Women's Studies
Titles available on DVD as of

General

10. 2002. (ca. 90 min.). A portrait of contemporary Iran, as seen through the eyes of one woman as she drives through the streets of Tehran over a period of several days. Her journey is comprised of ten conversations with various female passengers, and shed light on the lives of these women whose voices are seldom heard. DVD 1336

1000 women and a dream. 2006. (55 min.). Women and men are equally represented amongst the millions of people the world over who work day in and day out to promote peace - but only 12 women have ever been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This documentary traces the collective nomination of 1000 women in 2005, and brings together a rich tapestry of many inspirational lives devoted to the pursuit of peace. DVD 2474

3 times divorced. 2007. (74 min.). Khitam, a Gaza-born Palestinian woman, was married off in an arranged match to an Israeli Palestinian, followed him to Israel and bore him six children. When her husband divorced her in absentia in the Sharia Muslim court and gained custody of the children, Khitam was left with nothing. She cannot contact her children, has no property and no citizenship. Although married to an Israeli, a draconian law passed in 2002 barring any Palestinian from gaining Israeli citizenship has made her an illegal resident there. Now she is out on a dual battle, the most crucial of her life: against the court which always rules in favor of the husband, and against the state in a last-ditch effort to gain citizenship and reunite with her children. DVD 5504

Aileen life and death of a serial killer. 2003. (89 min.). Nick Broomfield explores the life of Aileen Wuornos, the prostitute executed in Florida for killing six men. Includes examinations of her childhood, testimony at her trial by Broomfield, and a chilling speech by Wuornos herself. DVD 1025

Annapurna Mahila Mandal (Bombay). 1990. (12 min.). Describes a society of more than 5,000 who provide meals in their homes to migrant workers whose families remain in the country. The society was formed to obtain low-interest loans for the women who were previously charged interest of as much as 150% by the grocers or money-lenders for the food supplies. The major drawback of the arrangement for the women is the long hours with no days off. DVD 1925

Annie Leibovitz life through a lens. 2008. (83 min.). Not rated. An in-depth look at one of the most well-known photographers in the 21st century. From her childhood to her life at Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, and her relationships throughout it all. Includes interviews with her subjects and Leibovitz herself. DVD 5511

Antônia - o filme. 2006. (88 min.). A soulful look into the lives of four women living on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Detrmined to escape their poverty-stricken lives, they learn that out of struggle comes strength and the courage to continue on. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 5756

Around the world in 72 days the audacious adventures of Nelly Bly. 1997. (56 min.). The story of a remarkably ambitious woman who, in an era of Victorian reserve, became a household name by doing things a woman wasn't supposed to do. But none of Bly's adventures prepared for her most demanding stunt of all - an around the world trip in record time. By the time Nellie Bly embarked on this trip that would make her world famous, she had already made a name for herself as one of Joseph Pulitzer's top reporters, writing the stories that captured the imagination of the newspaper readers. DVD 5720

Ayn Rand a sense of life. 1997. (143 min.). Documentary look at the life and work of the controversial Russian-born author, Ayn Rand from early childhood and escape from Soviet Russia to her struggle and triumph as an American writer. Film draws on personal papers and public archives as it combines fact, literary fiction and a weave of interviews with intellectual heir Leonard Peikoff, television journalist Mike Wallace as well as photos, film footage and an original film-noir scene from her 1934 play, "Ideal." Captures Rand's life-long themes of reason, rational selfishness and political freedom. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 72

Bad ma ra khahad bord = The wind will carry us. 1999. (118 min.). A group of filmmakers arrive in a remote Iranian village claiming to be archeologists in search of treasure but are really there in anticipation of a ritual that will occur after the death of a woman who is over 100 years old. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 1334

Balancing acts. 2004. (23 min.). In Pakistan, seventeen-year-old Hina is challenging tradition to complete her education. In Afghanistan, returning refugees like Maa Gul want the government to honor their right to shelter. In Kenya, Rose, who is HIV positive, is championing rights to independence for widows. And in Nigeria, market trader Tematayo is demanding the government acknowledge her worth as a successful businesswoman. DVD 1695

Bandit Queen. 1994. (ca. 119 min.). Phoolan Devi was a murderer, kidnapper and living folk legend who had endured a life of rape and abuse after beng sold into marriage at the age of eleven. A spree of murders known as the Behmai Massacre to avenge the death of her lover made Devi the object of a police hunt. In prison from 1983 until 1994, she spent years being prosecuted by the Indian police, only to be turned into a legend by the Indian press. This true story shocked the world and brought the Indian government to its knees. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 1292

Benaat Chicago = Daughters of Chicago: growing up Arab and female in Chicago. 1996. (30 min.). Addresses stereotypes and racism toward Arabs and Arab women, while showing what makes many Arab-Americans proud of their cultural heritage. DVD 2268

Busting out a film that will challenge how you think about breasts. 2004. (57 min.). "A disarmingly honest and intimate exploration of our society's fascination with women's breasts. Directors Strickwerda and Spellman Smith unflinchingly examine the good, the bad and the ugly sides of this American icon, delving into the history and politics of breast obsession in the U.S. From breast-crazy men shouting 'Flash those racks!' to the fears of breast cancer and the disparate attitudes of cultures worldwide, the directors leave no stone unturned in their quest to demystify the American breast.". DVD 1566

China from the inside. 2006. (240 min.). A series of four documentaries that survey China through Chinese eyes to see how history has shaped them, and where the present is taking them. Deals with the governance of China; talks about the past and future for Chinese women; looks at China's environmental challenges; explores China's conflict between personal freedom and governance. DVD 2547

