Supporting Women’s Health Through Female Characters’ Actions in Motion Pictures

One critical issue that many countries must effectively address is protecting women’s health. This concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), stems from discrimination due to socio-cultural factors, such as poverty, imbalanced power relations, and threat/experience of violence. Thus, developing and implementing public policies to advance women’s health rights and their access to adequate health services and facilities remains a work in progress.

Women’s health and institutional support

Gender issues include women’s health problems such as depression, heart disease and ailments related to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Many women also suffer from cancer that may affect their breast(s), cervix, and ovary(ies).

Many international and government bodies, including the WHO, promote women’s health. Private companies with websites like https://motiva.health/ offer services and facilities meant for women, especially those inflicted with breast cancer. Nonprofits, likewise, carry the women’s health agenda (e.g., Orchid Project and Women Deliver).

With grants from various funding agencies, they use information, education, and communication (IEC) materials (e.g. infographics, posters, and public service announcements) to raise public awareness about gender and women’s issues.

Motion pictures as an IEC material for women’s health

Many movies have shown female characters engaging in activities that promote taking care of their health. These deeds include:

  • Consulting a doctor and/or seeking treatment

In Still Alice (2015), Julianne Moore plays Alice Howland who sees a neurologist as she contracts Alzheimer’s disease, while in Wit (2001), Emma Thompson as Vivian Bearing consults an oncologist and undergoes treatment for ovarian cancer. In Decoding Annie Parker (2013), Samantha Morton plays the lead role as a breast cancer survivor who reaches out to Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt), a medical expert behind the finding that breast cancer has a genetic basis.

  • Spending time for meditation, exercise, recreation, research/academics, and learning new skills

In Perfect (1985), aerobics instructor Jessie Wilson (Jamie Lee Curtis) motivates her clients to enjoy getting fit, while aspiring writer Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) imagines and pens stories in Little Women (2019).

Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams) in Julie and Julia (2009), Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) in Chocolat (2000), Tita (Lumi Cavazos) in Like Water for Chocolate (1992), and Teri (Vanessa Williams), Maxine (Vivica A. Fox), and Bird (Nia Long) in Soul Food (1997) use their cooking skills to nurture their personal happiness and change people’s lives.

In Enough (2002), Slim/Erin (Jennifer Lopez) talks to a lawyer and learns self-defense techniques against her abusive husband, while Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) attends computer classes to help her family’s restaurant and her aunt’s travel agency in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002).

  • Meets with friends, joins support groups, and/or organises women-oriented activities

In Beaches (1988), C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) rekindle their friendship as they settle past issues and cope with Hillary’s sickness. Dealing with death is also tackled in Collateral Beauty (2016), where Madeleine (Naomie Harris) heads a support group for people who have lost a loved one.

On the other hand, Rita O’Grady (Sally Hawkins) leads a group of female workers to fight against sexual discrimination and wage inequality in Made in Dagenham (2010).

As an audio-visual medium, films can be used as a tool for public education and information dissemination. Cinemas, cable television, streaming sites, and social media serve as platforms for narrative-driven shows about women’s health.

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