Monday, November 19, 2012

Salt Of The Earth: Middle Class Women and Equality



"Salt Of The Earth" 1954

“Salt Of The Earth” is a 1954 independent film by three blacklisted Hollywood directors.  The movie follows the story of 1950’s working class miners on strike at Empire Zinc Company in New Mexico.  These men are protesting for better and safer work conditions but are plagued in their mission when they are legally banned from holding a strike.  The wives and women step up to fight for their men, who do not appreciate their act of valor.  Instead, the women are oppressed by the men, similar to the way the company oppressed the miners.  In the movie, the men learn that by working with their equal female partners, more can be achieved.  In the social class system in this era, most middle class women were domestic house wives, but many struggled for the pursuit of equality, especially in the work place due to the aftermath of World War II.  While men were off at war, middle class women were forced into taking over the open jobs.  This empowerment continued after the conclusion of the war and workplace equality is still fought for today.

- Carly Cibelli

No comments:

Post a Comment