City life. 2001. (27 min.). Follows Marta Suplicy, the mayor of São Paulo, Brazil, as she visits schools, hospitals, favelas, and a shelter for battered women, in her quest to improve the living conditions of the city. DVD 1865

Daughter from Danang. 2002. (83 min.). Heidi seems the proverbial "all-American girl" from small-town Pulaski, Tennessee. But she was born Mai Thi Hiep in Danang, Vietnam, the daughter of an American serviceman and a Vietnamese woman. At the war's end, her mother, hearing rumors that racially mixed children would be persecuted, place the 7-year-old girl on an "Operation Babylift" plane to the United States. Twenty-two years later mother and daughter are miraculously reunited in Danang. But what seems like the cue for a happy ending is anything but as Heidi and her Vietnamese relatives are caught in a heart-wrenching clash of cultures. DVD 5857

Dayereh = The circle. 2001. (87 min.). This film offers insights into the lives of women in Iran. As the narrative dynamically shifts from woman to woman, their stories culminate with tremendous potency, transforming a shared sense of despair and injustice into one of kinship and even hope. DVD 715

Dreamworlds 3 desire, sex & power in music video. 2007. (54 min.). A look at how the narratives of music videos shape individual & cultural attitudes toward femininity, masculinity, sexuality and race. DVD 3164

Elaine Stritch at Liberty from the Old Vic Theatre, London. 2003. (146 min.). A career spanning more than 50 years, Elaine Stritch is one of Broadway's Grande Dames. Now, at age 77, she is as dynamic as ever, giving an astonishing one-woman performance. In a series of vignettes, punctuated by songs from the shows in which she starred, she tells stories of her career, ranging from the hilarious to the deeply moving. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2815

Elle s'appelle Sabine = Her name is Sabine. 2007. (85 min.). "An intelligent, moving and beautiful portrait of Sabine, a 38-year-old autistic woman, filmed by her sister, the famous French actress Sandrine Bonnaire."--Container. DVD 3061

For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf. 1982. (80 min.). Intimately involves the audience in the lives of American black women by means of dialogue, dance and music. DVD 5688

From the journals of Jean Seberg. 1995. (98 min.). A bio-pic about actress Jean Seberg is presented in a first-person, autobiographical format. Mark Rappaport seamlessly interweaves cinema, politics, American society and culture, and film theory to inform, entertain, and move the viewer. Seberg's many marriages, as well as her film roles, are discussed extensively. Her involvement with the Black Panther Movement and subsequent investigation by the FBI is covered. Notably, details of French New Wave cinema, Russian Expressionist films, and the careers of Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, and Clint Eastwood are also examined. Much of the film is based on conjecture, but it encourages viewers to re-examine their ideas about women in film. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 431

Gaja Gamini. 2000. (122 min.). The film, an operatic ballet, moves between illusion & reality. It depicts the journey of a woman called Gaja Gamini, suspended in time and space along with a variety of characters from art, history, music & poetry. These characters, voicing the aesthetics of feminine beauty, are points of reference and interact with each other on the essence & identity of woman. DVD 315

Garbo. 2005. (86 min.). An original documentary from Turner Classic Movies, Garbo takes a look at the life and career of the movies' most luminous, reclusive and mystifying star. A portrait of Garbo the woman is drawn through interviews with biographers and admirers. Those offering analysis and reminiscences are biographers Barry Paris, Mark Vieira and Karen Swanson; actor/playwright/fan Charles Busch; Garbo's niece and greatnephews, Gray, Derek and Scott Reisfeld, and acquaintances Gore Vidal, Gavin Lambert, Jack Larson and Sam Green, who was Garbo's confidante and walking companion for 20 years. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 3100

Hollywood harems. 1999. (24 min.). Examines Hollywood stereotypes of the East, with particular attention paid to the Middle East and the depiction of women. DVD 4210

If these walls could talk. 1996. (97 min.). Film looks at the abortion issue from the 1950s to the present as it examines how three separate women coped when faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Part 1/1952: A recently widowed nurse struggles to take control of her life after she finds she is pregnant by her brother-in-law. Part 2/1974: A mother of four is overwhelmed trying to raise a family and maintain a career. Part 3/1996: A young student makes a decision with the help of another woman that will change the course of both their lives. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 5811

If these walls could talk 2. 2000. (96 min.). Dramatizes the experiences of lesbians in the United States in three different decades. 1961 tells the story of an older lesbian who is left out of the decision-making process in the wake of her partner's sudden death. 1972 looks at the role of lesbians in the feminist movement of the 1970's through the eyes of a college-age couple. 2000 features a lesbian couple trying to conceive a child. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 5812

Is it true what they say about Ann? 2004. (40 min.). Ann Coulter has been called the most controversial political commentator of our day. This video takes viewers behind the bombast through original interviews with the woman Al Franken calls the reigning diva of the hysterical right and George magazine hailed as one of the most fascinating women in politics. DVD 5628

Killing us softly 3 advertising's image of women. 2000. (34 min.). Discusses the manner in which women continue to be portrayed by advertising and the effects this has on their images of themselves. DVD 4810

Living for tomorrow untold stories by the pioneering women of Israel. 2000. (54 min.). Interviews with women who abandoned their familiar lives in Europe to settle in the Israel Kibbutz in the early 20th century. Interviews tell of the hardships encountered along the way. DVD 6248

Lockdown women behind bars. 2006. (45 min.). An inside look at California's Valley State Prison, a maximum-security prison for women. DVD 6070

