Locomotion

I'm currently reading history content for a course called Women and Work in Canada. I'm in a position right now in which I can just take electives, which is delicious. This course has been particularly insightful since I'm at home with Birdie 24/7.

The portion that I just completed described women who were working in factories, interestingly most of which were munitions manufacturing, and once the war ended they were expected by society to return to their homes and resume their roles as homemaker. You see, the culture at the time was of the mind that women were merely recruited to fill the gaping holes in the economy which men had left in order to join the war. To my surprise, after the war many women were more than happy to leave their paid work and return to their homes. Of course, some wanted to stay on and earn, particularly those whose financial situation had changed (widowed, estranged or disabled spouse). Nevertheless, society responded to the war's end by presenting women with a pat on the back and an urgent message 'to go home'.

As a current stay-at-home-mom, the reading for this course so far is cutting pretty close to my situation. I go between reading feminist articles and feeling like women at home should be paid to be there to reading objective statistical articles and reevaluating that those feminists really take things too far. Ultimately, it's been a very interesting collection of readings for me during this time in my life. I am very confident about my decision to be home for Birdie's first year. No doubt, I am facing a whole lot of questions with my imminent return to work both personally and professionally. And, as a result of this course, my reflective moments have most certainly been rich.

Oh, the movie poster, The Rainmaker... right.

The premise of the movies is that there is a family of three men and one woman, Lizzy (Katherine Hepburn), one of the men being her father the others her brothers. Lizzy is a spinster. She takes care of the house on the ranch and is a tough woman although deep down desires love and an escape from her situation. Lizzy had been sent away to another town to stay with family there and unfortunately returned without a beau. The men are convinced that Lizzy is no longer able to be pawned off for marriage. Their resignation about her situation devastes her spirit and infuriates her as well.

In the meantime, Starbuck (Burt Lancaster) is roaming the countryside, looking for desperate folks to belief in his claim that he can bring rain on the drought-ridden town.

Oh, the sherriff is single and is approached by the 3 men to come to dinner in a desperate attempt to set him up with Lizzy. Prior to the men swarming in on the sherriff, the sherriff tears his shirt accidentally and is reproached by his superior that he needs a wife. Sherriff isn't that cool about the comment and attempts to mend his own shirt when the 3 men enter his station. And, darn it... the men are convinced their hopes to hook up Lizzy with the sherriff aren't all that far off.

Anyway, Starbuck ends up at the ranch, inspires the family that living in dreams and hopes isn't all that bad in fact that it's good for you. The Sherriff, although initially turns down the invite to dinner, ends up at the ranch and coming onto Lizzy. Lizzy, initially repelled by Starbuck and his dreams ends up in his arms and comes alive to her wonderful femaleness. Starbuck, works on the rainmaking and... (well I won't tell you). And guess what? Lizzy gets a man to validate herself and put her to use!

Anyway, my apologies for the long recap but the premise of this film just got my emotions going crazy! A woman so desperate and a man so needy. Both caught up in a societal expectation of their roles and are messed up because of it!

Thank goodness for Starbuck, the hero, the rainmaker, the dreamer. The only character who is completely redeemed from my point of view. Why? Because he dreamed and dreamed and expected the most amazing things and above all else, was completely unconventional.