The Work of an Angel

The movie, “Iron Jawed Angels” starring Hilary Swank is a perfect and touching example of the feminist movement particularly focusing on women’s suffrage in the early 1920’s. Particularly of interest to a feminist critic because it so clearly exemplifies the struggle women went through to overcome oppression and attain a voice through voting. The movie follows the work of a group of women trying to get women the vote giving up everything they know and breaking the mold that has for long defined them. A feminist critic might find the relationships in the movie, not only the distant ones between men and women, but the unbreakable bond between the women themselves.

The whole basic idea of suffrage is perfect for a feminist because it depicts a crucial point in history where women took a huge step forward in equality for women. One female character in the movie is married to a congressman and so feels a split of whether or not to stay loyal to her husband in a time which demands such behavior, or to be loyal to her gender. Finally, in a moving scene, this woman joins the fight and disobeys her husband, walking out on him and her long years of suffocation. A feminist critic would take pride in this moment and see the strength and power all of these women posses.

Being a feminist critic does not necessarily have to be based on a male hating bias. They do not believe all men are sex crazed nor do they refuse to have any contact with men as is a very common misconception. This is particularly why I believe this movie would be of interest, it does not portray a group of feminists as men haters, but as strong, independent women who are only looking to be heard. As the female characters walk across the screen, donned in traditional hats and dress, there is extreme pride and an inner strength that a feminist critic would see and perhaps hope to emulate. There is hope for all women and characters like Hilary Swank breath so much life into them, making them real and easy to relate to.

One scene that sticks out most in my mind is one that shows that bond between the women; all of them uniting for a cause. Hilary Swank's character, Alice Paul is unfairly jailed for protesting, as many women during that time were. For being uncooperative, her hands in tied to the top bar in the jail cell forcing her to keep them straight up. Upon this, all the other women in jail put their arms up as well refusing to drop them until Alice Paul can do the same. As cliched as it sounds, there is a sisterhood among these women and the bond seems to be much stronger than that of any man and woman. Through hunger strikes and sacrifices, women eventually help pass the 19th amendment in 1920, giving women the right to vote.