Mary Pickford a life on film. 2000. (99 min.). By the age of seventeen, Mary Pickford had become the first actress to achieve international superstardom. By the time she was thirty, she was the first and only woman ever to own a major movie studio. With comedic and tragic talents and business acumen, Mary Pickford was the consummate movie star of the 20th century. This definitive documentary combines an abundance of previously unseen footage from Pickford's own archive with exceptional research to demonstrate why she and her films remain touchstones of film history. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 697

Motherland Afghanistan. 2006. (73 min.). Afghanistan today has the second highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. Filmmaker Sedika Mojadidi reveals the extent of this tragedy by documenting the 2003 return to Afghanistan of her father, Dr. Qudrat Mojadidi (an OB/GYN who emigrated to the U.S. in 1972) as he attempts to rehabilitate Kabul's Rabia Balkhi Hospital with the promised support of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. The film focuses on Dr. Mojadidi's emergency treatment of three Afghan women: Kakujan, who had received inadequate care from a midwife during a home birth; Sitara, who had traveled far to receive treatment after prolonged obstructed labor in her remote village; and Sharifa, who Dr. Mojadidi discovered was pregnant with a second twin after the first baby had died. DVD 5641

My mother built this house. 2001. (30 min.). There are four million homeless people in South Africa who live in shacks in slums or squatter settlements. Government programs are building houses for these homeless, but it is a slow process. This program looks at the difference the South African Homeless People's Federation is making. The federation members, most of whom are women, save up money to add to their government grants, allowing them to build larger houses, helping women and their families live in a home of their own. DVD 1867

Our city dreams. 2009. (85 min.). Filmmaker Chiara Clemente shines a light on five women artists whose inspiration is fueled by living in New York City. The artists - Nancy Spero, Marina Abramovic, Kiki Smith, Ghada Amer, and Swoon - have widely varying backgrounds and artistic styles, but they all have one thing in common: they city they now call home. DVD 4833

Period the end of menstruation?: a film. 2006. (54 min.). "This timely and necessary documentary interviews physicians, health practitioners, cultural critics, and a variety of women from around the country who fall on both sides of the menstrual suppression debate: from those who maintain that technology should make menstruation virtually obsolete to those who see menstruation as defining the essence of being female"--Container. DVD 3898

Roozi keh zan shodam = The day I became a woman. 2000. (78 min.). Three portraits of women at three stages of life in Iran, including a nine-year-old girl told she can no longer play with boys because she is now a "woman", a young woman who enters a bicycle race against her husband's wishes, and an old woman who gains money and the freedom to do what she wishes with it. Special features include text of the director's statement, interview, and filmography. DVD 3670

Sankofa. 1993. (125 min.). The story about the transformation of Mona, a self-possessed African-American woman sent on a spiritual journey in time to experience the pain of slavery and the discovery of her African identity. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 6078

Saudi solutions. 2006. (77 min.). Profiles several professional Saudi women in order to understand what it means to be a modern woman in a fundamentalist Islamic society. DVD 2369

Searching for Angela Shelton. 2004. (94 min.). Filmmaker Angela Shelton sets out on a journey to meet every other Angela Shelton in America and through them survey the early 21st Century thoughts of American women. What she wasn't prepared for was learning that, like herself, 24 out of 40 Angela Sheltons she spoke to had been raped, beaten or molested. Then there was an Angela Shelton who tracked sexual predators and just happened to live in the same town as the filmmaker's father who molested her and her step-siblings for years. The filmmaker's survey of women becomes a journey of self discovery during which she decides to confront her past and her father—on Father's Day. The Angela Sheltons complete the journey by teaching the filmmaker about forgiveness, faith and the power of the human spirit in all of us, no matter what your name is. DVD 2036

Searching for Debra Winger. 2001. (99 min.). This documentary is not only about film star Debra Winger, but also about the trials and tribulations of actresses in Hollywood who have reached "that certain age". Arquette interviews several of her colleagues, all of whom have their own personal horror stories about insensitive producers and casting directors who tend to think of over-40 actresses as being suitable only for mother, "other woman", and "hero's girlfriend" roles, if they bother to cast these roles at all. The women also discuss the difficulties in balancing a successful career and a private life. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 780

Sex and the Holy City. 2003. (50 min.). "In the West, many Catholics ignore the Church's teachings on sex. But in poorer countries the words of the Church still matter, whether spoken from the pulpit or through a government minister. Pope John Paul believes everyone - not just the world's billion Catholics - should follow the Vatican's teachings. And he's tried to make sure the world listens, becoming a key player in the bitter global debate over women's rights and reproductive health. In this unique documentary, BBC reporter Steve Bradshaw investigates how the Pope, who tried to act in the best interests of women, came to be accused of ruining so many lives." -- from www.bullfrogfilms.com. DVD 979

Sisters of '77. 2005. (55 min.). Uses interviews and archival footage to examine the first National Women's Conference, held in Houston, TX in 1977, and the debates held there over issues including reproductive freedom, sexual preferences, and minority rights. DVD 2373

Sisters of Selma bearing witness for change. 2006. (ca. 60 min.). A look back at 1965 and the unsung soldiers of the voting rights marches. Catholic nuns from across the country answered Martin Luther King's call to join the protests in Selma, Alabama. Examine their story and how the experience changed them forever. DVD 2765

Sob sisters the image of the female journalist in popular culture, 1929-2003. 2004? 60 min.). Contains 90 movie and television clips tracing the image of the female journalist in films and television from 1929 to 2003. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2310

