in prison is not ethically correct because he is abusing his

power, he still did it. He only let the bill be passed because people knew what he was doing. In a nutshell, He is in contrast to what I believe in.