Equality control
Cate Blanchett is superb as the campaigner looking to quash the feminist movement’s push for women’s rights in 1970s America
EQUAL rights for women and the heart of American politics in the 1970s are explored in this glossy, all-star saga. Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Margo Martindale and Tracey Ullman head up the cast of the nine-part series.
With slick opening titles, gorgeous costumes and sets, this has the feel of a Mad Men-style period drama. It follows the true story of the fight over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the feminist movement campaigned for the change to the constitution, to give equal rights to women.
But there was an unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman called Phyllis Schlafly (Blanchett), aka “the sweetheart of the silent majority”.
On the other side, the likes of feminists Gloria Steinem (Byrne), Bella Abzug (Martindale), Jill Ruckelshaus (Banks) and Betty Friedan (Ullman), iconic women of the era, are campaigning for change. Meanwhile, Shirley Chisholm (Uzo Aduba) is the first black woman elected to the United States congress and has plans to run for President.
The first episode of a double bill focuses on Schlafly, an intelligent Republican wife and mother-ofsix who opposes the ERA.
Despite being constantly sidelined by men, she insists: “I’ve never been discriminated against. I think some women like to blame sexism for their failures instead of admitting they didn’t try hard enough.”
When the feminists hear her thoughts, they brand her a “right wing nut job from Illinois”.In the second episode, the focus shifts to Steinem, who launches a feminist magazine.
Knock-out performances make for a powerhouse production. Well worth a watch.