Because so many of us are working from home, the once obvious line between being on or off the clock has blurred into one long day, where many of us never really stop to take breaks. With the holidays approaching, I want to encourage families to carve out time for bonding and conversation by recommending a few movies.
And if you’re like me and need to feel productive, even when relaxing, the films on this list are not only entertaining, but educational as well. And they also embody our mission at the Utah Women & Leadership Project: “To strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women.” Each movie features a strong (often young) female protagonist who must work hard and break barriers to achieve her goals. Of course, you can access trailers, ratings, parental guides and where the films can be viewed online.
If you think documentaries are boring, think again. “Maiden” (2018) is a fabulous story of 24-year-old Tracy Edwards who became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. It’s an exciting blend of raw talent, learned leadership and guts. A little gem from Mongolia is “The Eagle Huntress” (2016). Watch a 13-year-old girl train to become the first female in 12 generations of her nomad family to become an eagle huntress. I dare you not to be inspired.
Youth today have a heightened sense of social justice, and movies can be a great way to engage in meaningful conversations. In “The Hate U Give,” teenage Starr witnesses her best friend killed by police and must decide how to proceed when pressured by different members of her community. What are the costs of speaking up? “Wadjda’’ takes place in Saudi Arabia where an 11-year-old girl fights traditional gender roles and enters a Quran-reciting contest hoping to fund her dream of a bicycle. The film too is groundbreaking as it’s the first feature film made by a female Saudi director.
Fact-based fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and there are many outstanding and well-known movies in this category. “Hidden Figures” (2016) shows us the brilliant female African American mathematicians who played a vital role in NASA’s early years. “A League of Their Own” (1992) tells the story of the first female baseball league. If you want to honor of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, watch “On the Basis of Sex.” It’s shocking to see RBG at the top of her classes at Harvard and Columbia unable to find work as a lawyer. Yet, teaching led her on the path the Supreme Court. Bonus: the relationship between Ruth and husband Marty will outromance any Hallmark movie, and no one has to quit their job in the big city to save a Christmas tree farm.
And finally, the ever-popular inspirational fiction. This is probably the hardest category to narrow down because there are so many good choices. “Akeelah and the Bee” (2006) is about a girl from South Los Angeles who fights her way to the National Spelling Bee; New Zealand’s “Whale Rider” (2002) tells about a young woman fighting family and cultural barriers to fulfill her destiny as the new chief (Moana would not exist without this movie); and “Bend It Like Beckham” (2002) is about a young woman from an orthodox Sikh family who rebels against her parents to play soccer. And finally, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” follows four friends as they struggle with family, death, insecurity and friendship, all while sharing a magical pair of jeans.
Our research repeatedly shows that, for many girls and women, it’s hard to be what you can’t see. Take advantage of this extra family time to watch films with your daughters (and sons) featuring strong female role models from around the world. Have conversations about equity, power and courage. Challenge boys to see women as role models and encourage girls to find their inner leader and use their voices for good. But most of all, take a break, connect with loved ones and stay healthy.
Dr. Susan R. Madsen is the Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University and the founding director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project.