Still doing it the intimate lives of women over 65. 2004. (54 min.). Explores the lives of nine women aged 67-87 and their feelings about sex and love in later life and the realities of aging. DVD 3730

Taking root the vision of Wangari Maathai. 2008. (80 min.). Taking Root tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy—a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration. DVD 5048

The edge of each other's battles the vision of Audre Lorde. 2000. (59 min.). Documents black lesbian poet and activist Audre Lorde's (1934-92) social vision, using footage from the four-day conference: I am your sisters: forging global connections across differences, held in Boston in 1990. At the conference 1,200 men, women and young people from 23 countries examined the issues of the relations between race, class, gender and sexuality through Lorde's work. Interviews with the organizers of the conference are intercut with conference footage, including performances, controversies and speeches. DVD 6264

The execution of Wanda Jean. 2003. (ca. 88 min.). In 2001, Wanda Jean Allen was given a lethal injection by the state of Oklahoma, making her the first black woman to be executed in America in fifty years. Chronicles the methodical way the criminal justice system proceeds to execute Wanda Jean, a convicted murderess with a low IQ bordering on retardation. While pleas for clemency are exhausted, she faces her inevitable death. DVD 1762

The goddess trilogy. 2007. (166 min.). Pt. 1 looks at goddess-worshipping religions of the ancient past, linking the loss of goddess-centered societies with today's environmental crisis. Pt. 2 discusses the witch-hunts in Europe, with false accusations and trials which led to massive torture and burnings at the stake, and ultimately to the destruction of an organic way of life, presenting the theory that widespread violence against women and neglect of our environment can be traced back to those times. In Pt. 3, authors, teachers, social activists and feminists explore manifestations of contemporary women's spirituality in the Western world, envisioning a sustainable future where domination is replaced with respect. DVD 6301 - 6303

The last abortion clinic. 2005. (60 min.). "The headlines today are filled with speculation about changes in the U.S. Supreme Court and what those changes might mean for abortion—an issue that has divided the country for more than 30 years. Heated rhetoric from both sides continues to be heard in courtrooms and on the campaign trail. But while attention is often focused on the arguments, there is another story playing out in local communities. Pro-life advocates have waged a successful campaign to reduce abortions in many places throughout the country. By using state laws to regulate and limit abortion and by creating their own clinics to offer alternatives to women, they have changed the facts on the ground. FRONTLINE investigates the steady decline in the number of physicians and clinics performing abortions, and focuses on local political battles in states like Mississippi, where only a single clinic performs the controversial procedure."--Container. DVD 2662

The notorious Bettie Page. 2005. (90 min.). Bettie Page grew up in a conservative religious family in Tennessee and became a photo model sensation in 1950s New York. Bettie's legendary pin-up photos made her the target of a Senate investigation into pornography, and transformed her into an erotic icon who continues to enthrall fans to this day. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 3822

The painted bride henna art among Pakistani women in New York City. 1990. (25 min). Streaming web video

They call me Muslim a documentary. 2006. (27 min.). Two contrasting profiles of Muslim women who have made opposite decisions about wearing the traditional Muslim headgear, the Hijab. One in France has chosen to wear the Hijab in defiance of French Law. The other skirts the law in Iran, by wearing it as little as possible. DVD 5049

Thin. 2006. (102 min.). This film takes us inside the walls of Renfrew Center, a residential facility for the treatment of women with eating disorders, closely following four young women who have spent their lives starving themselves—often to the verge of death. DVD 4853

Through Chinese women's eyes. 1997. (53 min.). Presents the transformations in the lives of Chinese women over the 20th century. Documents the attempts to erase gender differences under Mao, today's changing ideas of femininity, and the crystallization of Chinese feminism at the UN Women's conference in Beijing. DVD 6339

Troop 1500 Girl Scouts beyond bars. 2005. (68 min.). Girl Scout Troop 1500 in Austin, Texas, arranged for daughters of women prisoners in Gatesville to interview their respective mothers to help strengthen their familial bonds and to hopefully end the cycle of crime. DVD 2540

Two homes one heart Sacramento Sikh women and their songs & dances. 1992. (26 min). Sikh women who have emigrated to Sacramento, Calif. from India perform several traditional dances and songs and discuss their lives in their new country. Young Sikhs also perform dances, some of which blend traditional and Western styles and music. Steaming web video

Voices of women thinking globally, acting locally. 1995. (14 min.). Provides an overview through brief interviews of women in attendance at the Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) Forum and United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, September 4-15, 1995. DVD 5658

Watermarks. 2004. 1 videodisc (77 min.). The story of the surviving members of the Viennese Hakoah sports club women's swim team, a world-dominating competitor in the 1930s. The club was eventually shut down during Hitler's reign, though all the women managed to escape capture. Combines historical footage and contemporary interviews to reconnect the women's lives and memories. DVD 5003

What I want my words to do to you. 2002. (ca. 90 min.). If you committed a violent crime, would it be possible to redeem yourself? Women inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women try to answer this question. In writing workshops, the women in the group, including high-profile convicts like Kathy Boudin and Judy Clark, work through a series of writing exercises and discussions. The deeply personal writings mix with the humorous and the tragic, profoundly showing the power of art in the service of healing. DVD 1378

When my work is over The life and stories of Louise Anderson. 1999. (38 min). Louise Anderson, a gifted African American storyteller, tells her family stories and folk tales and recites poetry in this film taped in Jacksonville, NC, in the last years of her life. Streaming web video

Why women count. 2008. (205 min.). "Why Women Count is a series of 41 x 5 minute programmes made by broadcasters and producers in 41 countries focusing on the theme of empowerment - and what it means in the lives of ordinary women and men around the world."--Filmmaker's website. DVD 4629

