Feminist Film Club - Motivational Stories of Female Empowerment

This course is designed for preteens interested in film and television, particularly stories that centre the experiences of girls and women. This is an 8 week course and club- think of it as a mix of learning about feminist onscreen representations AND a place where you can meet friends with similar interests as you!

In this 8 week club we will look at a variety of onscreen representations of heartwarming, uplifting, and encouraging stories of girls. Students should come to class prepared to talk about the weekly movie. I will lead a group conversation and we will talk about the films' themes including family, friendship, overcoming fear, achieving our goals, facing adversity, and solving problems. Lots of visuals from the film will be provided to spark conversation.

Below is a week by week outline of the course (please note with the exception of week 1, students should screen the film on their own time prior to the beginning of the class. 

Week 1: Introduction - We will introduce ourselves to each other. After, we will screen the short film Hair Love (2020) together over Zoom through the share screen feature. We will talk about the history of awards shows (in particular the Oscars) and we will discuss why this film was so important to Black film history. 

Week 2: 
Spirited Away (2001, available on Netflix) 
Rating: Rated PG 
Brief synopsis: During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.

Week 3: 
Corrina, Corrina (1994, available on Starz [Amazon or Crave] or available to rent on YouTube. Also check with your local public library to see if they have a copy or a streaming service that has it) 
Rating: PG 
Brief Synopsis: In 1959, a widower hires a kindly housekeeper/nanny to care for his seven-year-old daughter.

Week 4:
Enola Holmes (2020, available on Netflix)  
Rating: PG-13 (please visit Common Sense Media for a detailed breakdown of rating)
Synopsis: When Enola Holmes-Sherlock's teen sister-discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.

Week 5: 
Hidden Figures (2016, Available on Disney+)
Rating: PG
Synopsis: The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Week 6:
Leo and Stitch (2002, Available on Disney+)
Rating: G
Synopsis: A Hawaiian girl adopts an unusual pet who is actually a notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive.

Week 7:
Moana (2016, Available on Disney+)
Rating: PG
Synopsis: In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.

Week 8: (Wrap up and Good-bye Week)
Bend It Like Bekham (2016, Available on Disney+)
Rating: PG-13 (please visit Common Sense Media for a detailed breakdown of rating)
Synopsis: Two ambitious girls, despite their parents' wishes, have their hearts set on careers in professional soccer.

This class is great for:
- young feminists
- youth interested in learning and talking about film
- kids who love discussion or who need more conversation-based learning and encouragement 
- pre-teens who want to make new friends

Why take this class with me? I am Ph.D. student in Gender, Feminist, and Women’s studies, with a specialization in Feminist Film Theory and I love film! I especially love stories that centre girls and women, their friendships with each other, experiences with their families, and the challenges they face and overcome. I have been teaching children and teens for over 8 years.