Re-Feminist History - badass women in history

Sunday, March 24, 2024

A Timeline of Women's Rights, the languishing of the ERA, and badass of the week - Alice Paul

 


As I was looking for topics for the next episode of  "Re-Feminist History", I noticed that in the month of March, a lot happened, over many years, with women's suffrage and the fight for equal rights in general. 

In March of 1875, in the Case of Virginia Minor v. Happersett, the Supreme Court ruled for the 2nd time in 2 years that the 14th amendment did NOT protect a woman's right to vote.

In March of 1888 Susan B Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howard, and others, organized the National Council of Women of the US. 

In March of 1919, the League of Women Voters was formed. 

In March of 1972 the ERA passed, but although it was supposed to be the 25th amendment, that never happened. 

In March 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams, with her hopes for the new country and its legal system after its independence was gained from Britain.  “I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation.”

Well Abigail, we took the "L" on that one, eh? Because the founders did NOT include women, or black men. And despite many, many efforts in months other than March and in the years spanning 1847-1920, women took the "L" over and over.  Black men gained the right to vote in 1870 with the 15th amendment: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." 

The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848  is considered by some to be the birthplace of feminism. Although that first incarnation of feminism largely excluded black women (this has been one of the points of 
contention about feminism in marginalized communities for decades).  

In 1916 we see the first woman elected to Congress (Jeanette Rankin). 

In 1920, the 19th amendment was added to the Constitution: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." Yay. Problem solved, right? Bwahahaha. No. 

Despite the 19th Amendment, many people were still excluded from voting due to various types of  fuckery.  In some states, women were made to pass "literacy tests" in order  to vote...sort of a problem since not all women were allowed to be educated.  "Some 66% of white girls aged 5 through 19 attend high school, and 55% of nonwhite girls. The illiteracy rate in 1920 for white adults is just 6%, while it’s 23% for black adults. Still, only about 17% of Americans (both men and women) are actually graduating from high school. But that’s better than the 2.5% from back in 1880." (bit.ly/3TN9hh6)

Other gaps in the 19th Amendment include threats of violence against Southern black women.  "In thirteen states, poll taxes impeded voting access for poor women of all backgrounds. Most Native American women remained ineligible to vote until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act...Nor did the 19th Amendment address other disparities between the sexes." (bit.ly/43yNKvL)

In 1923, Alice Paul introduced The Equal Rights Amendment to congress. The ERA expanded the fight for women's rights beyond voting and sought to end the legal distinctions between men and women in terms of divorce, property, employment, and other matters.  It failed, and for 4 decades it languished.

In 1965, The Voting Rights Act was passed, codifying the right for women (and all citizens) to vote without loopholes for the asshatery of previous decades. The Voting Rights Act established effective federal oversight of elections and forged the strong protections for American voters of all backgrounds. "After its passage, African Americans in southern states–the largest group of persons still denied voting rights in the United States–flocked to the polls, electing African American candidates to local and state offices and transforming social movements, party politics, and policy agendas." (bit.ly/43yNKvL)

In March of 1972, the ERA was finally accepted and passed by Congress.   Senator Sam Ervin and Representative Emanuel Celler succeed in setting an arbitrary time limit of seven years for ratification. 
That same year, Phyllis Schafly establishes the National Committee to Stop ERA. You can read the whole, drawn out timeline here: bit.ly/4co6LFn.  But suffice it to say, the struggle has been real.  in 1981, Ronald Reagan became the first US president to oppose a constitutional amendment  which provides equal rights for women.

W. T. F. 

Between 1985 – 1992,  the ERA was reintroduced into each session of Congress and held in Committee.
And here we are in 2024 and it is still not officially added to the Constitution!

Many would argue, "what's the big deal? It is all but law, women effectively have equal rights."  Well the big deal is that until it is codified and added to the Constitution, we aren't really protected, are we? Because the 14th amendment didn't include us, the 19th amendment didn't fix the problem completely, and look at what has happened to Roe v. Wade! If it is no big deal then why won't they admit we are equal in the eyes of the law? Because we aren't, that's why.  We are backsliding into a place where our rights are being eroded little by little and it is very dangerous. This is why activism and education are so important. 

And so, I come to my retracted point! This episode of "Re-Feminist History" is about 2 women who fought the fight.  First is Alice Paul, who authored the ERA.  Alice Paul was part of a fundamental movement that assured the passage of  the 19th Amendment

In 1913 she organized the first National Women's Suffrage Parade.  