Without lying down: Frances Marion and the power of women in Hollywood. 2001. (56 min.). This insightful documentary gives voice to Frances Marion's words taken from her letters, diaries and memoirs. Footage from more than twenty of Marion's movies align with commentary by pre-eminent silent film historian Kevin Brownlow, critic Leonard Maltin and Marion's celebrated biographer, Cari Beauchamp. DVD 686

Women in American life. 1988. (ca. 91 min.). Five-part video documentary of the experiences and contributions of women in American history, from the Civil War through the 1970s. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2394

Women in love. 1969. (131 min.). A sensual investigation of the relationships of two couples, exploring the thin line between love and lust. DVD 1923

Women in revolt. 1971. (99 min.). Three girls from different walks of life have different problems relating to men. They decide to give up men and become lesbians and attempt careers, only to end up either exploited, derelict or abandoned. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 6127

Women at Work

Amor, mujeres y flores = Love, women, and flowers. 1988. (58 min.). Describes the health hazards workers in Colombia's flower growing industry face from pesticides and their efforts to organize for better working conditions. DVD 6166

Behind the labels garment workers on U.S. Saipan. 2001. (46 min.). Lured by false promises and driven by desperation, thousands of Chinese and Filipina women pay high fees to work in garment factories on the Pacific island of Saipan, the only U.S. territory exempt from labor and immigration laws. The clothing they sew, bearing the "Made in the USA" label, is shipped duty and quota-free to the U.S for sale by The GAP, J. Crew, Polo and other retailers. Powerful hidden camera footage, along with the garment workers' personal stories, offers a rare glimpse into indentured labor and the workings of the global sweatshop where 14 hour shifts, payless paydays, and lock-downs are routine. The accompanying CD-ROM contains a screening guide to the film in PDF format. DVD 5428

Clara Lemlich a strike leader's diary. 2004. (51 min.). "On November 22, 1909, New York City garment workers gathered at Cooper Union to discuss pay cuts, unsafe working conditions and other grievances. After two hours of indecisive speeches by male union leaders, a young Jewish woman strode down the aisle and demanded the floor. Speaking in Jiddish, she passionately urged her coworkers to go out on strike. Clara Lemlich, a flegling union organizer, thus launched the "Uprising of the 20,000," when, two days later, garment workers walked out of shops all over the city."--Container. DVD 2052

Fast food women. 1991. (28 min.). Examines the working conditions of women working in fast food restaurants in eastern Kentucky. DVD 5898

Fourteen women. 2008. (70 min.). A look at the 14 women of the 109th United States Congress, their struggle to reach that unprecedented number, and how they dealt with trying to balance family life and their jobs. DVD 5203

Government girls of World War II. 2004. (56 min.). "The story of the young women who flocked to Washington, D.C. during the 1940s to help in the mobilization for World War II and how their experience during the war years changed their lives, the city and American society"--Government girls website. DVD 3647

Harlan County war. 2000. (104 min.). "A Kentucky woman whose mine-worker husband is nearly killed in a cave-in, and whose father is slowly dying of black lung disease, joins the picket lines for a long, violent strike."--Internet Movie Database. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2420

Keten van liefde = chain of love. 2000. (50 min.). "The demand for domestic help is increasing in the West because, in many families, both parents must work for economic survival. One consequence is migration: escalating numbers of women in the Third World are leaving their own children to take care of kids in the West. Women from the Philippines are well regarded by prospective employers in the United States and Europe. The money the expatriates earn in the West is sent home to the Philippines, where local help is hired to look after their children. This money is the Philippines' largest source of income in foreign currency."--Container. DVD 2628

Made in L.A = Hecho en Los Angeles. 2007. (70 min.). "Made in L.A. traces the moving transformation of three Latina garment workers on the fault lines of global economic change who decide they must resist. Through a groundbreaking law suit and consumer boycott, they fight to establish an important legal and moral precedent holding an American retailer liable for the labor conditions under which its products are manufactured. But more than this, Made in LA provides an insider's view into both the struggles of recent immigrants and into the organizing process itself: the enthusiasm, discouragement, hard-won victories and ultimate self-empowerment."--Distributor. DVD 4656

Maquila a tale of two Mexicos. 2006? (60 min.). Examines the maquiladoras, U.S.-owned export factories employing inexpensive Mexican labor. Covers the displacement of peasant farmers who migrate to northern border cities such as Juarez and Tijuana, where they endure dangerous working conditions in the maquilas for very low wages. Also examines the environmental disasters generated by these factories and the unsafe living conditions of the workers, which have resulted in a series of brutal rapes and murders of young women employees. Examines the violent rural confrontations between the Mexican Army and Mayan peasant farmers as part of the government's efforts to suppress the rebellion. Features interviews with workers, factory managers, government officials, army officers, indigenous peasants, and economists. DVD 2199

Maquilapolis = City of factories. 2006. (68 min.). Explores the environmental devastation and urban chaos of Tijuana's assembly factories and the female laborers who have organized themselves for social action. DVD 2248

Moving forward three women, one goal. 2005. (27 min.). "Microcredit may just be a theory to some, but to three low income women in Cali, Colombia, it has become a source of hope as they work hard to take the stigma out of poverty and provide a better life for their families. 'Moving forward' is a powerful and inspiring tool that portrays the challenges that Luz Marina, Nancy and Consuelo have to face while revealing the impact of microcredit in their lives." --Container. DVD 1290

