On The Basis of Sex (film about Ruth Bader Ginsburg)

[WokerThanWoke]

Has anyone seen it?

Like many people on this board I’m now obsessed with use of sex/gender so I was pleased to see they used the word sex in the title, but then I heard Felicity Jones (who plays RBG) repeatedly say gender in an interview.

I'd guess using it as a euphemism for sex. Will be interesting to see what terminology the film uses - I don't think 'gender' was widely used in ~1970 and I'd guess the laws being challenged wouldn't have.

Its out this Friday. Looking forwards to going to see it.

I saw the film and I highly recommend it. Lucky me, I got to attend with a long-time feminist sister. Don't go with a man! LOL
The word SEX is given fair play. In the dramatised story, a law clerk responsible for typing all the lengthy briefs points out to RGB that the word "sex" might be offensive. They agree to "gender". The fall of mankind follows, sorry.
It is a very entertaining movie. The fashion, the fabrics, the tenor of the times, the textures and triggers. Go see it!
( were there sippy cups in the '70's?)

Looking forward to this too.
I don't get the sippy cup reference, but I can confirm they were definitely around in the 70s. I'm still scarred by my mother giving mine away to my younger cousin when they came to visit. I loved that cup. Can still picture it - brown with a yellow lid.

Yes, I had a yellow Tommee Tippee sippy cup in the seventies too

The trailer looked good.

Link is to a short Vanity Fair article with a little video giving some background from the lead actress
www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/12/ruth-bader-ginsburg-felicity-jones-armie-hammer-on-the-basis-of-sex-new-york-screening

Hadley Freeman did a great article about RBG in last months Red.

Thanks both, I’ll check them out.

I’m taking DS2 today. He didn’t seem wildly keen, but he loved Hidden Figures & is shaping up to be a good feminist ally so I reckon he’ll enjoy it. I’ve bribed him with the promise of sushi afterwards.

This was a very enjoyable but sobering film. DS found some of the legal complexities hard to follow, but said he enjoyed it too. We both agreed RBG was properly feisty and determined. It really brought home how hard won women’s current freedoms and protections are, how much the system was stacked against the generations before us and - really - how far we still have to go. We’re nowhere near there yet and we can’t afford to slip backwards either. I would encourage everyone to go and see it - take your young teens and older kids too. It really underlines the importance our individual, small choices in carrying a political movement forwards.

Can I ask - how old are your sons who you took to see this film?

I took my 11 year old. He likes thoughtful stuff and will watch subtitled films with me, so may not be typical. There’s some contextually-justified strong language and a short, fairly passionate/loving (12A appropriate) bedroom scene near the beginning which rolled his eyes at, but overall it was fine.

As Hidden Figures did for racism and sexism, it does a really good job of showing what sexism looks like in action. Also, RBG’s husband is a really good male role model in the film.

Thanks. My son is 10 so sounds like he's be borderline in terms of constant and understanding.

I may watch Hidden Figures with him - thanks for reminding me about this great film.

Content