Women Equality Day 2022: Movies That Speak About Women’s Equality

There are numerous times in history when women have spoken out against injustice and triumphed, here's a list of eye-opening movies that have made people understand what actually 'EQUALITY' is!

New Delhi: The World will be commemorating Women’s Equality Day on August 26, Friday. Women's Equality Day honours the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. 

Women have been equal contributors to the evolution of mankind and the development of the modern world yet women had to struggle for centuries to get equal status as men. For women all across the world, the fight for equality has been a long one; some have succeeded in their goals while others are still fighting for them. In honour of the struggles women have endured to obtain their fair share, here are some films that have inspired millions of people by portraying the quest for equality: 

On the Basis of Sex: This film beautifully portrays the tale of one of the most notable women in American legal history. The true tale of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her fight for equal rights, and the early cases of a legendary career that resulted in her appointment and confirmation as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. 

Hidden Figures: The movie discusses challenges that the Black community, such as workplace discrimination and the feeling of having their accomplishments downplayed in favour of white competitors. "Hidden Figures" recounts the extraordinary, unknown story of Katherine Jonson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), three brilliant African-American women who worked for NASA and were responsible for astronaut John Glenn's orbital launch, a stunning accomplishment that changed the course of the space race. The inspirational group of three transcended ethnic and gender boundaries.

North Country: A fictional dramatisation of Jenson v. Eveleth Mines, the first significant successful sexual harassment case in American history, in which a woman who suffered various forms of abuse while working as a miner filed and prevailed in 1984. The film talks about Josey Aimes, who leaves her husband after experiencing prolonged abuse, and makes an effort to provide for her two children, Sammy and Karen. She begins working at a mine, but her father objects, and later faces sexual harassment.

Confirmation: The 2016 American political thriller television movie Confirmation was written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. It concerns the controversy that arose after Anita Hill claimed Clarence Thomas had harassed her sexually during the Supreme Court nomination hearings.

Parched: The beautiful the title is so is the story, parched means something that is deprived of natural moisture. The movie Parched released in 2015 is one of the best movies that embrace the struggle and hardships of Indian women. A widow, a childless woman, and a sex worker struggle to get out of the vicious cycle of patriarchy. The movie examines a wide range of topics relating to Indian women, including how they are still viewed as disposable sex objects by men. It also discusses serious social ills like child marriage.

Chak De! India: Chak De! India is a movie that depicts a lot of societal notions at once, the movie is patriotic, motivational and one of the best depictions of how women are treated in the world of sports. However, the major focus of the movie is around Kabir Khan, a former hockey star, who is tainted as someone who betrayed his country and how he begins coaching the Indian women's national hockey team to prove his loyalty to the nation. Another thing that is talked about in the movie is how Kabir (Shah Rukh) transforms the attitude toward women being in sports. Shah Rukh in Chak De! India is quite similar to what Aamir is in Dangal.

English Vinglish: In the hassle of ambitions, goals, and success there are several things that remain unnoticed by us, and one of those things is mothers. Sadly, the person who gives unconditional support, care, and love is the one who is taken for granted. English Vinglish depicts the same. The story of Shashi, a housewife, and caterer, who is usually mocked by her family for not knowing English focuses on her own discovery of herself and reassertion of her value as a mother and a wife.

Thappad: Just a slap, “Thappad”, the movie is a slap to all kinds of people who make their daughters, sisters,  and wives understand that it is women who have to forgive and make sacrifices for marriage and home. The story of Amrita is the story of almost every housewife in India, the culture of always making women understand the importance of ‘letting go’ hits hard when Amrita says, “Baat Bas Ek Thappad Ki Hai, Lekin Vo Nahi Maar Sakta.”

Dil Dhadakne Do: The movie focuses on several lessons that the Mehra family learns on their cruise trip, but the one lesson that the movie is widely praised for is when Sunny (Farhan Akhtar) teaches Ayesha’s husband that if they (Ayesha and her husband) have been equal Ayesha would never need permission from him to do what she wants to do. The character and story of Ayesha (Priyanka Chopra) is remarkable, it is the representation of the unspoken treatment of girls in their families. 

Pink: With a strong message “No Means No”, Pink is a movie that makes everyone introspect themselves. After being harassed, Minal (Tapsee Pannu) attempts to report the politician's nephew in an FIR with the help of her friends. Deepak, a retired lawyer, assists them in defending the case when it is manipulated in court.