Womanism is a theory developed by Alice Walker in 1982. Alice is a black woman who was born in Georgia in 1944. She grew up with her parents and two brothers. Her parents were sharecroppers so she was poor. When she was eight years old she was shot in the eye, an injury that shaped most of her childhood. It made her very self conscience, as a result she took solace in her writing. Alice Walker graduated from high school as the  class valedictorian and went to Spelman College, but soon transferred to Sarah Lawrence College to expand her studies in Africa. Fast forward a couple of decades, Alice was a vital figure in the civil rights movement. She knew she was a gifted writer and used that talent to reach black people. She wrote her first major novel in 1982, but before The Color Purple, there was In Search of our Mother’s Gardens. Which introduced the idea of Womanism.

Womanism was derived from the term Womanish, meaning grown or you are acting in a manner that is older or more mature than your age, “Womanish,’ then, represents an attitude or orientation toward life of strong-willed, opinionated self-confidence. Within black communities, even young girls are referred to as womanish, that is, behaving like, or assuming the responsibilities and prerogatives of, older, adult females. In fact, black females necessarily assume adult roles and develop a maturity at very young ages.”(e.g. Deborah K. King, Womanish, Womanism, Womanist, Studies Encyclopedia). The idea of Womanism has been evident in the lives of all black women, young and old, for decades. Alice Walker decided that in 1982 she should propose the theory to the masses, through In Search of our Mother’s Gardens, where she said “1. From womanish.  (Opp. of “girlish,” i.e. frivolous, irresponsible, not serious.)  A black feminist or feminist of color.  From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, “you acting womanish,” i.e., like a woman.  Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior.  Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered “good” for one.  Interested in grown up doings.  Acting grown up.  Being grown up.  Interchangeable with another black folk expression: “You trying to be grown."  Responsible.  In charge.”

It was a theory designed to empower the black woman. There was nothing in place to support black women and the cultures and traditions that they brought to this country. “3. Loves music.  Loves dance.  Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness.  Loves struggle. Loves the Folk.  Loves herself.” Not only did black women bring a fresh style of dance, visual art, music and literature to this country, but they also brought their physical features. Black women were and still are put down for their bodies, but their bodies were a defining feature that was latter taught to be embraced by black women. Womanism is all about recognition, the movement knows that so much contributed to the success of black women in this country. “2. Also: A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually.  Appreciates and prefers women’s culture, women’s emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and women’s strength.  Sometimes loves individual men, sexually and/or nonsexually.  Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female.” It is crucial to acknowledge the struggle and appreciate the contribution. It recognizes the gender roles of black women but also a woman’s ability to love other women both platonically and sexually.

• Contributor last name, contributor first name. "Womanist, Womanism, Womanish." In Women's Studies Encyclopedia, ed. Helen Tierney. Greenwood Press, 2002. today's date <http://www.gem.greenwood.com>

• Walker, Alice. "Womanism." In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983. Print.

• "Who Can Be A Womanist?" Gradient Lair -. 29 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://www.gradientlair.com/post/62671175278/who-can-be-a-womanist>.

Timeline of Alice Walker

• Born February 9, 1944

• In 1952 she was shot in the eye with a BB gun. The gun left a scar which made her self conscious. She took solace in her writing.

• In 1961 she was admitted to Spelman College and began classes. She later transferred to Sarah Lawrence.

• In 1965 she graduated and published her first short story.

• In 1666 she became a civil rights activist

• After college she worked as a social worker and an advocate for human rights and published her first collection of poetry in 1968.

• In 1973 she published several more collections and became a huge voice in the black feminist movement.

• In 1982 she published the Color Purple, arguably one of her most popular pieces.

• In 1983 The Color Purple won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and The National Book Award for Fiction.

• 1983-2015 Walker continues to be an activist and a powerful voice in feminism. She uses her writing and voice to raise awareness and advocate for women’s rights, especially in the black community.

Creative Piece

Article

Behind all of the beautiful colors, saris and dialogues lies a patriarchy, where men are given the meaty roles and the women are left with the bones. Kangana Ranaut is determined to change that. A girl from a middle class family, often looked down upon simply for biology she can’t change. From a young age, she noticed the difference between the girls and boys in her family. Her brother was supposed to be the breadwinner, savior and everything else. She and her sister were an accident, in attempt of a son. She knew that her parents didn’t have many hopes for their daughters, except to one day get married and have children. She envied that her parents wished only success for her brother and didn’t turn around to encourage her and her sister to do the same. In this anger and frustration, she left her home and went out to follow her dreams.

It took her some time to breakthrough and figure out who she really was. She started from scratch and had a lot to learn. Putting her broken English into pieces and discovering acting changed her life. At only 17, she landed the leading role in a crime drama. The movie (Gangster)]was a box office success and Kangana made her mark as a raw and honest performer in the industry. Throughout her career, her most notable performances include a schizophrenic actress, drug addicted model and villainous shapeshifting mutant. She has time and time again proved her versatility, standing as a strong symbol of a hard working woman in the Bollywood industry. However, her film “Queen” had the biggest impact on audiences. In this film, she essayed the role of a young woman who gets dumped the day before her marriage and decides to go on her honeymoon by herself. It showcases the growth of Kangana’s character Rani and how she discovers who she is. The movie put spotlight on independent women and the importance of being yourself. Through her roles, Kangana has sent her fans and critics alike strong messages of feminism.

