North Country By Niki Caro - 1637 Words

Films reflect all aspects of life, like the depiction of law in society. This much is true in the 2005 film â€Å"North Country†, directed by Niki Caro, based on a fictionalized interpretation of the first historic class action sexual harassment lawsuit in the United States, Jenson v Eveleth Mines. The film focuses on the main character Josie, a single mom to two children, trapped by her abusive husband and the lack of decent paying jobs for women so she could support her family. Josie escapes, going back to her hometown in the rural part of Northern Minnesota, but the only way to support her family was to go to work in the iron mines. Even though the mines had been hiring women for years, male employees still outnumbered females when Josie†¦show more content†¦Finding three plaintiffs with similar grievances proved to be difficult, since a lot of the female mine workers relied heavily on their jobs. In the end, Josie’s true character shines through, attracting multiple plaintiffs to her case and a victorious win. One way this movie reflects the law in society is by illustrating the difference between law on the books and law in action. Those in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is intended to eliminate discrimination based on characteristics like sex, argued that â€Å"laws â€Å"protecting† women from unpleasant jobs were†¦designed to enable men to monopolize those jobs† (CITE- REP MARTHA GRIFFINS), which discriminated against women who were not allowed to apply for these jobs. It wasn’t until 1975, nearly eleven years after this act passed, that the Northern Minnesota Iron Mines even hired their first female miner. From that point, it seems as if the unconstitutional discrimination against female miner worsened to the point where men were still outnumbering female miners 30 to 1. Not only were the female miners outnumbered but they were put it lower level positions as opposed to their male counterpa rts, making the mines as Sterling and Reichman would put it, a gendered organization (CITE). A gendered organization that promotes discrimination against its female employees because it makes no effort to include them inShow MoreRelatedDiscrimination And Harassment Against Women1349 Words   |  6 PagesThe ERA was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution, which guaranteed equality between human races and women, under law. The bill failed in 1982, when it did not receive enough state votes for the confirmation. To a historian, North Country can present insight about gender inequality in the late 20th century. It also sheds light on the historical issues which stand to influence our times, by leading to the conception of new laws and rules. The movie reveals the pathetic conditionRead MoreWhale Rider3211 Words   |  13 Pages c) Golf 9. New Zealand is independent since: a) 1920 b) 1907 c) 1950 10. What is New Zealands national symbol? a) Sheep b) Silver fern c) Kiwi 11. New Zealand is the first country in the world: a) to give the vote to women in 1893 b) to have a woman Prime Minister c) to win the Football World Cup Read the following review of the film and complete the blanks with one of the words from the boxRead MoreBelonging Essay4112 Words   |  17 Pagesshiralee AF Nunn, Cameron Shadows in the mirror YA Oates, Joyce Carol Black girl/White girl AF O’Brien, Robert Z for Zachariah YA O’Dell, Scott Island of the blue dolphins JF Orwell, George Nineteen eighty-four AF YA Paton, Alan Cry, The beloved country AF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry,_the_beloved_country Picoult, Jodi My sister’s keeper AF Pilkington, Doris Home to mother JF Plath, Sylvia The bell jar AF Prichard, Katherine Coonardoo AF Rhys, Jean The wide Sargasso sea AF Rosoff, Meg Just in