BREAKING BARRIERS: A HISTORY OF THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS
H C A
Women are breaking out. They are on the move in every country and on every continent challenging the attitudes and traditions which have walled them in--from the gardens of Babylon to the kitchens of today. Beginning with an overview of the status of women throughout history, BREAKING BARRIERS examines the role of the United Nations in women's struggle to achieve full partnership as adults and citizens. From Eleanor Roosevelt's intervention at the first session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1945 to a conversation with Gertrude Mongella, Secretary General for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in 1995, the women's movement is shown gathering force to change the future. 30 mins / 1994

COMMUNITY
H C A
In the Satkhira region of Bangladesh, a husband brushes his daughter's hair to ready her for school. To the American mind, this hardly seems like a revolutionary act. But this gesture is a symbol of social and economic transformation taking place in Bangladesh, according to COMMUNITY. A loan and training program called Uttaran (funded by Oxfam America) enabled women to form work cooperatives that mill rice or mold roof tiles, putting money in their pockets for the first time. Now income and standards of living are increased, although the tension between economic independence and the teachings of Allah is still an issue. Although it’s meant as a showcase, not a documentary, the video gives upbeat treatment to a case study in global gender and economic equity. 24 mins / 1995

DOROTHEA LANGE: A VISUAL LIFE
H C A P
This film captures the spirit of Dorothea Lange (1895-1965), a great American photographer. Lange's images of the Great Depression are etched in history, and her compassion for the downtrodden conveys itself clearly in her collected works. Lange shot breadlines, migrant camps, ex-slaves in the South, and interned Japanese-Americans in California. A VISUAL LIFE brings to life five decades of American history with photographs and narration by Lange, revealing her passion for the medium of photography and her commitment to record the rapidly changing face of America. A quiet portrait of a generous artist. 48 mins / 1994

DREAM GIRLS
C A
Just as many American women relish the daytime soaps, Japanese women adore the Takarazuka Revue, a live show with frothy costumes and lush operatic music. The twist is that in these on-stage fairy tales, all of roles—male and female—are played by women. The documentary opens with a horde of hysterical girls screaming for their favorite Takarazuka star. Then we see behind the scenes at the Takarazuka Music School, where the show’s stars are rigorously trained. The passion demonstrated by both fans and actresses contrasts with the stereotypical Japanese reserve, and so the viewer may glimpse the Japanese psyche by way of gender politics. Useful for university courses on gender and identity. 57 mins / 1993

EQUALITY: A HISTORY OF THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT IN AMERICA
M H A P
Here is a compelling look at women like Susan B. Anthony, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt and other figures in the women’s movements that have emerged in response to historical injustices against women. Gloria Steinem, Anna Quindlen and others show up to interpret the events and people that have defined the women’s movement in America. EQUALITY chronicles the events and achievements of these pioneering women who sacrificed and struggled so women today can live more equal lives. 30 mins / 1996

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ROSIE THE RIVETER
H C A P
The U.S. entry into World War II created a great need for workers. Women who had previously worked as shop girls and waitresses were transformed into factory workers, welders, and riveters. Black and white women joined labor unions, worked side by side, and earned good salaries for the first time in their lives. This film documents the experience of women workers during the war, and the return to traditional roles when the men returned. It also sheds light on Home Front conditions and the government’s campaign to mold women into appropriate roles. 60 mins / 1979

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
A P
In this thumbnail sketch of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, viewers get a patriotic glimpse into the role of women in the military. In 1942, the WAAC began as a temporary pool of women serving their country as clerks, typists, drivers, and cooks. The video contains interviews with former WAC military personnel, archival footage of khaki-skirted regiments, and propaganda posters featuring glamour-WACs with long lashes and red lips. Good for starting a discussion of the WW II experiences of women. 30 mins / 1995

ONE FINE DAY
E M A P
This film is a celebration of the American Woman from the 18th Century to the present--a montage of historic and contemporary photographs set to Kay Weaver’s anthem, "One Fine Day." Study guide available. 6 mins / 1984

THE SPEECHES OF FAMOUS WOMEN
M H C A P
Although women still confront equality issues, the drastically improved position they hold in today’s society seemed an impossible dream to their forebears. Now, in the words o fsome historically visible an dinfluential females, THE SPEECHES OF FAMOUS WOMEN traces the progression of the women’s movement from its earliest days to the present. The words of Elizabeth Cady Stanton accompany vintage footage of turn-of-the-century suffragetes in action, and coverage of the 1940 Women’s Centennial Congress addresses how far women had come and how far they had yet to go at that point in time. Eleanor Roosevelt speaks on her husband’s behalf, and Betty Ford endorses the Equal Rights Amendment. Betty Friedan ushers in the International Year of the Woman, and Senators Carol Moseley Braun and Barbara Boxer speak on the Senate floor. 56 mins / 1995

UNION MAIDS
H C A P
Sitdowns, scabs, goon squads, unemployment, hunger marches, red baiting and, finally the energetic birth of the CIO--the 1930s were a landmark period for the American labor movement. UNION MAIDS is the story of three women who lived this history and make it come alive today. Kate Hyndman, Stella Nowicki and Sylvia Woods’ stories of activism and engagement are complemented by extensive use of rare archival film footage and period photography. "A beautifully composed film. These women are three naturals, whose hearts and minds leap off the screen with a kind of grace and nobility I haven’t seen in a documentary for a very long time."--Vincent Canby, New York Times. 52 mins / 1976

VOICES: AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO ENCOURAGED CHILDREN TO SUCCEED
EXHIBIT, Free standing
This exhibit, designed to look like a large photo album, celebrates the "everyday heroines" who fortified their communities through education, family, and church. The exhibit was created by the Floyd County Museum in New Albany with an Indiana Heritage Research Grant from the Indiana Humanities Council and the Indiana Historical Society. Although the content is specific to Floyd County, the theme is universal and will generate reminiscences about people from older generations who provided a foundation for personal growth and strong values. The exhibit weighs over 200 lbs. and cannot be shipped by US. Borrowers may pick up the exhibit from the Council offices in Indianapolis, using a van or pick-up truck.

Indiana Humanities Council
1500 North Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317.638.1500 or 800.675.8897
ihciupui.edu