So I went on a Lifetime binge a couple of days ago, mostly because they were playing some great movies that I hadn’t seen in a while. Among those was Mona Lisa Smile.
Mona Lisa Smile was released in 2003, and is about a liberal art history teacher moving to teach at Wellesley, a conservative all-women’s university in the 1950s. Far more than that, however, it is about a teacher who is strong and independent minded teaching students that there is more to life than getting married and having babies.
The part of the movie that struck me the most was a memorable scene between Dr. Watson (played by Julia Roberts) and Joan Brandwyn (played by Julia Stiles). After finding out that Joan was accepted to Yale, Dr. Watson realizes Joan will turn down the law program to move with her boyfriend to Penn State.
This scene really highlights to me the difference between old Feminism and new Feminism. While old Feminism would have scoffed and looked down on someone who was a housewife as “settling” and not achieving their dreams, new Feminism says that all women should have a choice to do whatever they choose to do without fear of being judged, even if that is staying home with the kids and not being a career woman or choosing not to marry and settle down.
What do you think? Have you seen Mona Lisa Smile?
