Three Feminist Icons of Hollywood's Golden Age

Young feminists can benefit from knowing about the feminist icons who came before them. In this class, which is very fast paced and energetic, we will look at three of these icons from the Golden Age of Hollywood: Anna May Wong, Marlene Dietrich, and Katharine Hepburn. 

This is not just for students who love classic films or even know who these performers are--I love telling these women's stories to students who have never heard anything about them! Students do not need any previous knowledge of the subjects of this class. 

In their own ways, these three women challenged social norms related to gender, as well as race. They were functioning in a time before "feminism" had a label, and yet they were instrumental in advancing the priorities of feminism: the equality of all people, regardless of gender. 

We'll overview the lives and careers of each of these women and look at how they were affected by an industry that didn't value them as equal to men, tried to put limits on their success, and didn't understand people who didn't "fit the mold" of what a woman at the time was supposed to be. 

There will be some time for discussion as we go through these performers' stories, as well as a converation at the end to address what each student wants to take away from the work. I will also provide students with a recommended reading list if they would like to learn more about these important Hollywood stars. 

All of my classes are taught from an intersectional feminist perspective, which means that I affirm and support transgender and nonbinary students, I believe that Black Lives Matter, I am LGBTQ+ inclusive, and I am inclusive and affirming of students' diverse experiences, including those related to race, gender, ethnicity, religion, orientation, ability or disability, neurodiversity, and more.