The 1960’s and 1970’s were a time of great positive change for women in America. In 1963, the Equal Pay Act was passed, prohibiting sexual discrimination with pay. 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which prohibited any discrimination based on color, race, religion, or sex. In 1972 Title IX was passé,d banning discrimination based on sex in public schools. The Equal Rights Act was passed by congress in 1973 and stated that women and men should be treated fairly by law. This legislation was the result of the women’s rights movements as well as a change in culture of how women were viewed by men.
These changes were reflected in how women were portrayed in media during that time and specifically by how they are treated in Westerns. In 1975, Stuart Millar directed Rooster Cogburn, a perfect example of the change taking place in women’s roles in western film. We see the relationship between Rooster Cogburn (an old, one eyed, misogynist cowboy) and Eula Goodnight (a minister’s daughter who is very religious, stubborn, and brave) as a metaphor for the battle between the old view of women and the new. This metaphor continues in the way the relationship between the two changes throughout the movie. Early in the movie Rooster berates Eula and women in general. He orders her around, telling her she can’t protect herself, has no business out in the wild, and mocking her religion. We get a sense he does this because he’s a ‘good old boy’, but we also see this done in a cruel and ignorant way. Eula shows her religion based stubbornness and bravery early by standing up to Hawk and his henchmen. She also fights Rooster about leaving the mission; She can take care of herself. Eula does not let Rooster leave her behind on the hunt for Hawk, and does not let him sway her from her religion. She constantly asserts her independence. Rooster grows to respect this about her, mentioning that she’s different than other women. This respect culminates with Eula confessing to the Judge about her killing Hawk. Rooster finally accepts in the end that she can take care of herself, just as America is finally accepting women as equals in the sixties and seventies.
The 1960’s and 1970’s were a time of great positive change for women in America. In 1963, the Equal Pay Act was passed, prohibiting sexual discrimination with pay. 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which prohibited any discrimination based on color, race, religion, or sex. In 1972 Title IX was passé,d banning discrimination based on sex in public schools. The Equal Rights Act was passed by congress in 1973 and stated that women and men should be treated fairly by law. This legislation was the result of the women’s rights movements as well as a change in culture of how women were viewed by men.
ReplyDeleteThese changes were reflected in how women were portrayed in media during that time and specifically by how they are treated in Westerns. In 1975, Stuart Millar directed Rooster Cogburn, a perfect example of the change taking place in women’s roles in western film. We see the relationship between Rooster Cogburn (an old, one eyed, misogynist cowboy) and Eula Goodnight (a minister’s daughter who is very religious, stubborn, and brave) as a metaphor for the battle between the old view of women and the new. This metaphor continues in the way the relationship between the two changes throughout the movie. Early in the movie Rooster berates Eula and women in general. He orders her around, telling her she can’t protect herself, has no business out in the wild, and mocking her religion. We get a sense he does this because he’s a ‘good old boy’, but we also see this done in a cruel and ignorant way. Eula shows her religion based stubbornness and bravery early by standing up to Hawk and his henchmen. She also fights Rooster about leaving the mission; She can take care of herself. Eula does not let Rooster leave her behind on the hunt for Hawk, and does not let him sway her from her religion. She constantly asserts her independence. Rooster grows to respect this about her, mentioning that she’s different than other women. This respect culminates with Eula confessing to the Judge about her killing Hawk. Rooster finally accepts in the end that she can take care of herself, just as America is finally close to accepting women as equals in the sixties and seventies.