In 1917 she initiated the first ever protest at the White House just prior to the US entering WWI.  The war brought out the worst in the Wilson administration, and it was a time that many citizens were denied their civil rights and were subjected to unlawful torture and imprisonment. Alice Paul was among them.  

Paul and many other suffragists picketed the White House with banners reading, “Mr. President What Will You Do for Woman Suffrage,”  "In June 1917, picketers were arrested on charges of “obstructing traffic.” Over the next six months, many, including Paul, were convicted and incarcerated at the Occoquam Workhouse in Virginia. After a public outcry, Wilson pardoned the women, but suffragists continued to picket and to be arrested and sent to jail. Offended, Wilson offered no more pardons (dude, WTF?! Offended!). In solidarity with other activists in her organization, Paul purposefully strove to receive a seven-month jail sentence that started on October 20, 1917. Whether sent to Occoquan or the District Jail, the women were given no special treatment as political prisoners and had to live in harsh conditions with poor sanitation, infested food, and dreadful facilities. Protesting the brutal and inhumane conditions, Paul went on a hunger strike and was forcibly fed. Prison authorities beat imprisoned suffragists... More than 500 women were arrested, 168 served time, and dozens were force-fed and tortured. Paul’s tactics had worked. Wilson promised to release all suffrage prisoners and support a federal women’s suffrage amendment."  (bit.ly/3Tvas3s) 

You might think after that ordeal she would take a break. She did, but it was only a short one. In 1921, she and Crystal Eastman drafted another proposed amendment, known as the Lucretia Mott or Equal Rights Amendment. It's primary text was “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” 

So here we are, 100 years later, and while their Equal Rights Amendment has passed and been ratified it is still not an Amendment in the Constitution.
"As of January 27, 2020, the ERA has satisfied the requirements of Article V of the Constitution for ratification (passage by two-thirds of each house of Congress and approval by three-fourths of the states).  Leading constitutional scholars agree that the ERA is now part of the Constitution. Because of issues raised about its unique ratification process, the Archivist of the United States has not yet taken the final ministerial step of publishing the ERA in the Federal Register with certification of its ratification as the 28th Amendment." 
(bit.ly/4cxe39Y)

Next week I'll tell you about Crystal Eastman, who in addition to co-authoring the ERA, also co-founded the ACLU.  Until then, check out the podcast. Check out some of the previous episodes and learn about many, many badass women like Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman.







Sunday, March 17, 2024

Detectives and Monsters, part 2 - Monsters in Hollywood

 This week I bring you part 2 of our latest podcast episode titled "Detectives and Monsters".  In this entry, I'm talking about monsters in Hollywood...noooo...the other kind...well..both. Anyway...

Milicent Patrick was born Mildred Rossi in 1915. When she was 6, her family began living on the property of publisher William Randolph Hearst. Her father, Camille Rossi was the superintendent of construction (that would be an interesting story too, because if you know Hearst Castle, you know that building it was a major feat due to limited transportation at the time and the remote, hilly location. But this isn't about him).

During her lifetime she was an animator, actress, model, costume designer, children’s book illustrator, makeup artist and special effects makeup artist. And despite her impressive resume, she’s gone largely uncelebrated in Hollywood over the years.

In 1939, Patrick began working at Walt Disney Productions in in their all-female ink and paint department. By 1940, she was moved to the Animation and Effects department, where she became one of the first female animators at Disney. Her work was featured in four sequences in the film Fantasia. She also worked on the film Dumbo (1941) and appeared uncredited in The Reluctant Dragon (1941). Around the same time, Rossi was profiled in Glamour magazine. Meanwhile, several Disney animators walked out on strike demanding increased pay, better working conditions, and on-screen credit for their work. The strike ended on September 21, 1941, when Disney signed a unionized contract with the Screen Cartoonist's Guild. By then, on September 12, Patrick had left Disney after privately suffering from migraine headaches (girl, I feel you!)

After leaving Disney, she began modeling in trade shows and as a promotional model, which was not a career her family particularly liked (in fact they would eventually cut her off, citing this kind of work as being akin to prostitution). In 1947, while waiting outside the Ambassador Hotel near a bus stop, she met William Hawks, the brother of Howard Hawks, who became her talent agent. After that, she worked in many movies as an extra.

