The feminists of the 20th century fought for one women’s right after another – and yet inequality still prevails today. In the ZDFinfo documentary “Women’s Protest and Resistance – Fight for a New America”, activists from the USA have their say.
The idea for the largest one-day demonstration in US history literally came about overnight – even if it was not yet planned in the form. On November 9, 2016, Donald Trump, a man who was elected 45th President of the United States, was elected not only polarizing and, as critics accuse him, racist, but also often sexist in his speeches. On the day of his inauguration, January 21, 2017, well over 500,000 women lined the streets of Washington DC. Nationwide, over a million took to the streets at the Women’s March Against Inequality and Sexual Harassment. Trump’s inauguration was the initial spark for a new feminism in the USA, to which the ZDFinfo documentary “Women’s Protest and Resistance – Fight for a New America” (Friday, March 5th, 12 noon, ZDFinfo) is dedicated.
“This country is changing. And now we have the chance to get it right”, expresses Alicia Garza, co-founder of “Black Lives Matter”, the new revolutionary spirit in the land of the supposedly unlimited possibilities. Movements like “MeToo”, “Time’s Up”, “Black Lives Matter” emerged: there is change in the air, and social grievances are its cause. After the 20th century, which was so successful for feminism, in which the pioneers of today’s activists fought right after right, many had the deceptive feeling that everything had already been achieved. But currently a fire is blazing again. Corresponding to the complex topic, Sara Wolitzky’s 45-minute documentary, which is quite short, women from the most varied of backgrounds and various progressive movements have their say.
Shonda Rhimes and Natalie Portman
Among other things, the investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Meghan Twohey report on the abuse scandal involving Harvey Weinstein, the activist and co-chair of the “Women’s March” Linda Sarsour on the success of the demos and the co-founders of “Black Lives Matter”, Alicia Garza and Patrisse Cullors on a young, sensitized generation. Actress Natalie Portman is a real Hollywood star and Shonda Rhimes is one of the most successful showrunners in the world.
The latter may represent the required female self-confidence. Rhimes’ works brought in more than two billion dollars for Network ABC with acclaimed drama series such as “Scandal” and the long-running hit “Grey’s Anatomy”, and she subsequently made a mega-deal with the streaming service Netflix. It was not clear to her that this step would receive such media attention. “It is important that women are aware of their power, achievements and salaries,” she clarifies. As the showrunner in the world, who claims to be the best-paid showrunner in the world, put it in a proud speech, it is time for women to brag more – and not leave that to the men.
Real equality would only prevail “if I’m no longer a black showrunner, but a showrunner,” explains Shonda Rhimes, reporting on the Netflix deal. What the 51-year-old African American suggests here is underpinned by the informative documentary with the help of many examples: Feminism and anti-racism go hand in hand today. The new feminism is more inclusive, diverse and colorful than that of its great mothers, some of whom were still racists themselves. And even if the activists are united through gender discrimination, their origins make them very different: while white middle-class women saw Trump’s election in 2016 as a shock and as an impetus to take action, there are neighborhoods in which black mothers fear for must have the lives of their sons.
But even if it wasn’t enough for Hillary Clinton a good four years ago, it is probably only a matter of time before the first female president steers the fortunes of the United States. The beginning seems to have been made. In the year after Donald Trump’s inauguration, 20,000 women ran for office, on a small scale in school boards as well as in Congress and the US Senate. Young politicians like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez became political stars. “We’re not done with transforming this country into what it has always promised to be,” said Alicia Garza, co-founder of “BLM”. A little pathos has never harmed a revolution.
Source: teleschau – der mediendienst GmbH –
