Feminist Film: Mona Lisa Smile

I was sitting in a film class one day and the subject of "Feminist films" was brought up as a discussion topic. A boy in class said that all feminist films were bra burning, man bashing, female promoting, lesbian films. As a younger feminist at the time, I can honestly say I was mad. Feminism films are about empowerment, equality, and confidence in yourself. I personally gave the suggestion of "G I Jane." I was told it was just an action movie and that I didn't know what I was talking about.

There are many films that I believe are feminist and that should be seen, and I want to share them with you.

Today's movie is Mona Lisa Smile (2003)




Mona Lisa Smile tells the story of Katherine Ann Watson (played by Julia Roberts), a teacher who studied at UCLA graduate school who leaves her boyfriend behind in Los Angeles, to teach at Wellesley College, a conservative women's private liberal arts college in Massachusetts, United States in 1953.

Watson encourages her students to study to become career professionals. She wants her students to lead the world and not just to live as the wife of somebody. She uses modern art to suggest that they need not conform to female stereotype, even introducing the students to the work of Jackson Pollock. She feels that women can do more than solely adopt the roles of wives and mothers.


Watson's work is contrary to methods deemed acceptable by the school's directors, conservative women who believe firmly that Watson should not use her class to express her points of views or befriend students, and should stick only to teaching art. Watson is warned that she could lose her job.

Undaunted, Watson becomes more forceful in her speeches about feminism. She believes she needs to instill a spirit of change among her students.

We've changed in many ways. There are some that still believe that women go to school to find their husbands, but that's not necessarily the majority view anymore. We've come far. We've made lots of progress. There is more progress to be made, but progress needs to be made slowly.

We'll make it one day, and it'll be our generation, the women and men in college now and that will be in college soon, that will make the difference. We will influence the next generation, like our teachers and mentors influence us.

I hope to see this one day.

-Ashley