Tag: ageism

RBG

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Justice, with nominator President Ronald Reagan in 1981 (far left). The four women who have served on the Court. From left to right: Justices Sandra Day O’Connor (ret.), Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagan.

RBG

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I was more than energized by the documentary, “RBG.” So far, four women judges have made it to the United States Supreme Court. When Justice Sandra Day O’Connor retired in 2006, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the only woman on the court.

If it were up to Ginsburg, there would be nine female Supreme Court Justices. There would be no discrimination based on sex, race or age. Women would have control of their own bodies. Same sex couples would be able to legally marry. There would be no death penalty, no sexual harassment, no unconscious bias and no age discrimination. There would be gender equality, rights for workers and the separation of church and state.

We almost take these things for granted now, but before RBG, these rights, were not at all in place.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a very determined Supreme Court Justice, who has more than earned her place on the Court.

Born in the midst of the Great Depression, now 85 years old, Ginsburg has endured many hardships as no big deal.

Her 56 year marriage to Martin Ginsburg began with her caring for her newborn daughter, her ill husband and getting both her husband and herself through law school. She not only attended her own classes, but his (bringing him the notes).

These early events established her as the alpha matriarch in their marriage.

Once through law school, her husband had no trouble finding a law firm, but at that time, no one would hire a woman, so Ginsburg was forced to turn to academia.

In Ginsburg’s upbringing, her mother, Celia, worked to help put her own brother through college, but was denied that privilege herself. Ginsburg’s mother put a lot of effort into getting Ruth an education, but then dies of cancer the day before Ruth’s high school graduation. Self-sacrifice seems to be in her blood.

After having fought for gender equality, Ginsburg now seems to be faced with ageism. She may be eighty-five years old, but as long as she can be fully effective on the court, she is not backing down from her duties.

“RBG” celebrates her accomplishments, just in case we forget to be forever grateful.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist swears-in Ginsburg as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court as President Clinton watches in 1993.

Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg

15 Things You Should Know About Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/76804/15-things-you-should-know-about-ruth-bader-ginsburg

Biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

https://www.biography.com/people/ruth-bader-ginsburg-9312041

Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Same-Sex Marriage, Women’s Rights, Health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPict1a-xQ8

Stanford Rathbun Lecture 2017 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83XnwyWg_q8

The Kalb Report – Ruth Bader Ginsberg & Antonin Scalia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0utJAu_iG4

6/14/2018 # RBG

VICTORIA & ABDUL

Judi Dench as Queen Victoria and Ali Fazal as Abdul Karim

VICTORIA & ABDUL

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

The true story of Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim is used to illustrate every facet of ageism, racism and sexism as it existed in Victorian England.

In 1887, Karim meets Queen Victoria when she is 68 years old, and has been queen for fifty years. She was tired, bored and ready to die.

As I see it, Karim was not about to let that happen, not on his watch. It was a time when sexual liaisons were popular, but I do not think that this was what was happening.

Her eldest son, and heir apparent, Edward VII, was a notorious womanizer, and probably assumed this of his mother.

What attracted Queen Victoria to Abdul Karim, was his positivity, devotion and kindness to her. Karim was the son that she wished she had.

Reading the history of this era, I discover that there was bad blood between Victoria and her son, Edward VII.

Two weeks after Edward was reprimanded by his father for being a womanizer, the Queen’s beloved husband, Albert, dies. This is not something a wife or mother forgets.

After her husband Albert’s death, with whom she bore nine children, Queen Victoria expressed her deep grief by wearing black for the rest of her life.

With Karim by her side, Queen Victoria gets a second wind, and becomes a popular, benevolent mother figure to her subjects and to Karim for another 14 years.

The argument of which culture was the more civilized of the two, English or Muslim, is another part of this film.

Edward VII is anxious to take over the throne. Here’s where the ageism part comes in.

Edward tries everything under the sun to make that happen, short of taking a gun to her head.

After thirteen years of service, Karim takes a year off to return to India. When he returns, he finds Queen Victoria is markedly aged and feeble. She dies three months later.

The kind and considerate queen did make provisions for Karim. She arranged for him to be given property and a pension in India, which director Stephen Frears and writer Lee Hall did not mentioned in the film.

Karim’s estate was in Agra, where his family resided until the Indian independence.

Karim died eight years after the queen, he did not have any children.

While this film was being made, there were protesters in Agra. They tried to stop the resurrection of the statue of Queen Victoria, which was taken down after the independence revolution.

This is a fascinating story and I am so glad I was able to catch it.

Judi Dench deserves to get a best actress nomination for her role in “Victoria & Abdul.”

Queen Victoria Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria

Abdul Karim (the Munshi) Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Karim_(the_Munshi)

Edward VII’s Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VII

Right wing group stalls shoot of Ali Fazal’s ‘Victoria and Abdul’ in Agra over Queen Victoria’s statue:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Right-wing-group-stalls-shoot-of-Ali-Fazals-Victoria-and-Abdul-in-Agra-over-Queen-Victorias-statue/articleshow/55497083.cms

Queen Victoria and the Munshi in 1893.

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12/3/2017 # Victoria & Abdul

HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS

Sally Field, accountant, with Max Greenfield, the company’s new art director

13 year old shows Doris (Sally Field) how to use Facebook

HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS

By Marlene Ardoin

Sally Field portrays what it is like for every woman who is over 40 years old, in “Hello, My Name is Doris.” Usually, after 40 years old, women become invisible. However, that is not the case for Doris. She is very mindful of her personal appearance and personal space. It is not her fault that she is disrespected, not only by her family, but also by her co-workers.

As the film opens, we discover that Doris has sacrificed her life to taking care of her aging mother, who has just passed away. She is in a state of grief and bewilderment of her new found freedom.

In addition, no sooner has her mother been laid to rest, than her long, lost brother shows up with his wife, to proceed to pressure Doris into selling her childhood home and everything in it. The sentiment is to get in on the financial action. This is all Doris has for security, so they also provide her with a counselor, who can aid Doris in the letting go part.

Even in her grief, Doris proves not to be such an easy doormat. She works as an accountant at work, and has been an accountant for many years. She may have a big heart, but she is not a dummy.

Luckily, Doris has great friends, who give her real, emotional support. At this point in her life, her friend’s thirteen year old grand-daughter, really helps to cheer her up, because Doris is attracted to a new employee at the office, the new art director, played by Max Greenfield. It is suggested that Doris is emotionally a thirteen year old, but rather the intrigue, aggressiveness and angst of a teen, than a mature, self-centered narcissist.

Doris is worthy of friendship, because she is a giver by nature. Just as Doris rocks her colorful outfits, she fights hard for her new life.

She is great company at a concert and even opens a Facebook account. To Doris’s dismay, the young art director has a beautiful, young girlfriend, who sings, but somehow, was not present at the electro-pop band concert that her boyfriend attends.

Doris has a lot to offer in a relationship. Doris offers interest, enthusiasm, empathy, fun and passion. Not only that, but she has a home on Staten Island, she cooks, she is open to new experiences, and Doris is open to a great, big change in her life.

If you are a woman, and over 40 years old, I think you might enjoy this one.

4/14/16 # Hello, My Name Is Doris