Running in high heels. 2005. (90 min.). Documentary explores various aspects of women, politics, feminism, fashion and tradition. The story follows the political campaign of Emily, an engaging but untried 29 year-old woman, as it posits the question: Should women vote for women, regardless of politics? Interwoven with Emily's story are a chorus of powerful women from the left and right of American politics, from comically conservative old-timer Phyllis Schlafly to Rosalind Wiseman, whose books begat the movie Mean Girls. DVD 4577

The life and times of Rosie the Riveter. 1980. (65 min.). Five women, who worked in the shipyards and defense plants during World War II, recount their experiences at work and offer comments on society's expectations of them during the war effort and after the war. Their narratives are interspersed with sequences from war department films, newsreels, and Hollywood movies made during that time which concerned women working outside the home. DVD 5425

Transnational tradeswomen. 2006. (62 min.). Former construction worker Vivian Price spent years documenting the current and historical roles of women in the construction industry in Asia. She discovered that in many parts of Asia women have been doing construction labor for centuries, but development and the resulting mechanization are pushing them out of the industry. Shows that technological progress does not always result in gender equality or the alleviation of poverty. DVD 3995

Women are warriors. 1942. (14 min.). Shows how the women of Great Britain, Russia and Canada supported the war effort in World War II in various ways: by working in defence plants, acting as army nurses, army doctors, technicians, operating anti-aircraft guns, and even fighting on the front. Streaming web video

Prostitution, exploitation and violence against women

Anonymously yours. 2003. (60 min.). An extraordinary documentary shot clandestinely in Burma, the film examines sex-trafficking in Southeast Asia through interviews with four young women. The brutal honesty of their stories exposes the commonplace bartering and selling of women and the cycles of poverty that enslave them. From the back rooms of teashops and restaurants to the lounges of five-star hotels, the Far East sex trade thrives on the routine merchandising of girls and women for the sexual pleasure of men from all cultures. DVD 1196

Bangkok girl. 2005. (43 min.). Jordan Clark's tragic documentary provides a glimpse into Thailand's notorious and booming sex tourism industry through the experiences of a 19-year-old bar girl named Pla. This tragic documentary provides a glimpse into Thailand's notorious and booming sex tourism industry through the experiences of a 19-year-old bar girl named Pla. Working in the bars from the age of thirteen, Pla has managed to avoid selling her body--a remarkable revelation given her surroundings--but her refusal to take part in this all-too-common profession for young Thai women cannot last. The introduction of falangs, or foreigners, to Thailand has forever changed the city, the economy, the Thai people's lives and desires. A daring and unabashed look at a popular Western predilection through the eyes of one girl, this film challenges the accepted worldwide practice of sex tourism. DVD 3644

Bichari Sita Sita, a girl from Jambu. 2005. (47 min.). Reveals how uneducated, rural Nepalese girls are tricked and lured into sexual slavery. Focusing on one girl's journey into the brothels of Mumbai, the film is an adaptation of a street play performed by rural Nepalese girls, whose performance is also featured in the film. This innovative blend of documentary and fiction both expands our notion of cinematic genre and extends the broader social message that people can make a difference in their communities. DVD 831

Bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan. 2004. (51 min.). "This is the first film to document the ancient custom of bride kidnapping, an ancient marriage tradition in Kyrgzstan."--Container. DVD 1541

Defending our lives. 1993. (30 min.). (Producer) Shows the magnitude and severity of domestic violence in this country. Features the personal testimonies of four women imprisoned for killing their batterers. DVD 4259

Fighting back. 1996. (44 min.). The subject of this film is the violation of the rights of women on all sides of the war in Bosnia. The film explores how women's groups are helping women to rebuild their lives after bereavement, family separation, rape, and relocation. DVD 6266

Highway courtesans. 2005. (71 min.). Filmed in Central India from 1995 to 2004 where the eldest daughters in the Bachara community work as highway prostitutes to support their families. DVD 2061

Human trafficking. 2006. (ca. 180 min.). To fight the international epidemic of young women being sold into brutality and prostitution, a team of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has been formed and is committed to bringing this operation of modern slavery down. DVD 2356

Killer's paradise = Paraíso de los asesinos. 2006. (83 min.). "Since 1999, more than two thousand women have been murdered in Guatemala, with the numbers escalating every year. Yet lawmakers and government officials just turn a blind eye ... Uncovers one of the most emotionally wrenching human rights abuses taking place, while exposing the impunity allowed by an inept judicial system"--Cover. DVD 4105

No! 2006. (94 min.). "No! provides a comprehensive lens through which to examine the impact of sexual violence on Black women and girls -- calling to task in particular the behaviors and attitudes of Black men in reinforcing a cultural assault...No! includes messages from violence prevention advocates as well as testimonials from survivors who defy victimization..." -- Container. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 1510

Sex slaves. 2006. (57 min.). Reports on the transnational traffic in which women are lured or kidnapped for the purpose of forced prostitution, and the government indifference that makes the abuses extremely difficult to stop. Traffickers, their female victims, and experts are interviewed. Concentrates especially on the abduction of women in Moldova and Ukraine for forced prostitution in Turkey. Follows the journey of one man determined to find his abducted wife and buy back her freedom. DVD 1882

She stole my voice a documentary about lesbian rape. 2007? (88 min.). Examines the reality of lesbian rape in an attempt to dispel the ignorance and incredulity that have long kept this crime from being taken seriously. DVD 5005

Sisters in law. 2005. (104 min.). A documentary record of a courtroom in Kumba, Cameroon, where a female prosecutor and judge work to put an end to their community's tacit acceptance of child abuse, wife beating and rape. DVD 2599

