Film Review: Mrs. America

Title: Mrs. America

Year: April 15 – May 27, 2020

Producers: Dahvi Waller, Cate Blanchett, Tanya Barfield, Micah Schraft, Coco Francini, Niecy Nash, James W. Skotchdopole, Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson, Stacey Sher, Teresa Pavlinek, Adam Brody, Sharon Hoffman

I watched the series on on the streaming platform Hulu.

The nine episode series is based primarily on the life of and actions of the conservative activist, Phyllis Schlafly, and why she mobilized to fight against the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  Other episodes focus on the other women who were as engaged in fighting for equal rights as Schlafly was fighting against them, including Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, Betty Friedan, Brenda Feigan, Jill Ruckelshaus, and Bella Abzug. The actions and involvement of this group of women forms the first big theme. Another big theme conveyed in the the series is how women were divided over the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1970s. 

Much of the series is historically accurate, as it is based on events that took place during the 1970s. However, the series opens each episode with the following disclaimer: “This program is based on actual events that occurred during the political struggle and debate over the Equal Rights Amendment. Some characters in the program are fictional and some scenes and dialogue are invented for creative and storyline purposes.” It is based on primary sources, including biographies of Phyllis Schlafly, interviews with people who knew her and the other women portrayed in the series, and other newspaper and magazine articles plus film footage of events from the 1970s. There was some creative license in dialogue and conversation between the women, in order to develop a more captivating storyline. 

One scene that captures the conflicting nature of Phyllis Schlafly takes place in episode one, showing a meeting with Barry Goldwater, the Republican Party’s nominee for president in 1964, where Schlafly had hoped to discuss political strategy but the men asked her to take notes instead. She had not taken much interest in the ERA until she realized it could be her political pathway to power. The scene runs from 23:16 to 17:40. Another scene that captures the big theme of how women were divided over cultural issues related to equal rights happens during the eighth episode about the National Women’s Conference that took place in Houston, Texas, 1977. Approximately 20,000 women attended this four day conference to vote on the platforms most important to women’s rights. This scene shows both the enthusiasm from those working to adopt platforms for women’s rights, and disappointment from those who were opposed.  It runs from 7:47 – 3:14. 

Teaching and Learning: Would you use it in the classroom? 

I would definitely use portions of this film series in a classroom, as it does convey a historical sense of events that took place in the 1970s. For historical accuracy, I would highlight the film’s disclaimer and explain that it is mostly based on real people, but there were a few fictional characters added who represented larger groups of women compiled into one for the storyline. 

Some questions for the class would be: What is the Equal Rights Amendment? Why did women feel it was necessary to add to the US Constitution? What about the ERA was divisive for women? What is the current status of the ERA? What was the importance of the National Women’s Conference of 1977?  My hope would be that an introduction to the work of women who fought for equal rights in the 1970s might inspire the students to learn more about them, and why their contributions have been so important.