Kangana has always been known to speak her mind, without the fear of being politically correct. She has repeatedly talked about the disparity between her paycheck versus her contemporary male actors. She says, “[Men get paid] triple [the amount actresses do]. No one can guarantee the success of a film. So why such discrimination?” This is completely true. After the success of Queen, Kangana’s film Tanu Weds Manu Returns earned over $36 million at the box office which made it the most financially successful Bollywood film with a female protagonist. With each film and interview, Kangana is breaking all boundaries that are set for women and is actively helping to change things in the Indian film industry for women.

Work Cited

"'I Am A Bad-Ass,' Says Kangana On Feminism, Films And Fairness Creams: Full Transcript." NDTV.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

Timeline

• March 23rd, 1987- Born in Himachal Pradesh, India

• 2003-4- Moved to Delhi at the age of 17

• 2006- Release of first film Gangster

• 2006- Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut

• 2006 - Release of Woh Lamhe where Kangana played a schizophrenic actress

• 2008- Release of Fashion where Kangana played a drug addicted model

• 2008- National Film Award and other accolades for role in Fashion

• 2011- Release of Tanu Weds Manu where Kangana played an independent college student

• 2013- Release of Krrish 3 where Kangana played a villainous shape shifting mutant which became one of bollywood’s highest grossing movies of all time

• 2014- Release of Queen where Kangana played a young woman who is dumped by her fiance who decides to go on her honeymoon herself

• 2014- National Film Award and other accolades for role in Queen

• 2015- Release of Tanu Weds Manu Returns where Kangana reprised the role

• 2016- National Award of Tanu Weds Manu Returns

The movie Bajirao Mastani, is a newly released movie from Bollywood. The movie was based on a true life story of Mastani, a princess, a warrior, a court dancer. Mastani in real life, was born 1699, Bundelkhand. Mastani was a princess, but was also a warrior, trying to protect her homeland. She met Mastani, a male warrior in the battleground, and ask of him to help her. She grew to like Bajirao. She then left her home, to go find Bajirao, who had already went back to his homeland, after helping her homeland. She did not follow by the rules, she set her own, venture out after what she wants. It was about her life, and the control she had of it, instead of the typical thought when it come to princesses. It was not about Bajirao, the person she went after, that lead her to a whole new land, but what she believed in, and how she get what she wants.

The movie passed the Mako Mori Test. The Mako Mori test consist of three things.

“ -A film having at least one female character.
  - That character having her own narrative arc.

• The narrative arc can not be about supporting a man’s story.”

Bajirao Mastani, had more than one female character. Mastani had her own narrative arc, that does not support a man’s story, even though she did fought for the love she had for Bajirao. She did it out of what she want, what she believed in, she went through great measures, that women at that time would not do. She was also a warrior, who actually went to was with Bajirao. It was about her, taking control of her life, as a powerful woman.

My anti-gender bias film test would be…

• There’s a female with leading role in the movie.

• Female being able to be independent.

• Female fight for what they believe in.

• Female who have her own narrative arc.

The movie Bajirao Mastani and my own test.

Remember the Titans

The film that I’m reviewing is Remember the Titans, growing up it was one of my favorite movies, and I am happy to notice that it passes both the Bechdel and the Mako Mori test. Remember the Titans is about a white Virginia high school football team that has to integrate with a black high school that was recently closed. When the two football teams merge not only do the players need to learn to work together but the coaches too. Both coaches have two younger daughters, the white coach has a daughter named Sheryl and the black coach has a daughter named Carol. Both young women interact and chat about football and toys. While both young women aren’t really women it passes both test in my head, because neither test specifies age. The movie is an amazing representation of friendship, camaraderie and teamwork through all the perspectives that are evident in the movie.

What’s even better is that Remember the Titans also passes my test, which requires a movie to have at least two female characters with a prominent role in the film, each with their own story arc. They must conversate about something other than men and should not seem to be “in competition” with each other and at least one of the women must be a woman of color. Essentially my test is the same as the Bechdel and Mako Mori test, but with an added requirement about race.

Icarly: IFight Shelby Marx is a film that passes the Bechdel Test.

• There are 3 strong women with names, and their names are Carly, Sam, and Shelby Marx.

• They are talking about an MMA match, not a romantic interest. The match is the main plot.

• Has absolutely nothing to do with romance or intimate relationships between a man and woman.

Icarly: IQuit ICarly passes the Mako Mori Test

• The women have their own narrative, and their own issues that have nothing to do with relationships.

• They don’t support another man’s story. There are boys that are comedians, they rival with each other, and then Carly and Sam become rivals after talking to the comedians. They had their own narratives. If anything, the boys were supporting THEIR story.

My Test: The Women Empowerment Test. This must not only portray women in a non-degrading way, but must also give women positive messages.

Film: Madea’s Family Reunion. It lets women know that domestic abuse is wrong, and that they should not tolerate that. It lets women know that they should never tolerate abuse from a man. It also gives positive messages about what true love really is.

Trailers

IQuitICarly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCDNAg5DS3s

IFight Shelby Marx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIESdhfbgiw

Madea’s Family Reunion (clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_6--RgdAQ