Feminist Theory: 9-5 and Working Girl - Essay Example

This paper will examine and compare two movies, 9 to 5 and Working Girl based on the Feminist theory. Feminism is a movement that is meant to fight for the rights of women. It is meant to end sexism, sexist exploitation and the oppression that women face in the society. It could also be said to be the belief and the need to secure rights and opportunities for women that are equal to those of men, a commitment of securing these is also a factor under feminism. There are different types of feminism and they all focus on varied reasons for women’s inequality.

Conservative feminists have a rather remote view of ensuring that there is equality between men and women in the society. They believe that women should be included in all levels of the society because of the unique contribution they are able to make as mothers and caregivers. They are seen to have a more passionate perspective of doing things compared to the men (Guenther, 47). This is the reason why conservative feminists advocate for equality in the society. On the other hand, liberal feminism is focused on the individualistic acquisition of equality.

According to this feminist movement, the society does not have to make changes but rather, rules need to be changed and opportunities to be given to women so that they can be at an equal level with men in the society (Khan, 9). This will be achieved when more women will be seen holding the positions that were previously held by men. The film making industry has been instrumental in sensitizing the public about the problems that women go through, this is by coming up with movies that focus on the tribulations that women go through in the society, and the struggle that they have to make to ensure that they have equal positions with men.

The earlier belief that women in films were simply supposed to elicit visual pleasure is all gone (Gaines, 1). Movies are nowadays used to sensitize on the happenings in the society. The movies 9 to 5 and Working Girl are examples of such movies. The movie 9 to 5 is a 1980 comedy film directed by Colin Higgins. It focuses on three women who work in a company, under a highly chauvinistic boss Franklin Hart. Hart has denied one of the women Violet a promotion though she works so hard in the company; he sometimes even takes credit for some of the work that she has done.

This is an example of the subjugation that women go through in their places of work. Just because Violet is a woman, her boss, Hart feels that he can do anything to her, including denying her the promotion that she deserves. Another lady in the movie, Doralee Rhodes, played by the famous Dolly Parton, is a secretary to Hart; she has to suffer constant sexual harassment from him despite the fact that she is married. Moreover, Franklin Hart goes to the extent of telling everyone in the office that they are having an affair, something that is not true, in fact, Doralee greatly despises him.

This is the situation that many women encounter in their places of work. Harassment from male bosses is a constant scenario and it should be dealt with. Women just like men should be accorded with respect. In the end these women and others have to really struggle so that they can do away with their oppressive boss. Liberal feminism has been portrayed in this movie in the sense that the women had