The burning times. 1990. (56 min., 10 sec.). An in-depth look at the witch persecutions that swept through Europe during the Middle Ages. Of those killed, 85 percent were women. An exploration of the process whereby the old pagan communities were destroyed by Church authorities, fear, and misogyny. DVD 6302

The Burning times. (58 min.). Discusses legends and misconceptions regarding the term "witch"; also church- and state-sanctioned torture and killing of women during witch burning times. Streaming web video

The greatest silence rape in the Congo. 2007. (76 min.). Since 1998 a brutal war has ravaged the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing over 4 million people and resulting in many tens of thousands of women and girls being systematically kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias and the Congolese army. Until now, their stories have never been told to the world. DVD 4456

The pornography of everyday life. 2006. (35 min.). "'Pornography' (the sexualized domination and objectification of women and others put in the role of women) is really a mainstream worldview...Pornography as such appears not only in overt, but also in everyday forms like ads and other forms of pop culture. While pornographic imagery is usually thought to be the opposite of religion, it actually is a form of patriarchal religion and works by appropriating previously sacred icons and images of women, sex, and the feminine principle and then profaning and defaming them."--GenderTalk website #575. DVD 5449

The price of pleasure pornography, sexuality & relationships. 2008. (56 min.). "Once relegated to the margins of society, pornography has emerged as one of the most visible and profitable sectors of the cultural industries, assuming an unprecedented role in the mainstream of our popular culture at the same time that its content has become more extreme and harsh, more overtly sexist and racist. This eye-opening and disturbing film places the voices of critics, producers, and performers alongside the observations of men and women as they candidly discuss the role pornography has played in shaping their sexual imaginations and relationships. [The film] moves beyond the liberal versus conservative debates so common in the culture to paint a myth-busting and nuanced portrait of how pleasure and pain, commerce and power, liberty and responsibility have become intertwined in the most intimate areas of our lives" -- Container. DVD 5683

The selling of innocents. 1996. (ca. 50 min.). Documentary on the young girls in the sex traffic industry in India. DVD 788

Time machine Harem. 2002. (100 min.). During the reign of the Ottoman Empire, hundreds of women were brought as slaves to the imperial harem at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Most would spend their lives as the personal property of the Sultan, but some would learn that sex equals power. A feature-length look at a vanished world that long captivated the West. These are the stories of the women who dared to use their skills of seduction to gain power and prestige and the unexpected inner workings of the Ottoman harem. DVD 3038

Trafficking in reality. 2008. (51 min.). "Is documentary filmmaking exploitive by nature? It's a question producer Tom Atwood sets out to explore in Trafficking in Reality. However, his 51-minute film takes an unexpected turn when a young woman featured in one of Atwood's previous documentaries questions his tactics and behavior as a producer. The issues of consent and exploitation, illustrated vividly in the film's critiques of well-known documentaries become personal as Atwood wrestles with his ethical lapses his own trafficking in reality." -- film's website. DVD 5310

V-Day Until the violence stops. 2003. (73 min.). Chronicles how Eve Ensler's hit Broadway solo show 'The Vagina Monologues' grew into V-Day, an international grassroots movement dedicated to stopping violence against women and girls. Has been widely recognized as "a celebration of women's sexuality and a condemnation of its violation" and praised as "frank, humorous and moving." DVD 1349

Working girls. 1986. (93 min.). "Welcome to a typical day in the life of a group of New York City prostitutes. Together these women deal with everything from the mundane to the profane while servicing men of all shapes, sizes and odd fetishes."--Www.anchorbayentertainment.com. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 1082

Women and violent conflict

As we forgive. 2008. (53 min.). "Rosaria and Chantal are two Rwandan women coming face-to-face with the men who slaughtered their families during the 1994 genocide. The subjects of As We Forgive speak for a nation still wracked by the grief of a genocide that killed one in eight Rwandans in 1994. Overwhelmed by an enormous backlog of court cases, the government has returned over 50,000 thousand genocide perpetrators back to the very communities they helped to destroy. Without the hope of full justice, Rwanda has turned to a new solution: Reconciliation."--film's website. DVD 4729

Belfast girls. 2006. (58 min.). "A powerful story of two young women growing up in Belfast where so-called concrete "peace walls" are also mental walls, dividing one community from another. With insightful clarity, the filmmaker documents the lives of two women who live on either side of the walls-- revealing how, in their daily struggles and triumphs, they have more in common with each other than they have differences"--Container. DVD 2711

Can you hear me? Israeli and Palestinian women fight for peace. 2006. (48 min.). A documentary that focuses on several Israeli women's groups committed to the co-existence of Israel and Palestine, focusing on two individuals on opposite sides in the peace movement. DVD 2710

God sleeps in Rwanda. 2004. (28 min.). Five women struggle to rebuild their lives and redefine women's roles in a country torn apart by war. DVD 2331

Iron ladies of Liberia. 2007. (77 min.). After fourteen years of civil war, Liberia is a nation ready for change. On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated President, following a hotly contested election in which she won 59% of the vote. She is the first elected female head of state in Africa. Since taking office, she has appointed other women to leadership positions in all areas of government, including the Police Chief and the ministers of Justice, Commerce, Finance and Gender. Can the first female Liberian president, backed by other powerful women, bring sustainable democracy and peace to such a devastated country? DVD 5453

Liberia a fragile peace. 2005. (60 min.). "Chronicles the period from the departure of [dictator] Charles Taylor to the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first African woman head of state, and presents the difficulties of rehabilitating a nation destroyed by war"--Container. DVD 6338

