Strange Intense 1973 Women's Rights Film Designed To Provoke Independent Thinking
This film was made in 1973 and was funded by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education during a time when the women's movement was encouraging women to think about careers after high school graduation. The Oregon system was working to increase opportunities for women and to "raise consciousness". The State created a Women's Division in 1972 as a response to the growing feminist movement.
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At the time women faced significant barriers to accessing higher education, including discrimination in admissions and financial aid as well as cultural and social biases that limited their opportunities and expectations. The Women's Division aimed to address these issues by promoting gender equity and providing support and advocacy for women in the state system for higher education.
The Women's Division was responsible for a range of initiatives, including the establishment of women's centers and programs to promote women's leadership and career development. It also provided support for women students and faculty through mentorship, counseling, and advocacy for policies that addressed gender discrimination and promoted gender equity. It gave a grant to an independent filmmaker to make this film.
As a result of programs like this more women sought careers in education and beyond. The result led to the global fund for women with new careers that included IT jobs for women, The National Organization Of Women, women in the military with the Navy targeting women in its advertising as well as marketing and advertising jobs in women's clothing companies etc., As more women gained access to higher education and job training, they began to enter fields that had previously been dominated by men such as law, medicine and business. The number of women in the workforce increased significantly in the 1970s, with women's participation in the labor force reaching almost 43% by the end of the decade.
The passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act in 1972 also helped to open up opportunities for women in athletics and other traditionally male-dominated fields. This legislation prohibited sex discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funding, leading to greater access to sports, academic programs, and other extracurricular activities for girls and women.
The growing women's rights movement focused on issues like workplace discrimination, equal pay and the inclusion of women in political and economic decision-making. Women's groups also worked to challenge gender stereotypes and cultural norms that perpetuated gender inequality.
Another notable event that took place in 1973 at the time when this video was produced was the passage of the Women's Educational Equity Act that provided funding for programs aimed at promoting gender equity. This legislation was the result of years of advocacy by women's groups and reflected a growing recognition of the importance of education in achieving gender equality.
This film was shown at women's consciousness-raising groups. They were a common form of grassroots activism. These groups were typically small, informal gatherings of women who met to discuss their experiences and feelings. The purpose of these groups was to raise awareness of the ways in which gender inequality affected women's lives and to provide a space for women to share their stories, offer support and develop a sense of solidarity.
The goal was to empower women to take action to challenge the status quo and work towards gender equality. Women's consciousness-raising groups typically followed a structured format, with each meeting focusing on a specific topic such as work, relationships, motherhood or sexuality. Members would take turns sharing their personal experiences and perspectives, and the group would engage in a collective discussion, offering support and validation to one another. They helped women to develop a sense of collective identity and empowerment and provided a foundation for the broader activism that followed, such as protests, marches and political campaigns for gender equality.
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David Hoffman filmmaker