In 1952, Patrick began working at Universal Studios' makeup department after showing Bud Westmore some of her sketches. She became the first woman to work in a special effects makeup department. It's funny when you read about her career and filmography, because the write ups say "she was credit with creating xyz", but in fact, MOST of her work was uncredited! For instance, according to Wikipedia, "she was credited with designing the pirate faces in Against All Flags (1952)" - um, nope. She was uncredited for that. Next..."the makeup of Jack Palance in Sign of the Pagan (1954)" - Ok she got credit for that one. "... the alien in It Came From Outer Space (1953)" - NOPE. she designed THE alien and was uncredited in the movie. What the fuck? Next? Give me hope, Wiki! ..."Mr. Hyde in Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)" - oh thank Goddess, she did get credit for that!. ..."the Metaluna mutant in This Island Earth (1955)" - Nope. Goddessdamnit! "and was a mask maker for The Mole People (1956)" - Nope. That one doesn't even appear in her filmography on Wiki (which we know can be imperfect), and on IMDb, her name is no where to be found on that film!

<pause for minor outrage>

In 1953, Westmore received a phone call from producer William Alland who had learned from cinematrographer Gabriel Figueroa of a mythical half-fish, half-human creature that resided near the Amazon River. He envisioned a feature film that would involve the creature and asked if Westmore's department could produce the design. Westmore assured him of the task and first approached artist Chris Mueller to create some designs, but soon remembered Patrick's designs on "It Came From Outer Space"...

In my mind it goes like this: Hey Mil, you know that movie where you created the main protagonist and didn't get any credit? Well that was real swell, doll. Would you like to do it again? You still won't get credit kid, but you're great.

Patrick was hired to create the design, and it was a tall order. The creature needed to appear fearsome and unearthly, be able to swim well, and have pulsating gills. Pulsating gills...1953! 

So, for the "Gill-man", Patrick she researched prehistoric reptiles, amphibians, and fish, as well as animals from the Devonian period. The film went into production in September 1953 under the working title "The Sea Monster". By November 1953, the film was retitled "Creature from the Black Lagoon". During promotion for the film, Patrick was sent on a press tour, dubbed "The Beauty Who Created the Beast", to discuss the creation of the creature. She had earned the title "The Beauty who Created the Beast", but ol’ Bud, well, he didn't like that much. Westmore said no, and remamed it "the beauty who lives with the beast". It should have been "the badass who worked with a beast", but onward we go.

So ol' Bud was like Ok kid, sure, we'll send you around the country but you have to tell people I designed it. You can't take credit for it. According to author and biographer Mallory O'Meara, "Bud Westmore was so jealous of all of the attention she was getting that he fired her, and she came back to Los Angeles, and she never worked behind the scenes in Hollywood ever again." Well that fucking blows. What a dick move. But...

“It was the ’50s. She couldn’t fight back,” said O’Meara.

<fantasy monologue intermission> You know...the 50's! The glorious good ol' days that half this country is so eager to return to! <said dreamily>...The Fifties.... <inside my brain> "Oh sorry darling, I was daydreaming! Let me get your slippers and... oh my gosh I have to take the meatloaf out of the oven. Kids! Wash your hands and come tell your father how wonderful he is so you don't get the belt later. That makes father grouchy and then I have to endure sex with him but I can't be on birth control or have an abortion for pity's sake! I can't even have a bank account! So kids just go wash your hands!" <end scene>

But as usual, I digress!

Patrick continued to work as a bit actress through the 1960s. She also had a string of doomed romances which have nothing whatsoever to do with her career, which is what we're talking about here. Despite her unfortunate experiences with Hollywood, she never stopped creating: Patrick designed her own outfits and drew portraits of many co-stars including Kirk Douglas.

"The Gill-man’s costume is incredibly impressive. It’s a full body suit that needed to function both above and below the water. Even to a modern viewer, it’s beautiful. But at the time, it would have been almost mind-blowing to audiences. Especially as 'Creature' was released in 3D. It’s still a stunning film to watch. Famously, The Gill-man’s gills actually move as he breathes...Having played so many creatures over so many years, I can tell you that that it takes a village to make a monster," says actor Doug Jones. He played the amphibian man in the Oscar-winning 2017 film The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro's homage to The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Jones says the crews of artists rarely get accolades.

"Designers and creature creators and makeup artists are — you know, it's a tight circle of people," Jones says. "Legacies have been have been passed down from one generation to the next. And so for her name to never have come up until now is a travesty."

On IMDb, which is of course a modern resource, Milicent Patrick's mini bio states "She received chief credit for developing and designing the "Creature of the Black Lagoon". Um. Nooooo. As stated earlier, she did not. Even on the IMDb listing for that film, Milicent Patrick is listed as uncredited. I mean I guess her name is at least there, even though it wasn't in the film credits. She's listed as "additional crew" and "make up department", and to be fair, the male make up artists are also listed as "uncredited".