My daughter the terrorist. 2007. (58 min.). "A rare, inside look at an organization that most of the world has blacklisted as a terrorist group. Made by the first foreign film crew to be given access to the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) of Sri Lanka. Dharsika and Puhalchudar have been living and fighting side-by-side for seven years as part of LTTE's elite force, the Black Tigers. Their story is told through cinema verité footage, newsreel footage, and interviews with the women and Dharsika's mother. The women describe heartbreaking traumas they both experienced at the hands of the Sri Lankan army, which led them to join the guerrilla forces. This documentary sheds light on the reasons that the Tamil Tigers continue their bloody struggle for independence while questioning their tactics"--Distributor. DVD 5452

The greatest silence rape in the Congo. 2007. (76 min.). Since 1998 a brutal war has ravaged the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing over 4 million people and resulting in many tens of thousands of women and girls being systematically kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias and the Congolese army. Until now, their stories have never been told to the world. DVD 4456

To die in Jerusalem. 2007. (75 min.). "Recounts the heart-wrenching story of two teenage girls: 17-year-old Israeli student Rachel Levy and her killer, 18-year-old Palestinian suicide bomber Ayat al-Akhras, who died together at a Jerusalem market in 2002. The horrific incident ignited international outrage and set in motion one mother's journey to meet the mother of her daughter's killer. More than four years later, they finally meet in an emotionally charged encounter that underscore the deep roots of the Israel-Palestinian conflict" -- Container. DVD 4865

Feminism and the Women's Movement

Daughters of de Beauvoir Simone de Beauvoir and her influence on the women's movement. 1989. (55 min.). Through the eyes of the women she influenced, a portrait of Simone de Beauvoir's unique personality and unconventional life style emerges. Here is an in-depth look at one of the leading figures in the international women's movement. DVD 1656

Full circle. 2006. (57 min.). "In this stirring documentary, authors, teachers, social activists and feminists explore manifestations of contemporary women's spirituality in the Western world. Full Circle is the final part of the Women and Spirituality trilogy, following Goddess Remembered and The Burning Times. Drawing on the customs, rites and knowledge of the past, Full Circle envisions a sustainable future where domination is replaced with respect. At the centre of these discussions is a reverence for the Earth, a sacred circle which we must protect. "—cover. DVD 6303

Generation M misogyny in media & culture. 2008. (60 min.). "Despite the achievements of the women's movement over the past four decades, misogyny remains a persistent force in American culture. In this important new documentary, Thomas Keith, Professor of Philosophy at California State University, Long Beach, looks specifically at misogyny and sexism in mainstream American media, exploring how negative definitions of femininity and hateful attitudes toward women get constructed and perpetuated at the very heart of our popular culture. The film tracks the destructive dynamics of misogyny across a broad and disturbing range of media phenomena: including the hyper-sexualization of commercial products aimed at girls, the explosion of violence in video games aimed at boys, the near-hysterical sexist rants of hip-hop artists and talk radio shock jocks, and the harsh, patronizing caricatures of femininity and feminism that reverberate throughout the mainstream of American popular culture. Along the way, Generation M forces us to confront the dangerous real-life consequences of misogyny in all of its forms--making a compelling case that when we devalue more than half the population based on gender, we harm boys and men as well as women and girls"--Container. DVD 5027

Goddess remembered. 1989. (54 min.). This documentary examines pre-Christian goddess-worshipping religions. Incorporating the work of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, art historian Merlin Stone, and scholars Jean Bolen, Charlene Spretnak and Starhawk, it offers insights into these ancient cultures and explores the contemporary women's spirituality movement inspired by them. DVD 6301

Not for ourselves alone. 2003. (180 min.). Presents the history of women's suffrage in the United States through the dramatic, often turbulent friendship of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan Anthony. Part 1 covers the years from their youth up to the establishment of the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1868. Part 2 spans the period from 1868 to the passage in 1919 of the 19th amendment to the Constitution which gave women the vote. DVD 5875

One woman, one vote. 1995. (106 min.). Documents the 70-year struggle for women's suffrage which culminated in the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. It illuminates the alliances, infighting, betrayals and defeats that paved the way for victory in the battle for women's right to vote. Historical footage is enhanced with vocal performances, and interviews with historians provide the viewer with both current and historical perspectives. DVD 5708

Shackled women. 1999. (41 min.). Program assesses second- and third-world abuses of women's rights by the male establishment and examines how female collaboration sometimes contributes to their perpetuation. DVD 4425

The strength to resist the media's impact on women & girls. 2001. (34 min.). A documentary about the fight against the toxic and degrading messages to women and girls that dominate the media. The film presents the leading authorities in the fields of psychology of women and girls, eating disorders, gender studies, violence against women, and media literacy -- and focuses their ideas on practical solutions and the best tactics for reclaiming our culture. DVD 1519

Twenty-four little words The story of the equal rights amendment. 2008. (46 min.). The fight for equality between the sexes has been a constant struggle since the founding of our nation. The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote was a huge step forward, but many in the feminist movement felt that victory alone was not enough. The push for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s helped bring together women all over the country, and united them in their vision of a world where there would be no gender gap because women would be able to compete with men on the same playing field. But the feminist dream of equality failed to become a reality, and the ERA never became a part of our nation's Constitution. Through first-hand interviews with the major players involved in the fight for the ERA, along with research and historical analysis into the fundamental reasons for the amendment's failure, this Capstone documentary attempts to find answers for how 24 little words could cause so much controversy and polarization among both men and women in the most modern and advanced nation in the world. DVD 6046