The creation of the Creature was credited to Westmore, until recent research, most notably by Mallory O'Meara in her 2019 book The Lady From the Black Lagoon, revealed Patrick to be the designer. (Thank you Ms. O'Meara!!!) When Westmore died in 1973, Patrick began to privately take credit for the Creature. Good for you Mil! Sing it loud! Other people also starting paying attention to her previously uncredited work. In 1978, Robert Skotak published an article documenting her creature design work in the Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Her Gill-man work was also explored in a 2011 Tor.com article by Vincent Di Fate.

Milicent Patrick Rossi Trent went on to life as a society lady in Los Angeles, and continued to sketch portraits. “She never allowed herself to be tamped down,” O’Meara said of Patrick, who died in 1998 at age 83. “She carried her SAG card till her death; she filled her home with portraits of friends.”

I think it's clear who the real beast was in this story. Today, guys like Bud Westmore are called "The Patriarchy"...





Monday, March 11, 2024

Re-Feminist History - this blog's new purpose


Listen to the Podcast: Re-Feminist History


Email me: kelly@thebitchwhisperer.me


Hi!

So as I announced in my previous post, this blog will now be used to highlight the women we talk about on the podcast, formerly named "Bitchstory", now called "Re-feminist History". Doo-do-dooooo!




First up, Isabella Goodwin, the NYPD's first female detective. And what a badass she was!

Isabella Loghry was born in Greenwich Village, Manhattan in 1865. Around 1885, aged 19, she married John W. Goodwin, a police officer. The couple had six children, of which four survived. Goodwin was widowed in 1896, when she was 30 years old. Obviously this put her and her children in a precarious position and she needed to find work.

The New York City police department had only just started hiring women as “police matrons" to look after female and child prisoners ...so basically, legal babysitting. Goodwin applied and was hired. It was a low paid position, making only $1000/year, which amounts to about 30K a year in today's money. She had ONE DAY OFF A MONTH! She served in this position for 15 years.

The police commissioner, as history would have it, was Theodore Roosevelt, and he expanded that role to include dealing with female crime victims, sex-crime cases and matters involving children and babies. But women were still not considered officers. 

Goodwin had been recognized for her skills going undercover, posing as a hapless society lady to expose various swindlers. So when the department was stumped in 1912, they utilized her skills again. 

There was a case involving a midday robbery where "taxi bandits" beat up two clerks and stole $25,000 in downtown Manhattan. Even with 60 detectives assigned to the case, no one could solve the robbery. So they asked Goodwin to go undercover.

The best part of the story, apart from her badassness, is the robber's name: Eddie "The Boob" Kinsman.

So she posed as a maid at a seedy boardinghouse that Eddie frequented to see his girl, "Swede Annie".

Lisa and I are flummoxed as to how this has not been made into a movie, because these names alone scream for it...but anyway...

Goodwin snooped and eavesdropped and buddied up to other bad guys' girlfriends until she had enough evidence to nab "The Boob". "Goodwin knew she had the goods on the crew when she finally heard Swede Annie say, 'Eddie the Boob turned the trick, alright.'"

(Hello!?! Movie people!! )

As a result of her success in cracking a case that 60 (male) detectives could not, she was appointed as New York's first female detective and given the rank of 1st grade lieutenant. Her salary was raised from $1000 to $2,250/year. 

“There is many a 6-foot detective with a gun on his hip who does less valuable work for his $3,300 a year than Mrs. Goodwin, a slight, quick moving little woman whose brain more than keeps pace with her body,” The New York Herald wrote in 1921. (I bet all the male cops loved that article!)

In the 1920's she helped oversee the newly created Women’s Bureau, and helped with cases involving prostitutes, runaways, truants and victims of domestic violence. She was way ahead of her time, because these types of women were abandoned by most of society. She retired in 1925.

In 1921 she married a man 30 years younger than herself (go girl!) and they were together until she died in 1943. Her tombstone bears his last name, although it lists her birth year as 1871 instead of 1865 (which census records validate). Maybe she lied to him about her age. heehee.  I am tickled by this idea. 

Next week I'll tell you about a woman who didn't arrest mobsters but instead MADE monsters (damn I'm good haha) but was robbed, over and over, of credit. (Any woman who has been in corporate America understands that!)



Sources for today's story are: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Goodwin

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/13/obituaries/isabella-goodwin-overlooked.html